My OBD port cover has gone awol. A few for sale on Ebay, but is there something missing from this one? Exposed contacts showing, or is it just a spring clip?

G’day RR2B, did you ever find out what was that weird hole in your obd2 port flap?

Hi Googs, no I’m still flapless. Didn’t risk that dodgy looking EBay offering. 2011MY 4.4TDV8 Autobiography Baltic Blue
TVR Griffith
Alfa Romeo Mito QV

Yeah can’t blame you for that!
Did you work out what the hole thingy was about?

So I took a photo or two of the obd2 port door on my L322 today….guess what I found, oh no same same

Click image to enlarge

Click image to enlarge

Ah, so maybe the Ebay offering wasn't so dodgy after all! 2011MY 4.4TDV8 Autobiography Baltic Blue
TVR Griffith
Alfa Romeo Mito QV

Nah, looks like a stock unit!
Be interesting to see a few more, so any one out there with a photo or two?

Regarding the OP, and pics, I looked at mine, it is exactly the same. The metal insert is not a spring clip, as it has three metal probes that go into three of the holes / contacts used when plugging in a reader.

Why are there three pins that make contact, and obviously ( to my mind ) make a circuit?

I realise that I have now made the water even murkier, as I have no idea as to the reason behind these pins, hopefully there will be someone with more intelligence than me who can explain why

The hole with the three pins on the driver compartment OBD (OBD1) port cover is not used for us on the L322.

Some cars have a second OBD (OBD2) connector in the engine bay, this is often a round 20-pin connector. When these are in use there are pins in the OBD1 connector to "complete" a bus circuit for diagnostics when the factory diagnostic tool is connected to OBD2

Therefore, the OBD1 must be closed when using OBD2.

I am not sure if it is a Ford or BMW part, but I know for example Minis have 2x OBD ports. This part was originally manufactured for something else and used on the L322, but serves no practical or functional purpose for us. I put a new cover on which is permanently pinned open as I use an extension lead with a switch going through the lower dash and down under the drivers seat to my IIDtool. {side note - the switch is vital}.

Hope that helps....



. 2012 L322 4.4 TDV8 AB low mileage - a peach
1986 V8 Defender 90 County ex-Swiss Army - Red everything....

My preferred Independent: Roy Hardy. R & B AUTOS LTD, 20 Brook Road, Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 2BH (Ex LR Chief Technician)

Range Rover L322 - Thanks for the info, that makes sense,I did think about the cover pins completing a circuit, but have never had a car with a second port in the engine bay. Cheers