I have a 1992 Integra and my friend has a 2002 Accord. She is having some issues and her CEL came on. I also have been wanting to get some kind of software so I can tune up my teg and check out the performance and what not. Can anyone recommend a good cheap (yes I know contradicting) usb scanner that can do OBD1 and OBD2? I have a friend that works at a school and can get me almost any software for free, so the software is not a problem, just this is my first car that is after 1970 . Thanks guys.


Also, is there such a thing as a obd1 and obd2 usb tool, or would i have to get an obd1 usb tool and have a obd1 to obd2 adapter? thanks.

 

Obd1 does not offer any scan tools. Only obd2.

 

He speaks the truth.

If you want to read a check engine code on an OBD1 car you need to locate the service connector and loop the two wires in the connector together by sticking two ends of a paper clip (or a small wire, etc.) in each pin. The check engine light will then start flashing the code(s) in a "morse code" so to speak. Search and you will find a thread with all the codes and what the flashes mean.

Only OBD2 allows you to scan codes with a scanner and monitor engine parameters live, etc.

Hope this helps

 

Ok thanks. That saves me from countless hours of searching .

 

The only way to read obd1 on a ecu is by using some sort of EMS. Which will require you to modify your ecu and purchase tuning equipment.

 

That's completely untrue. There have always been obd1 scan tools except they were usually only available to the dealers. Nowdays, most obd2 scan tools can also read LIVE DATA from obd1 vehicles with the right adaptors. I have never seen an obd1 system that can't provide LIVE DATA of all sensors with the correct tool. All obd1 systems can and will provide LIVE SENSOR DATA if you have the right tool. To say that obd1 systems can only provide you with codes is completely false and anybody who claims this has absolutely no idea what they are talking about, they are simply making assumptions because they are not advanced enough to know better. I have been reading obd1 LIVE DATA since the 90's on almost all makes (everything domestic as well as Honda). Anybody who thinks you can't get LIVE DATA from Honda obd1 is a moron. The dealers were reading LIVE DATA from obd1 since day 1 in the 80's. That's why all Honda obd1 vehicles had the actual diagnostic connector (the 3 wire one, not the 2 wire one you jump with a paper clip to pull codes with the check engine light). Do you think the factory trained dealer techs were using a paper clip and reading the light flashes, lol. No they weren't, they had the right tool which provided them with LIVE SENSOR DATA. It's simple logic.... if the engine management system can see the data from the sensors, so can a tool. The data is there, why would they make it not accessible. It would be asinine to assume that the data is there for the pcm but can't be accessed by a tool, lol. If the data exists, it can be read, plain and simple.

 

This is absolutely not true, and never has been.