I wanted to install an OBDII reader to get some additional information from the ECU as I drove my car, in particular I wanted Engine Coolant Temperature.
Additionally I wanted the ODDII cable installed in such a way that it was hidden as much as possible.
My workflow was as follows:
1. Remove the A pillar from the windshield
2. Remove the knee bolster.
3. Remove the cover from the side of the dashboard
4. Plug the OBDII cable into the port
5. Snake the OBDII cable up into the side of the dash (exposed by removing the cover in step 3)
6. Snake the OBDII cable up to and under where the A pillar resides.
7. Coil the remaining cable in the cavity that was exposed in step 3
8. Re-attach the pillar cover, knee bolster, and dash side cover

This image shows the A pillar, to remove it remove the plug that has "Airbag" written on it


Under the Airbag plug is a Torx 20 screw head. Remove the screw and the pillar will pop off rather easily.


This is the side of the dash which must be removed. It's easily done, just pops off with a little encouragement.


It appears as though I can only add 3 images

 

In this image you can see where I've snaked the OBDII cable up to the dash cavity. It's hanging out of the cavity for reference.


In this image I've routed the cable up to the area where the A pillar resides


This image indicates the location of the cable just prior to re-installing the window pillar

 

Re-installing the pillar cover was a bit tricky. Once everything was snapped into place I was left with a horrible gap at the bottom.


I removed the pillar a second time and very carefully positioned it. It finally snapped into place without the gap. It was all good.

In this image the scanning unit is finally in place.


And this is what it looks like from the drivers perspective.

 

Where did you finely mount the unit?

Jim

 

The reader (unit) is mounted as indicated in my last attached photo. It's mounted via a suction mount in the bottom left of the windshield.

 

Thanks for the info... Not installing an OBDII reader, but will be running wire for a bluetooth mic this weekend. You confirmed what I'd figured for the a-pillar trim, and the info on the dash side bit should make life much easier.

 

Some how I missed the last three photos, sorry. That is a nice looking unit. Which one is it?

Jim

 

The unit (OBDII reader) is an Insight CTS from Edge Products. It's a bit larger than the Scan Gauge and others, but I wanted something with a GUI rather than just a numeric readout.

 

II.

Nice unit. Wish I had seen that before I got the Scan Guage II. I'll keep it in mind. Nice Job.

Jim

 

Thanks, it's appreciated.

 

I did a very similar sort of thing with my Auterra DashDyno SPD. Nice work.