Car shopping help (OBD)

"66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash" (66671)
09/16/2018 at 12:07 • Filed to: None

In a hypothetical scenario in which I am looking for a (used) car, should I be worried about whether a car has obd 1 or 2?

If a car has both across model years, should I really only consider obd 2 models?

DISCUSSION (13)

dogisbadob > 66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash
09/16/2018 at 12:18

Depends on whether you have inspection where you are.

Some states only have inspection for 96 and up (OBDI). So, in that case, if you get a 95 or older, you don’t have to go to inspection.

66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash > dogisbadob
09/16/2018 at 12:23

Ok ye ah I’ll have to look that up, but as a system obd 1 is as good as obd 2 and is easy to work with?

dogisbadob > 66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash
09/16/2018 at 12:25

depends on the car/mfr. Because OBD2 is when they brought more standardization to the systems.

And of course, not all scan tools can work with the various OBD1's out there. But some of them don’t require one.

The obd2 might be easier to work with.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > 66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash
09/16/2018 at 12:25

If you do your own wrenching, OBD2 is best. It adopted a universal connection port rather than using the manufacturer-specific proprietary ports that OBD1 used. It’ll be much easier to pull codes from the ECU rather than having to decode a blinking light in your dash.

Spanfeller is a twat > 66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash
09/16/2018 at 12:38

I’d try to get an OBDII for ease of diagnosis and servicing , but it depends on whether your area has inspections, inspections for OBDI cars tend to be much less rigorous or downright inexistant .

Future Heap Owner > 66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash
09/16/2018 at 13:14

I was a bit worried about troubleshooting on my OBD-I truck, but when the engine light came on I learned that all I had to do was jump two pins in the port with a paper clip and on start up it would flash out a decimal code I could look up. Arguably easier than using a scan tool!

Of course this is for a GM vehicle; I don’t know if it’s the same for other manufacturers’ OBD-I systems.

Dogsatemypants > 66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash
09/16/2018 at 13:40

Obd 1 it means no emissions inspection and you can diagnose a cel with a paperclip. Just bridge pins 1 and 11

Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's > 66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash
09/16/2018 at 13:51

Using the LS as pictured above as an example , being a gen 2.5 it has obd2 and is very easy to work with. I have a 1997 ls400 and use a Bluetooth ob2 reader to check codes and run the Torque app. Earlier generations require you to basically short out connections in the obd1 plug to make thecodes display on the dash. Not impossible, but very different from all other modern cars.

Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks > 66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash
09/16/2018 at 14:04

There is a persistent LIE (do not fucking argue with a mechanic) that OBD-II is more “standardized.”

It is not.

It just standardized where the sixteen hundred plus manufacturer and model specific codes go. Except not.

You will still need the actual manufacturer’s equipment to do anything that is not emissions. OBD-I or OBD-II. Period. You are not fixing the ABS without a Tech2 or Tis2win on a GM and you ain’t clearing the ACM fault on a Ford without the Rotunda box.

So no, it doesn’t matter. You’re still going to need the proper tools.

sony1492 > Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks
09/16/2018 at 14:22

To yota/lexus did the same thing

Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks > sony1492
09/16/2018 at 14:34

They all did it, they all still do it. OBD-II just says “manufacturer specific codes can’t conflict with the standardized codes, and all emissions has to be in one place.” I could build a MY2019 car with separate ABS, airbag, and transmission computers that don ’t speak OBD and still be 100% legal.

sony1492 > Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks
09/16/2018 at 15:21

Meant to reply to someone in regards to obd1 codes being readable with a paperclip. I'm aware how fucked it is to diagnose anything that isn't emissions, expensive manufacturer specific scantool(and then there's the subscription)

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks
09/17/2018 at 07:38

This!