Well its about time I purchase a scanner. I know nothing about them at all. I need something that will do OBD 1 & 2. Looking for affordable recomendations

Check out the Actrons......Very popular unit on here.

I use an AutoXray 5000

Be careful with the Actrons. If you have 96 GM or up, the Actrons provide VERY limited data for OBD II. They can provide quite a bit of data for OBD I using the OBD I accesory cable, though.

and OBD II is a biggy, we have LSS and Ive got a code. Then theres the new inspection DMV hookups so I now need to learn how to trouble shoot with scanner and remove codes...........ect.

The Actron will read and erase all the OBD II engine codes (no ABS or ECC), it just doesn't provide very much "live" data. If all you want to do is read and erase codes, then the Actron will work fine. If you want to see trans temp, KR, and other information, then no. It does provide long and short term fuel trim, coolant temp, IAT temps, O2 readings, ignition advance and a few others, but that is pretty much it.

My AutoXray'* the same way with the OBD2....

But what I have learned is that every OBD GM car (Bonneville, LSS, Impala, Park Ave, etc) will all tell me something that the other one won't.

But the AutoXray is at least upgradable (for a price) to provide enhanced GM OBD II data, there is NO such option fo rthe Actron. What you get out of the box is all your ever going to have. I would have bought the AutoXray, if I knew then, what I know now.

You can ugrade the firmware for free......but to really open the thing up I believe last I looked it was $90, and you could also upload and graph runtime data logged in the scanner to your notebook/desktop computer.

Even a better reason to go with the AutoXray. Good discussion, Nate

Ya, I've been meaning to do the upgrades and get the programs, but everytime I'm willing to spend the 90 bucks, a friend of mine will borrow the damned thing and I don't see it for 6 mos lol.

So I can't tell you have user friendly the programs for it are, but IIRC the updating was rather easy.