OBD-Laptop setups

[Taz480]

Hope I am in the right forum.

Im thinking of getting an OBD1 and/or OBD2 setup for my laptop. From what Ive read, they provide the same info/data that the big service shops get fom their professional readers and computers but cost quite a bit less because you already have the hardware, in my case, my $1200 HP Pavilion laptop. All you buy is an adapter cable and obtain the software. They even make them with USB 2.0 connectors instead of the old 9-pin serial connectors cuz most newer laptops don't have the 9-pin anymore, such as mine.


What Im looking for is some clarification on what years are covered under each system. I have read that OBD1 is for 1995 and older, and OBD2 is for 1996 and newer. Is this accurate? Is it that simple or is there more to it in that respect? Also, does anyone know of a good place to purchase an adapter/cable setup and purchase/download some data reading software and what kind?? (There's some that are free, from what I've read.)

I been googling around on it but some seem a little scammish and I want the real deal.

Thanx for any help!!

PS-
The two cars I own that I would mainly use it on are my 1995 Geo Metro and my 1991 Plymouth Voyager, if that matters. Just thought I'd throw that in there. But it would also be cool to have the software and cables to hook up to friends/families vehicles, ya know?

[jawberger]

hey just letting you know you might want to look into the 95 to see if it's obd1 or 2 since some 95's had obd2 systems installed, I know a lot of the 95 geo prizms have obd2 systems... I use to own a obd2 system for my laptop I sold it off a couple months ago it was called proscan but it's only for obd2 their website is http://www.myscantool.com/

[boarder_punk]

A computer setup for OBD1 would be a waste of time (if you could even find one) due to the fact that there wasn't a standard connector or operating system mandated. Many OBD1 cars don't even have a connector, they might flash either the service light or an LED at you.

OBD1 went until 1995. OBD2 is 1996 and later, though california mandated OBD2 two years sooner than the rest of the country so some 1994/1995 cars may have an OBD2 operating system.