PriceProtect™
DriveShield™
GarageGuard™
Services
Insurance
Car Insurance
Compare Car Insurance with Jerry
Jerry’s Expert Advice
Car Insurance Estimates
Home & Renters Insurance
Renters Insurance
Loans
Car Loan
Compare Car Loans with Jerry
Jerry's Expert Advice
Car Loan Guides
Repairs
Car Repair Estimates
Repair Estimates for Popular Services
Advice
Read Car Content
Browse Jerry Car Advice
Check Out Expert Car QnA
Learn About How We Create Content
Jerry Data & Research
Where is the OBD port location in a 2008 Ford Explorer?
I want to hook up my Explorer to an OBD scan tool to run a quick diagnostic, but I’m struggling to find the port. I know it’s probably hidden in plain sight, but where is the OBD port located on a 2008 Ford Explorer?
.jpg&w=3840&q=75){kind=avatar}
Jessica Gibson · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
You’re right, it can be tricky to find this port, but luckily it’s easy to spot once you know where it’s at! The OBD port location in a 2008
Ford Explorer
is to the left of the steering wheel, right above the hood latch release lever. It can be hard to spot the OBD port unless you open the driver’s car door and squat down.Once you’ve located the Onboard Diagnostics II (OBD-II) port, plug your OBD-II scan tool into it and power it on. For most scanners, this means turning on the car but not the engine. Then, press Scan on the tool and let it run its diagnostics.
The tool will quickly display a Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC), which you can read to learn what’s going on with your Explorer. Write the codes down and then break down each character:
- First character: the vehicle part affected by the issue
- Second character: tells if the code is generic or issued by the manufacturer
- Third character: gives specific information about what area is affected
- Last character: reveals the exact problemSome scanners are more complex than others, so refer to the manual or search for the codes online. From there, you can do your own repairs or take your SUV to the Ford dealership or a trusted mechanic.
View full answer
- Gregory R.
WHY YOU CAN TRUST JERRY
Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.
Join 4M+ members in lowering their car insurance
You Might Also Be Interested
Read Advice From Car Experts At Jerry
What Others Are Asking
Browse More Content
Insurance for Your Car
Insurance in Your State
Easiest way to compare and buy car insurance
No long forms
No spam or unwanted phone calls
Quotes from top insurance companies
