The evolution of automotive diagnostic systems is a fascinating journey, especially when looking at brands like Jeep. Before the standardization of OBD-I and OBD-II, systems like Renix were pioneering engine management. Used in AMC Jeeps before Chrysler’s acquisition, Renix systems, particularly in models like the 1989 Jeep Cherokee, showed surprising capabilities for their time. One notable feature is live data readout, which raises an interesting question for modern mechanics: can a Blue Point OBD2 & 1 scanner effectively communicate with these pre-OBD1 Renix systems?
Renix engine control systems were implemented in Jeeps from approximately 1987 to 1990, preceding the widespread adoption of On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) standards. For Jeep vehicles, the timeline generally breaks down as follows: Renix (1987-1990), OBD1 (1991-1995), and OBD2 (1996-2001). This places Renix firmly in the pre-OBD1 era. Despite being pre-OBD, videos demonstrate that tools like the older Snap-On MT2500 can achieve a live data stream from an ’89 Renix Jeep. This suggests a level of diagnostic sophistication that might be unexpected for a system of its age.
Snap-On MT2500 diagnostic scanner displaying live data from a 1989 Renix Jeep, raising questions about Blue Point OBD2 & 1 scanner compatibility with pre-OBD1 systems.
The question then becomes, where does the Blue Point Microscan III, an OBD2 & 1 capable scanner, fit into this picture? While the Blue Point scanner is designed to work with both OBD1 and OBD2 compliant vehicles (when equipped with the correct adapters for OBD1), its compatibility with pre-OBD1 systems like Renix remains unclear. The official descriptions for Blue Point scanners typically only mention OBD1 support via adapters, leaving a gap in information regarding earlier systems.
Therefore, while a 1989 Renix Jeep exhibits live data capabilities similar in some ways to early OBD systems, it’s not definitively known if a Blue Point Microscan III can tap into this data stream. Further investigation or practical testing would be needed to confirm whether Blue Point’s OBD2 & 1 scanners extend their diagnostic reach to pre-OBD1 systems like Renix. The capabilities of Renix systems hint at an automotive diagnostic history richer than commonly acknowledged, bridging the gap to the standardized OBD eras that followed.
