How to get a stuck OBD tuner off the car port
Diagnostic tool connectors and tuning devices often get jammed tightly into the vehicle port, refusing to budge despite prying, wiggling, or pulling. Because the housing is tightly pushed into stock connectors or cramped stock locations without rear access, trying to force it loose can snap attached cables or leave you completely stuck.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
- 1Using a mechanic's hook and pick set to reach around the shell and lift the edge away from the locking projection
- 2Inserting a small jeweler's-type flat-head screwdriver between the shell and projection to lift it while pulling
- 3using de-pinning tools from the front side
- 4using makeshift tools to push aside plastic latches
- 5leaving the fallen microphone cable inside the dashboard
- 6Using needle nose pliers
- 7Using tweezers
- 8Applying super glue to a dowel or disassembled pen barrel to stick to the piece and pull it out
- 9Using picks or thin drivers to tilt and extract the piece
- 10Using a pick tool to push the locking tabs out from the clip side
In their words
Unedited, most upvoted first, each linked to the thread it came from.
“Unfortunately, it's stuck. I mean, it won't come off no matter how much I pry with a non-marrying stuff tool, or wiggling it left to right.”source ↗
“I'm frustrated and have tried contacting Tunezillas' customer service, but to no avail.”source ↗
“The previous harness/radio cables are actually stuck directly into the factory radio connection block. How do I safely remove these terminal pins?”source ↗
“Additionally, when removing the after market unit, the very cheap hand free microphone cable snapped and the microphone head fell down the back of the steering column. Could anyone advise how I can safely remove this?”source ↗
“I can’t access the back as it’s pushed into the stock connector. The other side is the housing for it and a cable running from the car”source ↗
“What is the recommended way to lift the red locking tab without using excessive force, which either breaks the tab or my fingers 😂 Please tell me there is a way to make it easy because I'm about to need a straight jacket.”source ↗
“No idea where to go from here or how to get it out; pls help”source ↗
Where this came up
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