8V 2013–2020
Driver's footwell, to the right of the steering column, above the pedals, same open, uncovered access. Same position across all 8V trims (SE, Sport, S line, S3, RS3).
Audi A3 OBD port location
Four generations, 2003–2026. Pick yours.
2020–2026
8Y
Location
LHD: driver's footwell, left of the steering column and high up above the footrest, tucked under the lower edge of the dash rather than hanging below it. The 16-pin socket faces downwards, so it is faster to find by running a hand up the outboard side of the footwell than by ducking under the wheel. RHD (UK cars): mirror position — driver's footwell on the right of the steering column, again high up above the pedals under the lower dash edge, roughly level with your right knee when seated. Same position across the whole range including Sportback, Saloon, S3 and RS3, and unchanged by the 2024 facelift. One trap on UK cars: the 8Y is not a straight mirror of the left-hand-drive car everywhere, because the passenger-compartment fuse box moves from the driver's dash end to behind the glovebox on right-hand drive. Do not use a fuse-box lid as your landmark on a UK 8Y — work from the steering column and the footwell trim.
How to access
There is a small hinged lid in the driver's footwell trim. Pull it open by hand — no tools — and it swings up far enough to expose the dash cavity with the 16-pin connector immediately inside, angled downwards. On some builds the socket already sits proud of the trim and is visible without opening anything; if you cannot see it, that lid is what you are looking for.
No diagram for this one yet. Ask for one and we'll draw it. The more requests, the sooner.
Also on this A3
- KeysSmart key
- Tools confirmed13
- Transponder chipSubscribers
- Programming procedureSubscribers
2020–2026
8Y
Illustration — use it to know where to look.
Location
LHD: driver's footwell, left of the steering column and high up above the footrest, tucked under the lower edge of the dash rather than hanging below it. The 16-pin socket faces downwards, so it is faster to find by running a hand up the outboard side of the footwell than by ducking under the wheel. RHD (UK cars): mirror position — driver's footwell on the right of the steering column, again high up above the pedals under the lower dash edge, roughly level with your right knee when seated. Same position across the whole range including Sportback, Saloon, S3 and RS3, and unchanged by the 2024 facelift. One trap on UK cars: the 8Y is not a straight mirror of the left-hand-drive car everywhere, because the passenger-compartment fuse box moves from the driver's dash end to behind the glovebox on right-hand drive. Do not use a fuse-box lid as your landmark on a UK 8Y — work from the steering column and the footwell trim.
Also on this A3
- KeysSmart key
- Tools confirmed9
- Transponder chipSubscribers
- Programming procedureSubscribers
8P 2003–2012
Driver's footwell, low under the steering column in an open recess right next to the bonnet-release lever (Ross-Tech places it 'by the hood latch'). RHD UK cars: the recess is on the right, under the column; LHD cars: mirrored to the left. The 16-pin socket sits up inside the recess, so you reach up into it rather than seeing it face-on. Same position across all 8P trims (SE, Sport, S line, S3, RS3).
Questions
Audi A3 OBD questions
8Y (2020–2026): LHD: driver's footwell, left of the steering column and high up above the footrest, tucked under the lower edge of the dash rather than hanging below it. 8Y (2020–2026): LHD: driver's footwell, left of the steering column and high up above the footrest, tucked under the lower edge of the dash rather than hanging below it. 8V (2013–2020): Driver's footwell, to the left of the steering column, above the pedals — the 16-pin socket sits open under the lower dash edge with no cover. On a right-hand-drive 8V: Driver's footwell, to the right of the steering column, above the pedals, same open, uncovered access. 8P (2003–2012): Driver's footwell, low under the steering column in an open recess right next to the bonnet-release lever (Ross-Tech places it 'by the hood latch').
Found the port. Now program the key.
Step-by-step add-key and all-keys-lost procedures for every A3, which of your tools will do it, and what catches people out.
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