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Abandoned History: OBD-II and the Standardization of Our Troubles (Part III)
The era eventually deemed OBD-I was a difficult one for consumers and independent mechanics alike. Between about 1981 and 1995, manufacturers created their own proprietary vehicle data connections, diagnostic tools, code parameters, DTC numbering, and display methodologies. It created a tangled web that was a relative nightmare for anyone without access to an OEM diagnostic computer. Paper clips in hand, Americans dealt with the system until standardization was forced upon the industry by California’s Clean Air Resources Board (CARB). OBD-II was mandated for 1996 model year vehicles and introduced a whole new problem for the independent and shade tree mechanics and aftermarket parts manufacturers.
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