# OBD1 to OBD2 adapter for chip tuning on older cars **URL:** \ **Category:** Power/Fuel\ **Tags:** mercury, grandmarquis, grand-marquis, fuel-economy, gasoline\ **Created:** [March 30, 2023, 3:52am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/obd1-to-obd2-adapter-for-chip-tuning-on-older-cars/189842 "2023-03-30T03:52:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![riverdvs605\_184657](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c4cdca/32.png) [@riverdvs605\_184657](https://community.cartalk.com/u/riverdvs605_184657)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2023, 3:52am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/obd1-to-obd2-adapter-for-chip-tuning-on-older-cars/189842/1 "2023-03-30T03:52:53Z")
I’m curious if I can use an OBD1 to OBD2 adapter to install a chip tuner on my 1994 Mercury Grand Marquis. Obviously if possible it won’t provide all the listed performance upgrades but I’m wondering if it will change anything at all. I was looking at a Thornton chip tuner as a possibility. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2023, 11:52am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/obd1-to-obd2-adapter-for-chip-tuning-on-older-cars/189842/2 "2023-03-30T11:52:08Z")
Chip tuners do nothing at all. And… There is no way to adapt your OBD1 to OBD2 either. Save your money for repairs on this 29 year old car. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2023, 2:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/obd1-to-obd2-adapter-for-chip-tuning-on-older-cars/189842/3 "2023-03-30T14:11:16Z")
Thornton’s one of the scammers, makes crazy claims for 20-40 or more hp, big mpg improvements. Nonsense stuff. Here’s one buyer’s sad experience: "Purchased this stage 2 chip for my 2015 Toyota Tundra before throughly investigating reviews. After installing the chip and running it for three weeks, I cannot tell any difference in performance, gas mileage, anything - nothing, zip, nada. " ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2023, 3:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/obd1-to-obd2-adapter-for-chip-tuning-on-older-cars/189842/4 "2023-03-30T15:31:11Z")
If you are hard set on “tuning” your Grand Marquis then you need to find a performance (dyno) shop that does that type of tuning… But I think you will probably be disappointed at the outcome versus money spent… ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2023, 3:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/obd1-to-obd2-adapter-for-chip-tuning-on-older-cars/189842/5 "2023-03-30T15:40:58Z")
You might poke around here, see what other ‘Panther’ owners have done: [Crownvic.net | Forums powered by UBB.threads™](https://www.crownvic.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=cfrm) ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2023, 4:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/obd1-to-obd2-adapter-for-chip-tuning-on-older-cars/189842/6 "2023-03-30T16:10:21Z")
> [@davesmopar](#): > > I think you will probably be disappointed at the outcome versus money spent… … especially if he doesn’t also upgrade the brakes and the suspension. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2023, 4:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/obd1-to-obd2-adapter-for-chip-tuning-on-older-cars/189842/7 "2023-03-30T16:32:09Z")
> [@Mustangman](#): > > Save your money for repairs on this 29 year old car. +1 Even though the OP’s chip-tuning plan is likely to do nothing other than emptying his wallet, the idea of trying to wring more power out of that old engine seems to be very shortsighted–IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![riverdvs605\_184657](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c4cdca/32.png) [@riverdvs605\_184657](https://community.cartalk.com/u/riverdvs605_184657)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2023, 7:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/obd1-to-obd2-adapter-for-chip-tuning-on-older-cars/189842/8 "2023-03-30T19:46:09Z")
Already upgraded both ---
**Author:** ![riverdvs605\_184657](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c4cdca/32.png) [@riverdvs605\_184657](https://community.cartalk.com/u/riverdvs605_184657)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2023, 7:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/obd1-to-obd2-adapter-for-chip-tuning-on-older-cars/189842/9 "2023-03-30T19:56:34Z")
Put a Thornton chip tuner on my 2006 Jeep Liberty CRD with a very noticeable difference in throttle response and smoother shifting. Got rid of virtually all throttle lag and my reader shows a 20hp increase although I didn’t notice much of a difference power-wise. ---
**Author:** ![riverdvs605\_184657](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c4cdca/32.png) [@riverdvs605\_184657](https://community.cartalk.com/u/riverdvs605_184657)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2023, 8:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/obd1-to-obd2-adapter-for-chip-tuning-on-older-cars/189842/10 "2023-03-30T20:00:32Z")
[https://www.amazon.com/obd1-obd2-adapter/s?k=obd1+to+obd2+adapter](https://www.amazon.com/obd1-obd2-adapter/s?k=obd1+to+obd2+adapter) ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2023, 8:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/obd1-to-obd2-adapter-for-chip-tuning-on-older-cars/189842/11 "2023-03-30T20:08:13Z")
I was thinking you might be a spammer, now I’m pretty sure you are. This unit (identical to the Thornton tuner) can be bought in bulk for $5 each, it’s sold under several names. Obvious question: if a carmaker could achieve these amazing results for five bucks, why didn’t they? ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2023, 8:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/obd1-to-obd2-adapter-for-chip-tuning-on-older-cars/189842/12 "2023-03-30T20:20:13Z")
> [@riverdvs605\_184657](#): > > and my reader shows a 20hp increase What reader is this? Never knew of one. ---
**Author:** ![riverdvs605\_184657](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c4cdca/32.png) [@riverdvs605\_184657](https://community.cartalk.com/u/riverdvs605_184657)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2023, 8:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/obd1-to-obd2-adapter-for-chip-tuning-on-older-cars/189842/13 "2023-03-30T20:33:39Z")
That link was a reply to someone else regarding their comment about not being able to adapt OBD1 to OBD2 ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2023, 9:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/obd1-to-obd2-adapter-for-chip-tuning-on-older-cars/189842/14 "2023-03-30T21:06:56Z")
OK, so anyone can make an adapter cable. Key is making the software to interface to the OBD1 protocols. The data addresses are not the same. But please buy the products and report back to us on how well everything works. ---
**Author:** ![riverdvs605\_184657](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c4cdca/32.png) [@riverdvs605\_184657](https://community.cartalk.com/u/riverdvs605_184657)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2023, 9:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/obd1-to-obd2-adapter-for-chip-tuning-on-older-cars/189842/15 "2023-03-30T21:36:25Z")
Well my whole purpose in asking the question was to confirm if I could use one of these adapters for a tuner so that I wouldn’t have to test it out myself. ---
**Author:** ![riverdvs605\_184657](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c4cdca/32.png) [@riverdvs605\_184657](https://community.cartalk.com/u/riverdvs605_184657)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2023, 9:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/obd1-to-obd2-adapter-for-chip-tuning-on-older-cars/189842/16 "2023-03-30T21:38:13Z")
The reader is called Dash Command a friend of mine used it on my Jeep and connected it to an app that would give him all the readings live. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2023, 9:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/obd1-to-obd2-adapter-for-chip-tuning-on-older-cars/189842/17 "2023-03-30T21:46:47Z")
Hmmm the Dash Command web site indicates it does not have the ‘dyno’ function’… ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2023, 10:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/obd1-to-obd2-adapter-for-chip-tuning-on-older-cars/189842/18 "2023-03-30T22:27:21Z")
> [@riverdvs605\_184657](#): > > question was to confirm if I could use one of these adapters for a tuner As I said in my first response. No, it won’t work. OBD1 communication protocols are not the same as OBD2. Look up the protocols online. Compare them. They are not the same. No amount of adaptor cables makes that possible. Actual tuners that can alter the engine parameters designed for OBD2 will work with an OBD1 car. Chips, as I posted before don’t work. Show me a chassis dyno curve verifying the improvements and it might change my mind. Butt dynos are not proof. ---
**Author:** ![riverdvs605\_184657](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c4cdca/32.png) [@riverdvs605\_184657](https://community.cartalk.com/u/riverdvs605_184657)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2023, 10:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/obd1-to-obd2-adapter-for-chip-tuning-on-older-cars/189842/19 "2023-03-30T22:40:29Z")
> [@Mustangman](#): > > OBD2 will work with an OBD1 car So hypothetically if the tuner I currently have in my Jeep had the same pins as my Merc, I could install it no problems ---
**Author:** ![riverdvs605\_184657](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c4cdca/32.png) [@riverdvs605\_184657](https://community.cartalk.com/u/riverdvs605_184657)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2023, 10:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/obd1-to-obd2-adapter-for-chip-tuning-on-older-cars/189842/20 "2023-03-30T22:47:12Z")
> [@texases](#): > > it does not have the ‘dyno’ function’ I pulled the following straight from the website, “DashCommand provides an easy way to monitor the performance of your vehicle. Data log what your vehicle is doing and determine your 0 to 60 time, quarter mile time, horsepower, and braking performance.” [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/obd1-to-obd2-adapter-for-chip-tuning-on-older-cars/189842.md?page=2)