OBD2 vs OBD1: The difference, and why it matters

OBD1 and OBD2 – no, they’re not characters from the latest Star Wars movie. As every workshop technician knows, OBD systems are vital tools in automotive diagnostics and collision repair. Modern On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) keep a vehicle running smoothly and safely, monitoring every electronic and computerised element from the ABS brakes to the airbags, the transmission to the electric windows.

With the evolution from OBD1 to OBD 2, we thought it timely to take a closer look and learn what the difference is, do you need it, how it works, and how you can have it working in your workshop to better enhance efficiency and keep costs down.

On-Board Diagnostics – what you already know

On-Board Diagnostics has been around since the 1980s, when electronic fuel injection and electronics first began appearing in new vehicles, which necessitated a more sophisticated monitoring system. Primarily, though, OBD existed to monitor emission control systems. Using a variety of different communication protocols, the system monitored and reported on the performance of a vehicle’s engine and emission control systems, allowing mechanics to identify and repair problems early on.

These earliest iterations differed between manufacturers, and the codes, systems and information gathered by each OBD system varied widely, making them unnecessarily complex for technicians to work with. Every vehicle make needed a new tool, and repairers were often forced to go to dealership technicians to diagnose issues.

In the early 1990s, Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) and the International Standardisation Organisation (ISO) issued a set of standards formalising the interchange of digital information between engine control units (ECUs) and a diagnostic scan tool. The result is a more advanced computerised diagnostic system known as OBD2, which has been mandatory on all cars sold in the United States and Canada since 1996 and in Europe since 2001. In Australia, most vehicles sold after 2010 are OBD2 compliant.

Why OBD2 belongs in your workshop

When a vehicle arrives in your repair workshop, it is critical that you be able to diagnose its vital systems. Warning lights, ABS, airbags and more may be at risk, creating unsafe driving and potential disaster. An automotive diagnostic tool, or scanner, is vital in being able to read and interpret the data, communicating with your car’s ‘brain’, or ECU, to diagnose fault codes. Repairify’s All-In-One Diagnostic Tool does what it says – it puts the ability to diagnose, program and calibrate in your hands, so you’ll be returning more cars to the road safely and in the quickest time.

Our All-In-One is a powerful combination of tools providing aftermarket diagnostic, programming and calibration services, with the added ability to plug into our remote
service offerings. It gives you access to real-time data analytics and ensures you’re diagnosing, calibrating and programming with the latest OEM software.

With Repairify’s OBD tool, you will be able to service a wide range of vehicles quickly and easily, without the need for manufacturer-specific tools. Using your internet connection, this
dynamic device gives you the ability to diagnose and repair with confidence, by connecting to our database of OEM tools and integrated aftermarket data.

In Conclusion

Automotive diagnostic scanners are an important tool for monitoring and maintaining the performance of a vehicle, allowing repair technicians to diagnose and troubleshoot a range of engine problems. They provide important information about a vehicle’s health and can save valuable time in the collision repair workshop.

With Repairify, you always have access to the latest OBD tools and automotive diagnostics, right when you need it.

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