Diagnostic wires in the engine bay

[ellner357]

So I was doing my tune up. Plug wires and all. While doing that I noticed a broken wire on the little port that said diagnostic. Now my question is wince this isn't going to be easy to fix is it a big deal? Should I replace the whole unit?

 

[Stick Figure]

Honestly you could probably tape it up and forget about it and be fine for a VERY long time. That diagnostic block is really only used for testing if you have a problem.

 

[02_SE_Runner]

I would fix it. A problem in the back of my head while driving my 4runner always nags at me. Also, clean up your engine bay eh? (Jokes)

 

[fluffeh]

Is that different from the one under the driver dash?

02_SE_Runner you should see my engine bay. Looks like I painted it brown. >.<

 

[Stick Figure]

Is that different from the one under the driver dash?

02_SE_Runner you should see my engine bay. Looks like I painted it brown. >.<

one under the dash is an OBDII diagnostic port similar to all vehicles produced for the US marked from 96+. That is a Toyota specific block that is a break out box of sorts for some signals. Allowing you to quickly jumper things like the fuel pump, timing advance lock, code check (on pre OBDII vehicles) etc. If you pop the cover open you should see a diagram inside w/ the abbreviations for each port. On older vehicles this was also used w/ the factory Toyota Scan Tool, not sure what exactly is still in there on the post OBDII stuff.

 

[fluffeh]

Oh wow so that thing allows you to read and adjust the ECU rather than just reading it?

 

[ellner357]

Clean my engine bay! I'm just going to make a mess of it this weekend lol. Maybe I'll aim for a better shade of brown lol.

Well it looks like it's going to need to be replaced to be fixed because the wire has broken right at the connector and I'm not sure I can fix it. Maybe... I don't think I'll wait until I actually need it that's for sure. Would a wrecker be the best source for a replacement or is there somewhere online I could find one?

 

[Stick Figure]

Oh wow so that thing allows you to read and adjust the ECU rather than just reading it?

Pretty sure all adjustments are made through the OBDII port by that point.


As far as fixing it, its actually part of the entire engine harness. So if it were me I would release the pin from the block and either replace the pin entirely or solder a short extension on it to give you the length you need to re-connect to the broken wire in the harness. I just don't know off the top of my head what pins are actually used in that spot to know how hard they are to find.

 

[ellner357]

Thanks for the idea. I'm no pro with electrical but I do have a friend. That sounds like a better alternative if it's not a simple swap out. I'll be sure to check everything in there so I only have to **** with it once lol.