hi folks, i am a new guy and happy i found this forum.

bought a 98 SL500 a few months ago for my wife and she loves it. after getting it serviced back in October, the check engine light came on. before i got a chance to do anything about, it went off (after about a week). now suddenly it is on again and has been on for a couple hundred miles now. it is a pain to take it in to shop, and i have an OBD II tester ,but I cannot find the diagnostic port! i dropped the panel under the dash on driver's side and it just ain't in there. Also, the low fuel light goes on and off often regardless of actual fuel level..is this common and what is fix??

Please, can anybody tell me where the port is??

Thanks!

Mike

 

My manual doesn't cover your car. Try on the LH fenderwell or behind the passenger side kiock panel... For $23 you can get an OEM manual from www.manualsunlimited.com I have one for my model & once you get the hang of navigating thru it, it's great.

 

not behind the ashtray too?

maybe your car doesn't use OBII.

 

The OBDII connector is under the driver's-side dash. No need to drop any panels to access it. It is hidden behind a little black plastic door though.

I don't believe the fuel lamp is a common problem. And since the signal which drives the fuel gauge is used by the cluster to turn-on the warning lamp, your lamp problem is probably in the cluster.

 

I had the same symptoms, including the low fuel lamp flashing. It turns out the low fuel lamp is a clue as it will flash if there is a vacuum leak in the fuel vapor recovery system. I was able to read the code via the OBD II connector under the port side of the dash. This pointed me to a possible fuel vapor leak. Inspecting under the hood, I found a small hose pulled loose near the fuel vapor cannistor. After reconnecting this hose, all was cured. Good luck to you.

 

Actually, in my 1998 500SL, the OBD port is the old-style 36 pin round connector and is located under the hood on the passenger side (right side) under a circular cap. The door mentioned earlier under the drivers side floor is there, but empty.

So if you want to connect to this connector with an OBD-2 probe, you'll need a converter.

Just wanted the thread to have pertinent infromation.

 

I have a 98 and mine is in the same spot
Got my converter from Amazon

 

Hi, I am picking up a nice 98 500 SL cheap. The seller says it needs a catalytic converter, My muffler shop says that car has four of them. From what I read, it looks like it should have a standard old fashioned OBD port, as I call them. My friend at the muffler shop uses a Matco scanner. If I buy a module for his machine or whatever it is called, will we be able to determine which one it needs? He says the rear two can be universals but the two front ones are expensive OEM parts.I am an old women, so forgive my lack of knowledge. So does it have the old style port and is this the way to go? Of can I get by with one of the cheap scanners on Amazon? Thank you in advance for your help! Carole