1996 and obd mystery

Took my Miata to a gas station for Texas inspection (past due, getting
nervous). The car is a '96 (actually, 96 1/2 according to the radio/cd
player that's in it). All the orginal paperwork says its a '96.

Three mechanics couldn't find the OBD II connector they said was supposed to
be under the dash near the driver's right knee. There is a connector
labeled "diagnostics" under the hood on the driver's side. They said that
was a different connector and that I had to take the car to a place with a
dynamometer. I bought it new and no one ever moved or removed anything as
far as I know.

I will take it back to the place that's been doing my inspections for years
without a problem. I think I would remember them using a dynamometer, but I
could be wrong.

Any ideas?

Thanks.

> Three mechanics couldn't find the OBD II connector they said was supposed
> to be under the dash near the driver's right knee. There is a connector
> labeled "diagnostics" under the hood on the driver's side. They said that
> was a different connector and that I had to take the car to a place with a
> dynamometer. I bought it new and no one ever moved or removed anything as
> far as I know.

FWIW, my '96 is the same as yours... nothing under the dash, "diagnostics"
on driver side near clutch MC.

miker

miker wrote:
>> Three mechanics couldn't find the OBD II connector they said was
>> supposed to be under the dash near the driver's right knee. There
>> is a connector labeled "diagnostics" under the hood on the driver's
>> side. They said that was a different connector and that I had to
>> take the car to a place with a dynamometer. I bought it new and no
>> one ever moved or removed anything as far as I know.
>
> FWIW, my '96 is the same as yours... nothing under the dash,
> "diagnostics" on driver side near clutch MC.
>
> miker

Weird. If you check the newsgroup for past discussions of this, everyone
says OBD II came in with the 96 model year.

Frank Berger wrote:
> miker wrote:
>>> Three mechanics couldn't find the OBD II connector they said was
>>> supposed to be under the dash near the driver's right knee. There
>>> is a connector labeled "diagnostics" under the hood on the driver's
>>> side. They said that was a different connector and that I had to
>>> take the car to a place with a dynamometer. I bought it new and no
>>> one ever moved or removed anything as far as I know.
>>
>> FWIW, my '96 is the same as yours... nothing under the dash,
>> "diagnostics" on driver side near clutch MC.
>>
>> miker
>
> Weird. If you check the newsgroup for past discussions of this,
> everyone says OBD II came in with the 96 model year.

I did google up one reference to some model-year 96 card that were
manufactured in 1995 that didn't have obdii. I suppose that explains it.

"Frank Berger" > wrote in message
news
> miker wrote:
>>> Three mechanics couldn't find the OBD II connector they said was
>>> supposed to be under the dash near the driver's right knee. There
>>> is a connector labeled "diagnostics" under the hood on the driver's
>>> side. They said that was a different connector and that I had to
>>> take the car to a place with a dynamometer. I bought it new and no
>>> one ever moved or removed anything as far as I know.
>>
>> FWIW, my '96 is the same as yours... nothing under the dash,
>> "diagnostics" on driver side near clutch MC.
>>
>> miker
>
> Weird. If you check the newsgroup for past discussions of this, everyone
> says OBD II came in with the 96 model year.

yeah, it should be there. its normal location is at the bottom edge of the
dash but the drivers right knee (north american, steering wheel on left
version). i have read that they break loose and so people push them up on
top of the radio or into the rats nest of wires under the dash by the
steering column. have you popped off the plate under the steering column
and looked around for it? it should be in there.

"Christopher Muto" > wrote in message
t...
> "Frank Berger" > wrote in message
> news
>> miker wrote:
>>>> Three mechanics couldn't find the OBD II connector they said was
>>>> supposed to be under the dash near the driver's right knee. There
>>>> is a connector labeled "diagnostics" under the hood on the driver's
>>>> side. They said that was a different connector and that I had to
>>>> take the car to a place with a dynamometer. I bought it new and no
>>>> one ever moved or removed anything as far as I know.
>>>
>>> FWIW, my '96 is the same as yours... nothing under the dash,
>>> "diagnostics" on driver side near clutch MC.
>>>
>>> miker
>>
>> Weird. If you check the newsgroup for past discussions of this, everyone
>> says OBD II came in with the 96 model year.
>
> yeah, it should be there. its normal location is at the bottom edge of
> the dash but the drivers right knee (north american, steering wheel on
> left version). i have read that they break loose and so people push them
> up on top of the radio or into the rats nest of wires under the dash by
> the steering column. have you popped off the plate under the steering
> column and looked around for it? it should be in there.

"but the drivers right knee" should read "by the drivers right knee".

If the 96 is OBDII, the underhood connector can be used (with the proper
mating connector) by OBDII testing equipment.
The OBDII digital data lines, ground, and maybe (don't remember) +12vdc are
present on the OBDII underhood connector.
An early 96 might be OBD1
There may be a sticker on the door post showing the SN, Trim Level, and date
of build.
I have a 99 model actually built in Dec 98, according to the sticker. The 99
is turbocharged, and I hesitate to think what the testing facility might
say. (even with a "CARB" sticker)
Fortunately, (Knock on Wood) we don't have to do such things here. There has
been periodic talk of extending the mandatory testing areas to our locale,
but, so far, nothing has come of it.

"Frank Berger" > wrote in message
m...
> Took my Miata to a gas station for Texas inspection (past due, getting
> nervous). The car is a '96 (actually, 96 1/2 according to the radio/cd
> player that's in it). All the orginal paperwork says its a '96.
>
> Three mechanics couldn't find the OBD II connector they said was supposed
> to be under the dash near the driver's right knee. There is a connector
> labeled "diagnostics" under the hood on the driver's side. They said that
> was a different connector and that I had to take the car to a place with a
> dynamometer. I bought it new and no one ever moved or removed anything as
> far as I know.
>
> I will take it back to the place that's been doing my inspections for
> years without a problem. I think I would remember them using a
> dynamometer, but I could be wrong.
>
> Any ideas?
>
> Thanks.
>

Christopher Muto wrote:
> "Christopher Muto" > wrote in message
> t...
>> "Frank Berger" > wrote in message
>> news
>>> miker wrote:
>>>>> Three mechanics couldn't find the OBD II connector they said was
>>>>> supposed to be under the dash near the driver's right knee. There is
>>>>> a connector labeled "diagnostics" under the hood on the
>>>>> driver's side. They said that was a different connector and that
>>>>> I had to take the car to a place with a dynamometer. I bought it
>>>>> new and no one ever moved or removed anything as far as I know.
>>>>
>>>> FWIW, my '96 is the same as yours... nothing under the dash,
>>>> "diagnostics" on driver side near clutch MC.
>>>>
>>>> miker
>>>
>>> Weird. If you check the newsgroup for past discussions of this,
>>> everyone says OBD II came in with the 96 model year.
>>
>> yeah, it should be there. its normal location is at the bottom edge
>> of the dash but the drivers right knee (north american, steering
>> wheel on left version). i have read that they break loose and so
>> people push them up on top of the radio or into the rats nest of
>> wires under the dash by the steering column. have you popped off
>> the plate under the steering column and looked around for it? it
>> should be in there.
>
> "but the drivers right knee" should read "by the drivers right knee".

I had my car inspected this afternoon at the same place I've been going for
years. Basically, its wink, wink, nod, nod and they pretend that it's a 95
and put it on the dyno. They can't find an OBD II connecter either. They
said I should get a note from a Mazda dealer testifying that it doesn't have
OBD II in case I ever need to take it someplace else. Not sure I get that.
I'll just tell them its a '95.

Chuck, where are you located? What country? Sorry, I should know but I guess
I don't pay that much attention. I'm confused by your sentence;

The 99 is turbocharged, and I hesitate to think what the testing facility
might
say.

Maybe you're just trying to say that your 99 is turbocharged, help me out
here.

Speaking of turbo Miatas, what year / years was the turbo available in
Australia, anybody remember? It was a predecessor to the MSM in the states.

Thanks,
Chris


"Chuck" > wrote in message
news
> If the 96 is OBDII, the underhood connector can be used (with the proper
> mating connector) by OBDII testing equipment.
> The OBDII digital data lines, ground, and maybe (don't remember) +12vdc
> are present on the OBDII underhood connector.
> An early 96 might be OBD1
> There may be a sticker on the door post showing the SN, Trim Level, and
> date of build.
> I have a 99 model actually built in Dec 98, according to the sticker. The
> 99 is turbocharged, and I hesitate to think what the testing facility
> might say. (even with a "CARB" sticker)
> Fortunately, (Knock on Wood) we don't have to do such things here. There
> has been periodic talk of extending the mandatory testing areas to our
> locale, but, so far, nothing has come of it.
>
> "Frank Berger" > wrote in message
> m...
>> Took my Miata to a gas station for Texas inspection (past due, getting
>> nervous). The car is a '96 (actually, 96 1/2 according to the radio/cd
>> player that's in it). All the orginal paperwork says its a '96.
>>
>> Three mechanics couldn't find the OBD II connector they said was supposed
>> to be under the dash near the driver's right knee. There is a connector
>> labeled "diagnostics" under the hood on the driver's side. They said
>> that was a different connector and that I had to take the car to a place
>> with a dynamometer. I bought it new and no one ever moved or removed
>> anything as far as I know.
>>
>> I will take it back to the place that's been doing my inspections for
>> years without a problem. I think I would remember them using a
>> dynamometer, but I could be wrong.
>>
>> Any ideas?
>>
>> Thanks.
>>
>
>

"Frank Berger" > wrote in message
m...
> Christopher Muto wrote:
>> "Christopher Muto" > wrote in message
>> t...
>>> "Frank Berger" > wrote in message
>>> news >>>> miker wrote:
>>>>>> Three mechanics couldn't find the OBD II connector they said was
>>>>>> supposed to be under the dash near the driver's right knee. There is
>>>>>> a connector labeled "diagnostics" under the hood on the
>>>>>> driver's side. They said that was a different connector and that
>>>>>> I had to take the car to a place with a dynamometer. I bought it
>>>>>> new and no one ever moved or removed anything as far as I know.
>>>>>
>>>>> FWIW, my '96 is the same as yours... nothing under the dash,
>>>>> "diagnostics" on driver side near clutch MC.
>>>>>
>>>>> miker
>>>>
>>>> Weird. If you check the newsgroup for past discussions of this,
>>>> everyone says OBD II came in with the 96 model year.
>>>
>>> yeah, it should be there. its normal location is at the bottom edge
>>> of the dash but the drivers right knee (north american, steering
>>> wheel on left version). i have read that they break loose and so
>>> people push them up on top of the radio or into the rats nest of
>>> wires under the dash by the steering column. have you popped off
>>> the plate under the steering column and looked around for it? it
>>> should be in there.
>>
>> "but the drivers right knee" should read "by the drivers right knee".
>
> I had my car inspected this afternoon at the same place I've been going
> for years. Basically, its wink, wink, nod, nod and they pretend that it's
> a 95 and put it on the dyno. They can't find an OBD II connecter either.
> They said I should get a note from a Mazda dealer testifying that it
> doesn't have OBD II in case I ever need to take it someplace else. Not
> sure I get that. I'll just tell them its a '95.

i think you should call mazda usa customer service and see what they have to
say about it...
1-800-222-5500 6am-4:45pm pt m-f.