Alright, so I realized while dealing with a GP GTP this past 2 weeks that I need a better scan tool. Mine is this Actron scan tool:

http://www.amazon.com/Actron-CP9180-...4698820&sr=8-8

Picked it up for $100 retail on a nice sale one day. However, I need a new one that also reads ABS codes, and it would be nice to read OBD1 as well.

Anyone have any suggestions on a <$200 scan tool that will read OBD2, and ABS codes? Would also be nice to be able to read OBD1 and OBD1.5 codes as well.

I didn't even know there was an OBD 1.5. Tells you how much I know.

ABS will be tough. HPT doesn't see them from the car until around 2000. 97 and 98 Regals would never give up the info with HPT, standard actrons or DHP. I would have to use a mechanic level snap on brick, modus etc to see those.

OBD1.5 is a partial implementation of OBD2, while sill using OBD1 connectivity through an ALDL cable. It is more powerful and versatile than OBD1, but you need a scan tool that can specifically scan OBD1.5. These were mostly 1994 and 1995 vehicles, like my 95 Buick Regal. In the past I used an ALDL to USB cable (with a serial emulator) and TunerPro RT to get codes. GM doesn't officially call it OBD1.5, but everyone else does becuase its not OBD1 and not OBD2.

I know I've seen a lot of scan tools out there in the $150-$200 range that claim to scan OBD1, OBD2, and ABS. Would some of those not work on specific vehicles?

OBD1.5 still uses the OBD2 connector, but uses the ALDL protocol.

As many times as I have searched for scan tools that can cover all three major systems, (ABS, OBD 1 and 2) I still haven't really found one other than GM'* Tech 2. Which is a $4000 toy.

Fair enough. For the record, my 95 Regal with OBD1.5 uses the OBD1 connector. I don't really know which years got which connectors, but I do know it it was pretty sporadic. I know because I have the ALDL cable and I used it to scan for codes and view live data in TunerPro.

In that case, any recommendations on an OBD2/ABS scan tool, or simply a good standalone ABS scan tool and I can keep my current OBD2 scan tool?

OBD1.5 was quite the flustercuck, but the constants of it were a ECM/PCM that communicated using the GM 8192 baud OBD1 protocall, but the connector itself could have been either the rectangular 12-pin OBD1 connector, or the 16-pin trapezoidal OBD2 connector. the use of PCMs with flash PROMs compared to EPROMs was also somewhat of a confusing nature, but not OBD1.5 specific, since as far back as 1990 a geo had flash PROMs and GM ramped up the number of PCMs that used them until their requirement in 1996.

what got which connector seems to related to platform, year and random chance.

and andrei: that ALDL cable can deal with ANY OBD1/1.5 system, wether it be a PCM, BCM, airbag module, ABS computer, electronic climate control computer, etc. if it used a pin the the DLC, it can be read as long as a proper definition exists.