OBD II port

Hello, my name is Michael and I am having an issue when a DTC scanner is plugged into my obd 2 connector. When scanner is plugged in it sometimes powers up and then turns off and then has trouble communicating with the scanner. I was wondering could it be that one of the pins is bent or even clogged with dust or debris causing an unclear reading? Also, where I got the car smogged, the the guy was able to get it go communicate and passed smog but advised me to get that issue fixed. He said he was able to check the monitors without using the obd2 port, how is that done and get the car to communicate without using port? Any ideas to this situation? I highly appreciate your thoughts and ideas. Thanks so much and God bless.
Michael.