Is Consult-obd 1 worth the money?

[carcrossy]

It seems to sell around $30-40 on ebay. Do people actually use it once they buy it? Is it hard to use?

[projectRDM]

Fuck what?

A genuine Nissan CONSULT goes for $800-3000. Are you talking about some laptop compatible device?

[carcrossy]

Anybody use it? The consult software is free now.

ECUTalk - Consult Interface Cables (http://www.ecutalk.com/interface.aspx)

[Taniguchi_Is_#1]

Are you talking about some laptop compatible device?

yeah, he's talking about those cables that you can plug into the consult port.


to OP: Nissan Consult Softwares - Nissan Forums: Nissan Forum (http://www.nissanforums.com/tools/125956-nissan-consult-softwares.html)

[onepuff]

Yes it's a good diagnostic tool.

[carcrossy]

Did some research; it's just a glorified multimeter. Some thief pirated it from nissan. The prices have gone up as our dollar sunk:

ECUTalk (http://www.ecutalk.com/interface.aspx) Serial $36USD ($55AUD) USB $46USD ($70AUD)
PLMS (http://www.plmsdevelopments.com/consult_if.shtml) Serial $71USD ($110AUD) USB $67USD ($105AUD)
blaZt (http://www.blazt.biz/products/cable.php) Serial $83USD ($128AUD) USB $99USD ($153AUD)

Anybody have a used one they want to give away? From perusimg the forums, sounds like nobody uses these things. They just collect dust.

[onepuff]

I use mine alot. Great for monitoring actual coolant temps at the track and getting my tach adjusted correctly for my RB20, setting TPS, datalogging, pulling codes Of course i have an in car computer so that makes a big difference i guess.

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t23/bahtenduh/CarMac/ConsultDashboard.jpg
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t23/bahtenduh/CarMac/ConsultDashboard2.jpg
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t23/bahtenduh/CarMac/Consult3.jpg
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t23/bahtenduh/CarMac/102_0566.jpg

[bardabe]

I use it allot, its a great tool to have for customer cars as well

[carcrossy]

Can you watch the temperature gauge to see when the clutch fan comes on ? When the stat opens?

[smelly240]

when the clutch fan comes on eh?

lol - thats funny.

whats with the annoying noob threads klately?

[Rittmeister]

There are three or four different programs you can use with the cable. Some are free, some not. I can't remember which is which (I went PowerFC, which doesn't use the Consult protocol) but some are very useful. Datalogging, monitoring, etc. You can check errors, clear the ECU, and if I'm remembering right there's one that will put the car in timing mode with a command, rather than the whole let-it-warm-up-and-rev-three-times nonsense.

[EchaKqulo]

It has to be used on OBD 2 cars only. The OBD1 cars do not have diagnostic port, as far as i know. The are diagnosed by the blinking of the Check Engine Light.

[carcrossy]

It has to be used on OBD 2 cars only. The OBD1 cars do not have diagnostic port, as far as i know. The are diagnosed by the blinking of the Check Engine Light.

cool. for school.

[carcrossy]

when the clutch fan comes on eh?

lol - thats funny.

whats with the annoying noob threads klately?


hmm, you must be a smart person.

[blackej7]

i dont see why someone wouldn't buy one. so many people complain about how their sr doesn't idle right or run right.

[smelly240]

It has to be used on OBD 2 cars only. The OBD1 cars do not have diagnostic port, as far as i know. The are diagnosed by the blinking of the Check Engine Light.

CONSULT 1 does not need to be used on cars with obd2 port. consult1 doesnt plug into a obd2 port at all. It plugs into a consult port - found on most nissans 91+ and some before that even.

you have some new type of nissan with a fan clutch u can turn off and on... LOL

[xs240]

LOL @ clutch fan.. cmon.. think about it... it doesn't come on or off, guess what spins it CONSTANTLY?

[ixfxi]

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t23/bahtenduh/CarMac/Consult3.jpg

oh shit, tupac lives inside my ecu??



thug life.. i gotta check that shit out.


picture me rollin

[carcrossy]

LOL @ clutch fan.. cmon.. think about it... it doesn't come on or off, guess what spins it CONSTANTLY?

hmm, what is a clutch???

[AutoTune]

I'M A COMPUTER! STOP ALL THE DOWNLOADING!
http://images.quizilla.com/K/kathyb/1034458999_turesGiJoe.jpg

[pinkarrowsnow]

nissan datascan is cool use it for all my logging very helpful.

[neverrain]

What kind of connection do these things go into the computer with? USB? If so, it's a good reason to get a netbook.

[carcrossy]

What kind of connection do these things go into the computer with? USB? If so, it's a good reason to get a netbook.


serial and usb. apparently, you can get cheap used pocket pc's for 40 dollars that will do the job. they have serial ports.

[EchaKqulo]

CONSULT 1 does not need to be used on cars with obd2 port. consult1 doesnt plug into a obd2 port at all. It plugs into a consult port - found on most nissans 91+ and some before that even.

you have some new type of nissan with a fan clutch u can turn off and on... LOL

Thanks for clarifying.

BTW. I don't have a Nissan with a turn on/off fan clutch, but you could have those that have a ball bearing on their exhaust system.... LOL

[smelly240]

carcrossy seems to think that theres a clutch fan on/off in consult (clutch fan spins on the water pump_)

[xs240]

I forgot to ask about flux capacitor compatibility.

No seriously but aren't the usb or serial versions all the same? It's just a bloody cable with a connector wired to the right pins? If so what's the best deal to get ($$$).

And software wise what options pros/cons do each package offer... they should all be compatible with any cables anyways right? Which are free and which are not? Etc... that'd be more useful to discuss.

[carcrossy]

carcrossy seems to think that theres a clutch fan on/off in consult (clutch fan spins on the water pump_)

You are getting colder, my friend. You will figure it out.

[carcrossy]

I forgot to ask about flux capacitor compatibility.

No seriously but aren't the usb or serial versions all the same? It's just a bloody cable with a connector wired to the right pins? If so what's the best deal to get ($$$).

And software wise what options pros/cons do each package offer... they should all be compatible with any cables anyways right? Which are free and which are not? Etc... that'd be more useful to discuss.

ecutalk.com is the best deal for the usb cable. ie 50 bucks. If you have a newer laptop, it probably wont have a serial port. If you want to use a pocket pc or an older laptop, you will want the serial port. The serial cables are about 15 dollars cheaper. obd scan tech is the best software and is free.

Don't bother buying this if you are not a technical person. Clutch fan comes on at a specified temperature. You can view the temperature that the ecu is reading. There is a direct relationship between the air temperature in front of the clutch and coolant temperature.

[smelly240]

its a viscous coupler in the fan clutch... it doesnt go on and off...

[xs240]

aw man they are sold out of usb cables :( wth.. due 2-3 weeks :(

[carcrossy]

its a viscous coupler in the fan clutch... it doesnt go on and off...


the nissan clutch has a valve that opens at a set air temperature . there are different kinds of fan clutches.

[carcrossy]

aw man they are sold out of usb cables :( wth.. due 2-3 weeks :(


If you are desperate, blazt sells them for $84 plus $15 shipping

blaZt nissan computer interface prices (http://www.blazt.biz/prices/prices.php)

[NewKleer]

there are a few ecutalk usb cables on ebay, also plmsdevelopments.com which end up around $90 shipped and this place (http://www.conceptzperformance.com/Cart/description.php?II=1972&Car_Type=300) for $103 shipped from within US (buying from blazt site would be shipped from NZ i think? not sure).

No seriously but aren't the usb or serial versions all the same? It's just a bloody cable with a connector wired to the right pins? If so what's the best deal to get ($$$).

And software wise what options pros/cons do each package offer... they should all be compatible with any cables anyways right? Which are free and which are not? Etc... that'd be more useful to discuss.

functionally all the cables should do the same thing and work with the same programs (theres only one 'standard' for nissan consult, unlike obd2 which has a few different hardware standards etc). some of the chinese box cables arrive dead or wired up wrong (they dont test them at assembly, up to reseller to test them) or dont work with specific cars, but overall all cables are pretty similar functionally, aside from size/quality differences (e.g. chinese box ones vs ones that have the PCB/circuit inside the connector)

usb/serial the main difference is just which port you have on your laptop. if usb is in shortage, nothing stopping you getting a serial cable and something like this (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220419046498), though some usb/serial adaptors arent too reliable. if u have serial port on ur laptop definite get serial cable (usb isnt 'better'), as it saves u needing to install drivers. if ur wanting to use it with pocketpc, it must have a serial port (many new pocketpc are mini-usb only which wont work) and you need to use a serial cable (with null modem adaptor).

the cables are not 'straight through' or just wiring from the consult port to the pc, they all have circuit boards inside them (otherwise theyd be much cheaper). the genuine consult connectors arent cheap either (which is why chinese box ones have a moulded one rather than the genuine grey one). the chinese box ones arent easy to connect and drive around with since u cant close fuse box cover and they stick out a bit.

for free software checkout obd scantech (does all aside from logging i think) ecutalk (has good logging + trip meter sensors like fuel used, distance, etc, need to set num cylinders and injector size for it to work). theres also a few others, calumsult, tecu, free conzult

[carcrossy]

be careful about the ecutalk cables on ebay because they are going for double what he sells them for on his website.

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ECUTalk-USB-Nissan-Consult-Cable-Skyline-Silvia-Pulsar_W0QQitemZ320371390263QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_ Car_Parts_Accessories?hash=item4a979f7737&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A13%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7 C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50 (http://cgi.ebay.ca/ECUTalk-USB-Nissan-Consult-Cable-Skyline-Silvia-Pulsar_W0QQitemZ320371390263QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_ Car_Parts_Accessories?hash=item4a979f7737&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A13%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7 C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50)

[NewKleer]

yeah usb ones have gone for more than website in the last week (dont think any have gone for near double though) but even at prices theyve sold for, theyre still cheaper than blazt/plms usb cables.

though i gather people cant be bothered with usb/serial converters as the serial cables have been selling for half that (some under $40) e.g. ECUTalk Nissan Consult Cable - Skyline Silvia Pulsar NX - eBay (item 320371851317 end time May-20-09 05:15:56 PDT) (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320371851317)

[carcrossy]

yeah usb ones have gone for more than website in the last week (dont think any have gone for $140AU though which would be double) but even at prices theyve sold for, theyre still cheaper than blazt/plms usb cables.

though i gather people cant be bothered with usb/serial converters as the serial cables have been selling for half that (some under $40) e.g. ECUTalk Nissan Consult Cable - Skyline Silvia Pulsar NX - eBay (item 320371851317 end time May-20-09 05:15:56 PDT) (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320371851317)

Ebay is always kind of koo koo. The key is to have a laptop with a serial port. blazt may have set too high a price for these cables and shrunk the market so badly that "consult" never really took off.

[smelly240]

the nissan clutch has a valve that opens at a set air temperature . there are different kinds of fan clutches.

except it never should not be on when the engine is on.

and it is filled with viscous fluid... and the ecu has no idea of how fast its spinning (when cold the viscous coupler allows the fan to spin *slightly* slower than the water pump when it heats up it locks up more - like a vlsd)

if the engine is on and that fan isnt on... somthing has gone horribly wrong.

theres no switch, no electrics, no valve, and it doesnt go off ever.

buy the blazt cable or get one from plms - otherwise you're supporting thieves that copied calums old open consult pcb's illegally.

plus those cables are a ton nicer than the ebay junk (had a ebay one and it was a piece of shit i even replaced the voltage reg twice on it (7805 +5v regulators smoked on it - blazt one never had a problem)

[carcrossy]

except it never should not be on when the engine is on.

and it is filled with viscous fluid... and the ecu has no idea of how fast its spinning (when cold the viscous coupler allows the fan to spin *slightly* slower than the water pump when it heats up it locks up more - like a vlsd)

if the engine is on and that fan isnt on... somthing has gone horribly wrong.

theres no switch, no electrics, no valve, and it doesnt go off ever.

buy the blazt cable or get one from plms - otherwise you're supporting thieves that copied calums old open consult pcb's illegally.

plus those cables are a ton nicer than the ebay junk (had a ebay one and it was a piece of shit i even replaced the voltage reg twice on it (7805 +5v regulators smoked on it - blazt one never had a problem)

You obviously just googled clutch fan. The nissan clutch does not have a viscous coupler ; it has a valve and a bimetal strip that senses air temperature in front of the clutch. And, no, the clutch is not always engaged. that is a ridiculous claim. the fan is always moving but the clutch is only engaged when a certain temperature is reached.

you can see the bimetal strip in this picture:

http://info.rockauto.com/BeckArnley/Detail.html?1300126.jpg

There is one guy on ebay who ripped off calum. His name is Jason . I forget what his companies name is. There are several threads on the net that accuse this guy of being a scam artist. This is his ebay listing:

http://cgi.ebay.ca/NISSAN-ECU-CONSULT-OBD1-DATA-CABLE-RB20DET-RB25DET_W0QQitemZ280344975066QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMo tors_Automotive_Tools?hash=item4145dcd6da&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1215%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C 240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50 (http://cgi.ebay.ca/NISSAN-ECU-CONSULT-OBD1-DATA-CABLE-RB20DET-RB25DET_W0QQitemZ280344975066QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMo tors_Automotive_Tools?hash=item4145dcd6da&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1215%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C 240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50)

do your own research , people.

[smelly240]

So exactly how is the consult telling you when your fan engages?

[NewKleer]

yeah emance/jason/drape123/notjason/nosajton, think he changes ebay id when he gets too much neg rep. even the chinese consult adaptor manufacturer is a level above jason because they actually did their own circuit. not to mention the atx plug he uses bends the cars consult socket pins which isnt good if u get a bad connection from a proper connector

theres also a gromerr seller in latvia whos using calums design (and used to use screenshots of an OBDII software that wont even work for nissans):
Nissan OBD datacable consult for VQ30DE GA16DE SR20DE on eBay, also Engine Tuning Parts, Performance Tuning Parts, Car Tuning Styling, Cars, Parts Vehicles (end time 28-Mar-09 19:36:05 GMT) (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160305467513&viewitem=)

his more recent items include usb cables, but no idea if its a usb consult cable he made himself, or is using usb/serial adaptors or something (he doesnt put images of actual cable anymore). this one (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160322113387&viewitem=) leads me to believe his USB cables are his own, although i cant remember if 'slipnfall' ever posted his USB consult cable schematics or not (from memory theyd be the only ones in public domain)

[xs240]

so to sum it up dont egay it, just go get it from blastz website or the ecutune website. DONE.

[xs240]

well i went to the blazts website and got the usb cable, datascan and datalogger :)

[WoolyS14DET]

I just use the real Consult and only cuz I have acess to it

[carcrossy]

So exactly how is the consult telling you when your fan engages?

you can graph the temperature/rate of temp change and look for anomalies which might indicate when the clutch engages or the stat opens. ecutalk logs 50 measurements a second, for example. i have no idea if this is feasible.

[carcrossy]

well i went to the blazts website and got the usb cable, datascan and datalogger :)

Good stuff. Post up your results when you have them.

[Howlermonkey]

LOL........any fan data displayed on a consult has to do with a car that has an auxiliary fan like many nissans do.

These fans are in front of the a/c condensor and rarely see usage except under certain temps and circumstances.

I'm sure there might be a datalist item but, if you don't see an electric fan on the car, then it's just an unused part of the datalist which might display.

[didderson]

Thanks to those who posted information about the consult cables, I've been wondering where to get some but never really looked!

[Spring Break '92]

I have an older laptop and a cable and a couple different programs. Works good. I have some questions, some are about what Ive seen in this thread.

1.) If you run native wideband, is there a separate way to datalog with it, or i is that the only way to datalog with the wideband?

2.) What do you need and how do you get the Consult program to display on (I assume) a double din headunit like posted above? Is it touch screen capable with the program?

3.) Off the subject but related to question 2, I have an S13 and want a double din setup. I cannot find a double din install kit for my car, can I use on of those for an S14?

4.) Which Consult programs have the ability to display the injector duty cycle? Mine do not.

[NewKleer]

1) some $oftware like nissan datascan and nistune have wb o2 input, but no idea to what level u can log etc (and whether its put with other data in log, or logged seperately).

2) not sure what ur referring to, but as long as the headunit is connected to a PC u can run software like normal. if the headunit is windows CE based then u might be able to run ecutalk with .net compact framework.

4) ecutalk and nissan datascan definitely do, not sure about others

[nrg]

i have a usb consult interface for sale. it just needs the obd1 DDL connector. you can make one like this: Ztechz Forums :: View topic - SELF MADE CONSULT CONNECTOR !!! (http://www.tangentrix.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=532&highlight=consult)
or buy one: http://www.cazracing.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=43

i'm not sure where i got it from, i think it was either a forum member on here that made them at his work.

i purchased it back in 2006 and never used it. PM me for pics and price. CHEAP!

[onepuff]

I have an older laptop and a cable and a couple different programs. Works good. I have some questions, some are about what Ive seen in this thread.


2.) What do you need and how do you get the Consult program to display on (I assume) a double din headunit like posted above? Is it touch screen capable with the program?

It's not a double-din head unit. I have a mac mini connected to a 7" screen.
1995 240SX Mac Mini Lilliput 7" - MP3Car.com (http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/show-off-your-project/93351-1995-240sx-mac-mini-lilliput-7-a.html)

[Def]

You obviously just googled clutch fan. The nissan clutch does not have a viscous coupler ; it has a valve and a bimetal strip that senses air temperature in front of the clutch. And, no, the clutch is not always engaged. that is a ridiculous claim. the fan is always moving but the clutch is only engaged when a certain temperature is reached.

you can see the bimetal strip in this picture:

Beck/Arnley Manufacturer Info (http://info.rockauto.com/BeckArnley/Detail.html?1300126.jpg)

There is one guy on ebay who ripped off calum. His name is Jason . I forget what his companies name is. There are several threads on the net that accuse this guy of being a scam artist. This is his ebay listing:

NISSAN ECU CONSULT OBD1 DATA CABLE RB20DET RB25DET - (eBay.ca item 280344975066 end time 11-Jun-09 15:42:05 EDT) (http://cgi.ebay.ca/NISSAN-ECU-CONSULT-OBD1-DATA-CABLE-RB20DET-RB25DET_W0QQitemZ280344975066QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMo tors_Automotive_Tools?hash=item4145dcd6da&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1215%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C 240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50)

do your own research , people.

That's your aux fan genius. There is NO electrical connection, sensor or relay, to the belt driven clutch fan. It is a pure thermoviscous clutch that locks up when it gets hot.

[carcrossy]

That's your aux fan genius. There is NO electrical connection, sensor or relay, to the belt driven clutch fan. It is a pure thermoviscous clutch that locks up when it gets hot.

No, there is a bimetal strip which is clearly visible in the pic I provided. The valve opens at a certain temperature and silicone flows. The bimetal strip is the sensor. No one said anything about a relay or electrical connection. You obviously dont know what a bimetal strip is. But, hey, thanks for playing.

[Howlermonkey]

Carcrossy is correct.

[smelly240]

the ecu has no idea its on... he claims consult tells him its locked or not...

it does not.

[Howlermonkey]

Consult has a data list address for the auxiliary electric fans that many nissans use.

Many times, the data list shows a device that does not exist.......like a park/neutral safety switch from an automatic showing in data list on a manual tranny car.

This data list may display a value even if the car has no part representing the data.

True.......consult knows nothing about what the mechanical fan clutch is doing.

[xs240]

alright i got to play with my consult.. interesting to say the least... now what haha.

I first got only code 55, hows this possible...

Then while driving i got code 54 i believe something auto... i guess cuz i converted to manual and its looking for some auto box or something...

Weird cuz... i removed egr... and so much other crap, i removed hicas computer, lines, everything.... whats up with all this :-/

Also in one of the applications there was an option 'auto-learn' for 10 minutes with a timer.... i tried that i hope that makes the car run better than worse lol. Anyone mind explaining.

I was hoping to check things if they are up to spec but not sure what to look for, since the codes seem not coming up... weirdness.

Also although i bought datascan.. the registration server doesnt let me get a key wth... says im not in the database.... boo

[Def]

Code 55 = everything is OK

[mystacarlo]

does anyone know if the drivers work on the windows 7 os

[NewKleer]

the FTDI ones do (the chip used in the ecutalk/plms/blazt USB consult cables). a lot of no-name usb/serial wont (but really should be using a FTDI usb/serial converter if you have a serial consult cable as most cheapies prone to bluescreens etc even if they have win7 drivers)

[onepuff]

The cygnal driver works with mine(old ass adapter). Pretty sure I have to run the program in xp compatibility, but it works.

[NewKleer]

cygnal based ones arent too bad, blazt used to use them in their USB cables before changing to FTDI

[stinky_180]

i have one and its very useful. i rock it with my SOHC! (s13 sohc ecu doesn't have consult) *hint hint*