Nissan Consult, Scan Tools, and OBD II: 2025 Update
“Where do I plug in my OBD II scanner?” If you’ve been around GT-Rs long enough, you’ve heard this from a new owner of a 1990s Nissan Skyline. And if you’re one of the old guard, you already know the answer: you don’t.
In the United States, all 1996-and-newer vehicles use OBD II—a universal diagnostics standard. Before OBD II, every carmaker used their own protocol and connector. Nissan used Consult.
That means if your Skyline is an R32, R33, or R34 GT-R (1989–2002), it does not have a true OBD II port. Japan didn’t broadly adopt standardized OBD II until the early 2000s, and even then it rolled in gradually. You can still find cars in some markets sold much later without full OBD II compliance.
Consult Ports on the GT-R
The Consult port is Nissan’s proprietary diagnostic connector.
- R32 GT-R: Driver’s side fuse box area. Pull off the small knee panel and look above the fuses for a gray connector—that’s the Consult port. The catalytic converter over-temperature light doubles as a check engine light.
- R33 GT-R: Similar area behind the lower dash panel.
- R34 GT-R: Under the driver’s dash near in a little door the hood-release lever.
 | ||
| R32 GT-R — Consult port at the driver’s fuse panel (diagram). |
 |
| R33 GT-R — Consult port at the driver’s fuse panel . |
 |
| Consult connector on an R34 GT-R |
 |
| This hides the Consult connector on the R34 |
 |
| Concept Z Consult Connector in an R34 GT-R |
and power steering systems. R33/R34 you can read ATTESA, and Airbag also
Diagnostic Tools Through the Years
Consult I
The original handheld used by Nissan techs in the 1990s. It relied on special memory cards. Cool history, limited practicality today.
Consult II
Late-1990s successor with faster comms and wider coverage, but still proprietary and tied to aging hardware.
Consult III / III Plus
Current dealer suite (Windows-based). Powerful, but costly and overkill for most enthusiasts.
Techtom
MDM-100
Modern Enthusiast Options (2025)
Nissan DataScan I
Go-to software for live data, logging, and basic active tests. Works on R32–R34 ECUs via a USB or Bluetooth Consult interface.
- Typical metrics: AFM voltages, O2 switching, injector pulse/duty, timing, TPS voltage, coolant temp, battery voltage.
- Pros: Affordable, reliable, well-supported.
- Cons: Windows-centric; write/control functions are limited.
ECUTalk LCD V2
Standalone Consult-display that plugs directly into the port—no laptop required. Shows RPM, coolant temp, TPS, timing, injector pulse, and more. Reads/clears codes and allows temporary fuel/timing trims (handy for light testing).
 |
| ECUTalk LCD V2 — compact display for instant data |
 |
| Using the ECUtalk to add 10% fuel, and take 5 degrees of timing out for temporary testing |
 |
| Looking at some peaks on the ECUtalk. 64 mph, 7612 rpm. Injector 92/99% duty cycle. Air flow meters 4.8 and 4.7 volts. |
Bluetooth & USB Consult Interfaces
Modern interfaces (e.g., Nisbie, ECUTalk) make pairing to phone/tablet apps easy:
- Nissan DataScan (Android)
- ECUTalk Mobile
- Legacy options like CarGauge Pro (older Android builds)
Consult-I 14-pin Pinout (R32-style)
 |
| R32 Consult pinout for ECCS |
 |
R32 Consult pinout for ATTESA ETS |
 |
| R34 GT-R ECU to Consult Port connection |
ECUtalk showing which pins are connected
Disclaimer: Always verify wiring on your specific harness/ECU. Variations exist across year/market/trim.
“But my scanner shows P0141”
If someone plugs in a generic OBD II reader and gets a P0141 (O2 heater circuit)—that applies to OBD II cars. JDM Skylines won’t output SAE P-codes unless the car’s been fitted with a modern ECU that emulates OBD II. Many standalones (Link/Haltech/Emtron) can log over CAN/USB and may offer OBD-emulation modes, but that’s separate from Nissan’s 1990s Consult protocol.
2025 Trends
- CAN↔Consult bridges: Hardware/adapters to feed modern CAN data into factory Consult wiring or vice-versa.
- Unified dashboards: Future projects aim to merge Consult, CAN, and analog sensors for one display/logging stack.
Where to Buy
- USA-legal R32/R33/R34 Skylines: Importavehicle.com
Questions or looking for a specific cable/display? Email us at sales@importavehicle.com.
Looking for a USA-legal Nissan Skyline?
Buy R32, R33, and R34 GT-Rs at Toprank Importers!
🔗 Start Here – GTRUSABlog Index
🛒 Skyline Parts & JDM Toys on Amazon
🚗 R34 GT-Rs for Sale
🌐 All Our Links
📘 Follow on Facebook
📸 Instagram – @toprank_ivi_sean_morris
📺 YouTube – Toprank Importers
.jpg)
No comments:
Post a Comment