Has anyone had the chance to compare there odometer to see if it is correct. We took a trip with our friends and follow them to our destination 300 miles from home. When we got there I had driven 15 miles further than they did.
I didn't think much of it and chalked it up to maybe his truck has the wrong size tires on it.
But last week I took another 300 mile trip and this time I used a hand held GPS. After comparing the two mileages... I found again I went 15 miles more with the truck.
Anybody of a thought or have a similar experience?

Has anyone had the chance to compare there odometer to see if it is correct. We took a trip with our friends and follow them to our destination 300 miles from home. When we got there I had driven 15 miles further than they did.
I didn't think much of it and chalked it up to maybe his truck has the wrong size tires on it.
But last week I took another 300 mile trip and this time I used a hand held GPS. After comparing the two mileages... I found again I went 15 miles more with the truck.
Anybody of a thought or have a similar experience?

First, no I have not noticed mine to be particularly inaccurate. Second, do you have stock tires? How much tread depth do your tires have?

I have had the opposite experience. My odometer and speedometer are "dead on" as confirmed by my Garmin Quest and by the method described below. Because of my job, I routinely clock half miles and miles with the odometer and have found it be very accurate. :)

15 miles in 300 miles is a 5% error. You should be going 60 mph (60 seconds per mile) when your speedometer reads 63. Set your cruise at 63 and clock a mile on a highway. This would be a way to confirm this.

WOW! 5% is alot! :eek:
Wouldn't that mean you'd reach a warranty limit 1800 miles too early!??
I'd have it checked-out "officially" at my next service, then decide where to go from there.
I haven't thought to check mine, but if you've found it to be THAT far off, I'll try geotech's method next time I get on a road with markers.

My SGII settings had to be "skewed" by alot, so possibly there COULD be a correlation here... hmmmm...

Interesting problem....one you wouldn't expect from a new vehicle but if it happens to a Honda, it can happen to any vehicle.

This obviously affects servicing as well as warranty, so its definitely worth looking into. Thanks for the heads up.

WOW! 5% is alot! :eek:
Wouldn't that mean you'd reach a warranty limit 1800 miles too early!??
I'd have it checked-out "officially" at my next service, then decide where to go from there.
I haven't thought to check mine, but if you've found it to be THAT far off, I'll try geotech's method next time I get on a road with markers.

My SGII settings had to be "skewed" by alot, so possibly there COULD be a correlation here... hmmmm...
Of course the converse is true. If you put tires with a 5% larger circumference then your warranty would expire 1800 actual miles later. ;)

My odometer has proven to be as accurate as any vehicle I've ever owned. :)

You must have a "lease car odometer"...that way you will have to pay for going over specified mileage...:D

gonzo's rt may be onto something. The only time I ever had an issue with an odometer was with a rental van. It was registering 10% above actual. Pretty bad of the rental company, as we were a church group traveling to Southeastern Kentucky to build a new house for a desparately impoverished family. Was your RL a former, or is it currently, a leased vehicle????

I have not changed the sneakers (tires) or rims on Ridgina. Everything is still stock and there is only 4000 miles on her. I bought her out right with no miles so I'm going to have to work with the dealer on this one. Just not sure how to present it to them so not to have to jump through any hoops.
Thanks to everyone with comments. I'll post the outcome when I have one.
Any thoughts or comments out there?
Thanks you all from Vermont

The odometer on my RL reads 1.5% high based both on GPS readings and 100 miles of Interstate mileage markers.
I once had a '74 Jeep Wagoneer Quadratrac as a company car. At 68 MPH it would show 60 MPH. I discovered the error when I received a speeding ticket. It was still under warranty and I tried to have it repaired but Jeep had no other odo gears that could get any closer. Fine engineering.

At 60 MPH it would show 68 MPH.
You mean the other way around. Going 68, it would show 60.

Thanks Mugen. I did mean the other way around and I corrected it. I asked the officer if he could clock me to verify what I had suspected and while he said that he couldn't do that, he did say that he would be traveling at 60 MPH when he left. :) Sure enough, my speedo said 68 MPH.

The odometer on my RL reads 1.5% high based both on GPS readings and 100 miles of Interstate mileage markers.

1.5% error is barely within my personal level of tolerance. That's about 80 feet in a mile. Not so bad for speed, not so good for clocking.
Unlike the Jeep, maybe Honda can adjust that!? :)

Thanks Mugen. I did mean the other way around and I corrected it. I asked the officer if he could clock me to verify what I had suspected and while he said that he couldn't do that, he did say that he would be traveling at 60 MPH when he left. :) Sure enough, my speedo said 68 MPH.

How did you get a speeding ticket when the speedo showed a faster speed than actual? As far as your speedo, you must have been going way over the limit.

How did you get a speeding ticket when the speedo showed a faster speed than actual?
Darn senior moments. You are right DoctorJ. When he was going 60, my speedometer showed in the low 50's. He ticketed me for going 68 MPH when I thought I was going 60 according to the speedometer. The speed was posted as 55 but Oregon has a strange "basic speed" law that makes 55 not an absolute. It was raining out and I was in the mountains. He thought I was going too fast for conditions. With all wheel drive, I felt very secure, but I wouldn't have been driving 68 if I had known.

I've never checked the accuracy of my Ridgeline's speedometer so I guess it's time to do so. I rarely drive on the Interstate, and it isn't nearby, so I think I'll have one of my coworkers clock me with radar at various speeds. If the speedo is off, is it safe to assume that the odometer is off too?

If mine is off by more than 1 or 2 MPH in the 60-70 MPH range, I will contact Honda and ask when I can expect them to fix it.

So, I had the dealer check out the overage on the mileage and turns out the Ridgeline is off by 3.5% and they said that it is within an acceptable range.
So, I guess I'll just have to leave extra early to get there on time since where ever i go it is 3.5% further to go..
LOL....HEE HEE

If the speedo is off, is it safe to assume that the odometer is off too?
Well yes and no. My odometer is off by 1.5% (reads high). At 60 mph, that is less than 1 mph error on the speedometer. So looking at the speedo, it pretty much agrees with my GPS, given the width of the hash marks. It wasn't untill I started doing mileage checks that I found the error.

So, I had the dealer check out the overage on the mileage and turns out the Ridgeline is off by 3.5% and they said that it is within an acceptable range.
So if your odometer is racking up more miles than actually driven, your mileage based warranty will expire that much sooner. I would document the dealer's determination and then use it to my advantage if my truck needed warranty work beyond the warranty period.

60,000 miles x 3.5% = 2,100 miles that were not driven

Interestingly, I have three Honda's and a Ford.

Comparing their mileages with my portable GPS, I've found ALL three Hondas have mileage inconsistant with the GPS, and the Ford almost dead on.

This also applies to the indicated speeds versus GPS indicated speed.

I once read that Honda (and many other American brands) intentionally shows a faster speed than actual to save you from a speeding ticket. I don't know if thats true -or not.

Since the odometer and speedometer are directly linked, it is important to have a true reading of one or the other. Check out your speedometer on a nice smooth level stretch of interstate highway. I have found the "mile markers" quite accurate in my neck'o'woods. The important thing is to have a course of 5,280 feet in length to check this over.

Set the cruise for at any speed. Time accurately one mile with second hand or stopwatch function on digital device. 3600 divided by the number of seconds for the mile is your true speed. Example: set cruise at 65mph for one mile. Timed exactly 56 seconds for the mile. 3600 / 56 = 64.28 mph.

My GPS (Garmin Quest) is right on, to the nearest 1 mph. My RL is about 0.5 mph low, before and after the TSB in this link.
http://www.ridgelineownersclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10960 This method is discussed more there.

Another consideration of an inaccurate odometer is fuel mileage calculations. If the odo is reading higher than the actual distance traveled, the vehicle's true MPG is lower. So, if my coffee isn't failing me, on a vehicle with a +3.5% odometer, the true MPG would be 3.5% less.

20 displayed MPG = 19.3 actual MPG

This doesn't seem like much until you consider the millions of miles driven with the huge number of vehicles that Honda sells.

I feel that odometers should be a helluva lot more accurate than +/-3.5%. I wonder how Honda's lending branch would like it if everyone's monthly loan payment was reduced by 3.5% because it was determined, by the borrowers, to be an acceptable error rate.

Since the odometer and speedometer are directly linked, it is important to have a true reading of one or the other.

I am not an expert, but as I recall, the article discussing indicated speeds intentionally being skewed to help avoid speeding tickets also determined that the miles indicated were NOT skewed. If this is correct, then they would not be directly linked.

I think this was an article in Car and Driver Magazine, dated back several years ago.

This is not a paid advertisement.

I think this was an article in Car and Driver Magazine, dated back several years ago.


I've found reference to the above article, C&D, Apr 02
http://www.caranddriver.com/features/1907/speedometer-scandal.html

Its not the whole article as I remember it, some some of their findings.

I think this was an article in Car and Driver Magazine, dated back several years ago.


I've found reference to the above article, C&D, Apr 02
http://www.caranddriver.com/features/1907/speedometer-scandal.html

Its not the whole article as I remember it, some some of their findings.
Interesting statistics! A direct link between odometer and speedometer? Well, very nearly at the least. The standard deviation within each group spans the averages and would therefore be inconclusive for an individual sample.
My not-so-nearly scientific study involved different size tires and fairly exact clocking and timing. But alas, my "studies" have an accuracy of only about 2%. In them old days of a single (mechanical) speedometer cable, it would run forward (and backward) at the same rate. ;)

Might be a Honda "thing".
Every Honda VTX motorcycle I know of or have heard of is off by 10%. ( speed registers high)
Mine included....
There are even after market folks that make "speedo healers" for the bikes.:confused:

VTX

I have owned MANY Honda's and as far as the speed odometer has ALWAYS been faster than actual speed. If you set the speed at 60 mph your actual speed may be at 56-57 range. Every Honda I have owned has been like that.
As for the GPS …It will only be Accurate on flat level ground. It will track forward motion and that will vary going up and down hills. And the Quality of the GPS is also important . It may track you within a few inches of your actual position or several feet.
I hope this information is useful.

my 2 cent:D
I just recently driven a long ways and remembered about this thread. I've check my navi with the speed reading, comparing to the speedo in my RL. its reading correctly, but i don't know how true is the odometer in reading milage. But the speedo is true to the reading in comparisson to my gps navi.

I knew the attached was on the way, but I had to wait to let everyone know. Yes, there was a lawsuit about the odometer being incorrect and it is now awaiting court approval.

Owners of 2006 Ridgelines will be receiving a letter regarding warranty extension.

Here's the TSB that was just issued.

More info attached.

Uh oh. Does this also mean that our MPG calculated the old fashoned way with pencil and paper is also showing it to be artifically high? Maybe that is the reason that Honda won't give us a trip computer. Phoey!

Another consideration of an inaccurate odometer is fuel mileage calculations. If the odo is reading higher than the actual distance traveled, the vehicle's true MPG is lower. So, if my coffee isn't failing me, on a vehicle with a +3.5% odometer, the true MPG would be 3.5% less.

20 displayed MPG = 19.3 actual MPG

This doesn't seem like much until you consider the millions of miles driven with the huge number of vehicles that Honda sells.

I feel that odometers should be a helluva lot more accurate than +/-3.5%. I wonder how Honda's lending branch would like it if everyone's monthly loan payment was reduced by 3.5% because it was determined, by the borrowers, to be an acceptable error rate.
Maybe those of us who won't be reaching the "new" mileage limit before the 3yrs runs out should get this kinda compensation! :p
Hell... aren't all of us victims of "sticker fraud" if this is the case?
Have the stated "MPG's" been changed on the new 2007 window stickers?
:confused:

Uh oh. Does this also mean that our MPG calculated the old fashoned way with pencil and paper is also showing it to be artifically high? Maybe that is the reason that Honda won't give us a trip computer. Phoey!

Good question. Not all Honda odometers are inaccurate... it was proven that they are generally up to 5% inaccurate. Yours may be dead on accurate. Unless you had a speedometer shop check it out there's no sure way to know.

As for the trip computer... the TSB covers many models that also have a trip computer so I don't think this issue had anything to do with the trip computer.

So, did Honda fix the odometer on the 2007 Ridgelines, or were 2007 Ridgelines simply not included in the original class for the lawsuit?

If the first answer is the right one (odometer fixed), I feel better about my 18-19 mpg compared with the guys with '06 Ridges who are reporting 20-21 :D

What other Honda models are included? (We have an '05 Oddity & an '06 Accord, too!)

So, did Honda fix the odometer on the 2007 Ridgelines, or were 2007 Ridgelines simply not included in the original class for the lawsuit?

If the first answer is the right one (odometer fixed), I feel better about my 18-19 mpg compared with the guys with '06 Ridges who are reporting 20-21 :D

What other Honda models are included? (We have an '05 Oddity & an '06 Accord, too!)

From the lawsuit:

"Honda changed its odometer tolerance standard for 2007 automobiles (except for the 2007 Honda Fit), from -1% to +3.75% to -2.25% to +2.25%"....

Hope this clears up why 2007 Rigeline's aren't included.

Thanks for the info, Other-Joe. That clears it up for me.

Looks like my wife (Ody) & daughter ('06 Accord) will get warranty extensions :)

Interesting that Honda only reduced the overall error margin from 4.75% to 4.5% but went to a non-skewed tolerance. As it was, they tolerated errors that worked against consumers on warranty claims.

What will be interesting, however, will be to see actual production QA stats. What percent of production errs on the -2.25% as opposed to the +2.25% side of the distribution?

Since these two are inter-related usually, not sure about the Ridge..
Is the Speedometer also off then? Or has this been addressed already in another post?

After I had gotten the tranny mod I noticed an increase in distance on the odometer. I made mention of this. Before the mod it was dead on. Dispite some speculation I am absolutley sure this happened.

Thank you for highlighting this issue.
I checked my Odometer with my handheld GPS (I did total of 5 tests) – my Odo is off by 6.5%. this equates to 2,340 miles over the warranty period.

I checked my other vehicles and they are:
Ford expedition: Dead on accurate (280 mile test)
Infinity I30: off by 1.5% (190 mile test)
KIA Sedona: off 1.9% (345 mile test)

Motorcycles are notorious, I have 3 sports bikes and they are only off from 2.8 to 3.5%.

This is unacceptable practice by Honda

The speeodmeter and odometer are totally un related to each other. The information is received by the cluster, from seperate peices of information from the engine.

The speeodmeter and odometer are totally un related to each other. The information is received by the cluster, from seperate peices of information from the engine.

Jay is right, they are COMPLETELY unrelated! They get their data from different sources.

Corrections to my post:

First - my apologies to the readers for the inaccurate information.

The actual mileage discrepancy of my test is 1.2%.

The root cause for my erroneous tests results was:

My hand held GPS some times takes up to 2, 3 minutes to initialize. In my original tests I turned the hand held on (the odometer was re-set to zero) and drove away not realizing that the odometer reading on the hand held was not started.

Any way, after realizing this, I did a test last weekend.
Ridgeline Odo reading: 290
Hand held GPS Odo reading: 287 miles

Not too bad.

As far as the speedometer goes... I've been passing one of those "YOUR SPEED IS: **" machines on the way to work for the past two weeks, and each time, my RL's speedometer is dead-on. It's setup for 45mph. I've passed it going anywhere from 29mph to 56mph and not only the speedometer is the same, but my ScanGauge read-out is, also.

Which raises the question... Just how accurate are those machines, anyways?

Jay is right, they are COMPLETELY unrelated! They get their data from different sources.
May be. But mine must be passing notes to one another. ;)
Same <1% error for both, any way you want to determine it, before & after the TSB.
BTW, <1% is very acceptable to me. :)

Corrections to my post:

First - my apologies to the readers for the inaccurate information.

The actual mileage discrepancy of my test is 1.2%.

The root cause for my erroneous tests results was:

My hand held GPS some times takes up to 2, 3 minutes to initialize. In my original tests I turned the hand held on (the odometer was re-set to zero) and drove away not realizing that the odometer reading on the hand held was not started.

Any way, after realizing this, I did a test last weekend.
Ridgeline Odo reading: 290
Hand held GPS Odo reading: 287 miles

Not too bad.

Your GPS unit, if it is similar to mine, will sample every second or so. The distance calculated between sampling is done by what looks like a straight line. This may also account why the GPS has a lower number that the odometer. This is if your GPS works like mine (Garmin Quest).

Using a GPS to check your odometer is would be highly inaccurate unless your on a perfectly level and striaght road. GPS will measure a direct striaght line regardless of elevation change, where the odo measures up and down the hills. And depending on the number of Sat hits would chane the accuracy. Im in the survey business we use very accurate and expensive GPS and they still don't match the odo in any vehicle.

Using a GPS to check your odometer is would be highly inaccurate unless your on a perfectly level and striaght road. GPS will measure a direct striaght line regardless of elevation change, where the odo measures up and down the hills. And depending on the number of Sat hits would chane the accuracy. Im in the survey business we use very accurate and expensive GPS and they still don't match the odo in any vehicle.

"Perfectly level and striaght (sp)" I'm in Kansas. Straight & Level is not a problem. :eek: Just spent all day with my RTK. ;)
Steven S. Brosemer, PLS

BTW, a constant 2% grade (2 feet change of elevation per 100 feet) would add 104 feet to a mile or about a 2% odometer error. A constant 1% grade would only add 26 feet to a mile or a 0.5% error.

Re: My now eleven day old Ridge...

I took a 200 mile trip yesterday. I set my Garmin Nuvi 660 and my trip odometer to zero for the trip. Got back last night with my Garmin showing just under 1.5 miles more than the Ridge. I'ma thinkin' that's about less than one percent...(0.75% for you purists!)

Geo
Luckily I work in a warm flat office all day, too old to be in the field anymore.

Geo
Luckily I work in a warm flat office all day, too old to be in the field anymore.
Bet I'm older than you. ;) Seriously, every technological advancement in measuring has lengthened the time and years that I can spend in the field, which is where I want to be because of the rural nature of our work. My late father was still occasionally in the field at 78!
BTW, gotta love that Dave quote in your sig!

Concerning the class action lawsuit, got my letter in the mail last week. Refers to this site: http://www.odosettlementinfo.com/

Looks like you lease guys between 2002 and 2006 with Honda and Acura vehicles will get a pay back on your excess mileage. All others will get a warranty extension.

I don't know Geo, I'm 27 years in the business, might be close. Thanks for the Sig, I just had to use it.

Looks like my post blow some steam at Honda. We got that class action law suit and we won...
Ya like it had anything to do with me.
:p

Decided to run an odometer accuracy test during my long Interstate highway drives to RidgeRun 2007. Actually, I ran two (one westbound, one eastbound), each at 100 miles using the Interstate mile markers (checked my tire pressure each morning with all of my stock size tires reading exactly 32.0 psi).

Each test yielded the exact same result, off by less than a car (truck) length over the 100 mile tests (my odometer registered the 100th mile just before I reached the mile marker). Even if you conservatively estimate the distance variance of each run at 25 feet (it was definitely less), that would only be 25,000 feet (4.7 miles) in 100,000 miles - less than a 0.05% variance (25,000/528,000,000=0.0004735)!

Not bad for any mass-produced product IMHO.

Has anyone else noticed that the trip odometer(s) register different mileages than the speedo odometer? Mine are different readings for just the approximately 300 miles between fillups.

I forgot which way the difference was (+ or -), but now everyone's piqued my curiosity. I think the trip odo registered higher miles than the speedo's. I'll have to recheck this.

Has anyone else noticed that the trip odometer(s) register different mileages than the speedo odometer? Mine are different readings for just the approximately 300 miles between fillups.

I forgot which way the difference was (+ or -), but now everyone's piqued my curiosity. I think the trip odo registered higher miles than the speedo's. I'll have to recheck this.

I happened to compare the trip odo on mine to the recorded mileage from a Davis Carchip for a single fuel stop during a long trip last spring. I was quite surprised to see a difference, because I did not expect the two devices to be using different inputs.

Unfortunately, I didn't write down the numbers, but it was something on the order of 10 miles out of just less than 300. I have intended to do a more rigorous test, but the opportunity has not presented itself.

It's still on my list... :o

I happened to compare the trip odo on mine to the recorded mileage from a Davis Carchip for a single fuel stop during a long trip last spring. I was quite surprised to see a difference, because I did not expect the two devices to be using different inputs.

Unfortunately, I didn't write down the numbers, but it was something on the order of 10 miles out of just less than 300. I have intended to do a more rigorous test, but the opportunity has not presented itself.

It's still on my list... :o

I think remember the same thing, Teezer. I think the trip odo measured a greater distance, but I'm not sure. I'll recheck it to confirm - it'll take some time, maybe a few fillups.

The odometer on my RL reads 1.5% high based both on GPS readings and 100 miles of Interstate mileage markers.
I once had a '74 Jeep Wagoneer Quadratrac as a company car. At 68 MPH it would show 60 MPH. I discovered the error when I received a speeding ticket. It was still under warranty and I tried to have it repaired but Jeep had no other odo gears that could get any closer. Fine engineering.

I had a similar experience with the RL. I got clocked by a state trooper doing 99 when my speedo read 95. Roughly a 5% error. Does this error with the speedometer effect odometer reading? Inquiring minds want to know.

My odometer is high by 5 miles in 300. I noticed it when I was using Mapquest directions and it would say "drive 300 miles and then turn right on..." so I would drive what I thought was 300 miles and start looking for the right turn. I wouldn't see it for five miles and then I checked the odometer against the mile markers on the side of the road and discovered the problem. Now I can compensate (when I have my calculator).

My odometer is high by 5 miles in 300. I noticed it when I was using Mapquest directions and it would say "drive 300 miles and then turn right on..." so I would drive what I thought was 300 miles and start looking for the right turn. I wouldn't see it for five miles and then I checked the odometer against the mile markers on the side of the road and discovered the problem. Now I can compensate (when I have my calculator).
Let me do a little bit of that for you. That works out to be a 1.7% error, nearly exactly what mine was. That means that in a mile, your vehicle rolls an extra 88 feet. The stock LTX's are listed at 700 revolutions per mile. To take that extra 88 feet out of the equation, one would need to reduce the revs per mile to 688.3. I purchased Goodyear Wrangler SA 245/70/17 that are listed at 684 per mile. Now my odometer is nearly "dead on"! :)

Let me do a little bit of that for you. That works out to be a 1.7% error, nearly exactly what mine was. That means that in a mile, your vehicle rolls an extra 88 feet. The stock LTX's are listed at 700 revolutions per mile. To take that extra 88 feet out of the equation, one would need to reduce the revs per mile to 688.3. I purchased Goodyear Wrangler SA 245/70/17 that are listed at 684 per mile. Now my odometer is nearly "dead on"! :)

Do the revs per mile change as the tires wear? I did my odometer measurements when my tires were brand new. Maybe I should do it again now that I have 35,000 miles on them. I will certainly consider revs per mile when I get new tires.

Do the revs per mile change as the tires wear? I did my odometer measurements when my tires were brand new. Maybe I should do it again now that I have 35,000 miles on them. I will certainly consider revs per mile when I get new tires.
Yes, revs per mile are basically a function of diameter (or radius). Tires wear and become smaller.

Do the revs per mile change as the tires wear? I did my odometer measurements when my tires were brand new. Maybe I should do it again now that I have 35,000 miles on them.
Yes they do. If our tires when new travel 700 revs per mile, then when worn the approximate maximum 8/32", they will travel about 702 revs per mile resulting in an error of approx. 14 feet per mile, or less than 0.30%. I don't think I'd worry about it. :)

Yes they do. If our tires when new travel 700 revs per mile, then when worn the approximate maximum 8/32", they will travel about 702 revs per mile resulting in an error of approx. 14 feet per mile, or less than 0.30%. I don't think I'd worry about it. :)
Yes, but if you're at 1.7% already, then the error advances to 2%. If your normal, no big deal. If you're abnormal like me (I use the odometer at work to clock 1/2 miles and full miles), then it can become an issue. Plus, your gas mileage calculations are off by that amount or about 1/2 mile per gallon. And to think my wife thinks I'm anal. :confused:

And to think my wife thinks I'm anal.
How did she ever come up with a crazy idea like that? :D
You could get a Scanguage and dial it in to the correct mileage.

How did she ever come up with a crazy idea like that? :D
You could get a Scanguage and dial it in to the correct mileage.
I've been eyeing that device but I'm concerned that I'll screw up something during installation. Boy, could I do a lot of anal-y-sis of the vehicle performance, though! :eek:

Not much to screw up. I mounted mine on the top of the dash with the provided Velcro strip, ran the cord around the side of the dash so it isn't visible with the door closed, plugged it into the OBDII port and tie wrapped it a few spots. Any anal can do it. :D

Not much to screw up. I mounted mine on the top of the dash with the provided Velcro strip, ran the cord around the side of the dash so it isn't visible with the door closed, plugged it into the OBDII port and tie wrapped it a few spots. Any anal can do it. :D
OBDII port is the diagnostic port just to the left of the dash, above the foot feed?

That's the one, geotech.