OBD for Dummies - The Freelance Files MMCCXVIII

OBD2 Scanner

The most irritating (at least to us here at AN) self-appointed "freelance journalists" of the web are those who have somehow convinced themselves that they can reword any text about any topic and still make sense. On second thought, they're he second most irritating: the worst are the ones who know they can't but are too greedy to stop. One among that group is the DifferenceBetween.net denizen Mabelle, one of many incompetents on that particular site. This time out, we're calling "her" out for the post, "Difference Between OBD1 and OBD2."

If you're going to explain said difference, it helps to know a little about it. Mabelle's ignorance is obvious from the first sentence:

"When you’re buying a vehicle, two terms that will often confuse you are OBD1 and OBD2. "

To that declaration, we offer a hearty cough*bullshit*cough! We are darned near CERTAIN that no car buyer has been worried about OBD1 vs. OBD2 since the early 1990s. With the author's knowledge deficit in mind, let's have a look at some of the rubbish Mabelle barfed up:

• "The acronym refers to On-Board Diagnostics." – Technically, it's an initialism, but non-English speakers often confuse the two.
• "With advancements in technology, came the improvements of OBD systems, and the latest ones use a standardized digital communications port that provides real-time data." – While sort of correct, a major differences are that OBD2 is standardized across all makes and models, not manufacturer-specific.
• "When it came to its effectiveness, the OBD1 was not really that successful in forcing drivers to pass the emission control system’s test." – Say what?
• "OBD2 has better signalling [sic] protocols and messaging formats. When used in emission control system tests, it can provide better results for a vehicle’s parameters." – That's the very definition of mumbo-jumbo!
• "OBD1 is typically connected to the console, so that the port can be diagnosed." – Sorry, dumbass, but you don't "diagnose the port"! OBD, whether 1 or 2, displays a trouble code that allows the mechanic (or owner) to determine the source of a malfunction, either in the engine or other systems.
• "OBD2 is remotely used to diagnose ports, and reads data through a Bluetooth connection." – There's that "diagnose ports" bull again. As for bluetooth? You have to have a bluetooth-enabled OBD scanner plugged into the OBD port, you moron.

Therein lies the chief problem with letting ignorant freelancers like Mabelle, who very likely had never heard of OBD before, "inform" the public. Then again, without ignorant freelancers like this one, we'd have a hard time finding new Dumbass of the Day candidates. All told, it's probably a wash.

SE - AUTOMOTIVE