# What's in my OBDII port? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 9, 2020, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-my-obdii-port/847692 "2020-02-09T21:51:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![KMS94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ad7895/32.png) [@KMS94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KMS94)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-my-obdii-port/847692/21 "2020-02-11T02:43:58Z")
i forgot to include in my first post, it might also be an extension for a court ordered ignition interlock. Some jurisdictions can require those convicted of drunken driving to blow into a testing device before their car can be started. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-my-obdii-port/847692/22 "2020-02-11T18:32:57Z")
> [@Tired\_and\_Cranky](#): > > If you installed some analytics thing, you would know to plug it back in. If you didn’t plug it in and didn’t know about it, you wouldn’t notice if the inspector left it unplugged. Sure. I still think most inspectors would just plug it back in. Yeah, a few people might not. And for the ones that do get unplugged, the company can call you up and tell you to go plug it back in. You’re saying that this system won’t be 100% reliable. Which, sure, is correct. But that doesn’t matter that much. It will still be very useful when it works. Reposessions are expensive. Being able to pinpoint not just where a vehicle is but what the schedule of its driver is is going to make them much less expensive. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-my-obdii-port/847692/23 "2020-02-11T18:39:10Z")
> [@Doug\_K](#): > > I just did something I hadn’t done before, got on my back under the dash (not easy at my age and condition) and discovered that it’s some kind of extension cord. Apparently someone put it there so they could access the port without removing the cover. Kind of weird because it’s harder to reach than the actual port. Is it literally just an [extension cord](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00L4207IS) where one end plugs into the car’s ODBII port and the other end is basically just an open ODBII port? If so, I don’t see how that would be a tracker. I would expect a tracker to have some type of box or something at the end. And if they were going to use an ODBII tracker, I would expect them to use an [ODBII splitter](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07V7DPF9F) which has two plugs. One port would be used for the tracker and the other port would be open for use by a mechanic. ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2021, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-my-obdii-port/847692/25 "2021-09-04T19:04:46Z")
It is possible it’s an extension cord for an Access Port. They are used to monitor engine f=data and allow you to put an aftermarket tune on the engine. I have the 2.0 in my Focus St and the base tune with no mods gives you about 20 hp and 35 ft-lbs of torque. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-my-obdii-port/847692.md?page=1)