How to: Make your own Consult Port Interface

[Giblets]

Just finished testing a home made interface to the consult port. It cost about £20 to make. The interface allows you to read and temporarily adjust settings on the ECU. This interface is not my design, I just translated the schematic into something that can be made on strip board.

My cars been running badly for the past couple of weeks and when I plugged in the interface board and read the diagnostics log it came up with "Code:21 Ignition signal circuit fault"....so it's already been worth the effort of building it.

The strip board design (top view)

http://www.teamninja.co.uk/projects/...d_v1.0_top.gif

The strip board design (base view)

http://www.teamninja.co.uk/projects/..._v1.0_base.gif

The finished product

http://www.teamninja.co.uk/projects/consult/pic2.jpg

The original schematic

http://www.teamninja.co.uk/projects/.../schematic.gif


Components list:

I bought all the parts from www.farnell.com. The parts list contains Farnell part numbers in brackets so it should make it easy to place an order. (Check the part numbers if you do place an order, cos I may have typed one incorrectly). Apart from the components you'll need a good soldering iron, wire strippers and a multimeter will help you check connections.

D2 LED 3mm (322570), green
D3 LED 3mm (322568), yellow
C11 Capacitor (108955), 0.1u
C1 Capacitor (920691), 1 µF
R3 Resistor (543380), 1k
Q1 BC549 (434681)
R5 Resistor (543380), 1k
C12 Capacitor (108935), 0.001u
R1 Resistor (543548), 4k7
R2 Resistor (543548), 4k7
R4 Resistor (543548), 4k7
R7 Resistor (543380), 1k
C4 Capacitor (108955), 0.1
C3 Capacitor (108955), 0.1
C5 Capacitor (108955), 0.1
R9 Resistor (543380), 1k
C2 Capacitor (108955), 0.1
U1 IC (246426), MAX232A
C10 Capacitor (747040), 30p
C9 Capacitor (747040), 30p
R8 Resistor (4659934), 10M
U2 IC (385414), 4060
R11 Resistor (543548), 4k7
R12 Resistor (543380), 1k
R10 Resistor (543380), 1k
Q2 BC549 (434681)
R6 Resistor (543380), 1k
C8 Capacitor (108955), 0.1
U3 Voltage regulator (412430), 78L05
C7 Capacitor (3017047), 10 µF
D1 Diode (251707), 1N40048
D4 LED 3mm (322556), red
Y1 Crystal (170228), 2.4576 MHz
B2 Terminal Block (3044907), Terminal Block
B1 Terminal Block (3044907), Terminal Block
Strip Board (147899 - big enough for about 8 boards)

Jumper wires: These are additional connections that need to be made on the underside of the board. The numbers in brackets are grid/hole references.

(26/19) (26/16) wire: hole distance 3; L = 7.62 mm
(26/16) (26/13) wire: hole distance 3; L = 7.62 mm
(0/17) (0/3) wire: hole distance 14; L = 35.56 mm
(6/7) (6/6) wire: hole distance 1; L = 2.54 mm
(6/5) (6/6) wire: hole distance 1; L = 2.54 mm
(25/17) (25/7) wire: hole distance 10; L = 25.4 mm
(15/2) (15/3) wire: hole distance 1; L = 2.54 mm
(11/1) (24/5) wire; L = 34.55 mm
(15/5) (20/1) wire; L = 16.26 mm
(15/6) (3/5) wire; L = 30.59 mm
(3/7) (15/5) wire; L = 30.9 mm
(10/3) (5/11) wire; L = 23.96 mm
(26/3) (26/13) wire: hole distance 10; L = 25.4 mm
(15/7) (19/9) wire; L = 11.36 mm
(6/7) (6/9) wire: hole distance 2; L = 5.08 mm
(3/13) (5/3) wire; L = 25.9 mm
(15/8) (15/9) wire: hole distance 1; L = 2.54 mm
(3/8) (3/12) wire: hole distance 4; L = 10.16 mm
(2/8) (2/1) wire: hole distance 7; L = 17.78 mm
(27/4) (27/7) wire: hole distance 3; L = 7.62 mm
(9/1) (9/0) wire: hole distance 1; L = 2.54 mm
(27/4) (27/0) wire: hole distance 4; L = 10.16 mm
(26/13) (26/9) wire: hole distance 4; L = 10.16 mm
(5/16) (5/19) wire: hole distance 3; L = 7.62 mm

Software:

You'll need some software to interface between the board and the PC.... and there are a few options.
Conzult do two versions of their software. A freeware version can be downloaded from http://300zx-twinturbo.com/conzult/downloads.htm.
PLMS Developments have loads of useful info on their site and their software is for sale at http://www.plmsdevelopments.com.
I'm currently developing my own interface, but don't hold your breath.....

Edited to say: It's cheaper if you order enough components to make two or three..

[david_t]

Excellent info, im going to make myself one while im still relaxing at home, might come in handy.

[water-ninja]

hey chicken giblets what did you use for the consult port ? ie the one the goes in to the car ? did you buy some similar ? just wondering before i consider doing

[Pulsargt]

Just a quick Question does this work on both the S14 & S14a ?

Excelent work BTW

[water-ninja]

yeah consult will work on both

[Giblets]

hey chicken giblets what did you use for the consult port ? ie the one the goes in to the car ? did you buy some similar ? just wondering before i consider doing

To test it I just stuffed the wires directly into the consult port plug
But now I know it's working I'm going to wire it directly into the ecu.... unless anyone knows where you can buy the consult plugs from?

[Jez]

www.plmsdevelopments.com have the proper plugs

I tried making my own - spazzed it up - but have a working version now. Pretty handy

[Dave_S]

Ooooh nice

Dave

[water-ninja]

it almost seems easier just to get them made up one

[Giblets]

it almost seems easier just to get them made up one

Yep it would be a easier to buy one already made.... but not as satisfying

[water-ninja]

will consult still work even tho i am running a power fc?

[Dave_S]

If you still have the Nissan ECU in there then yes I don't see why not

Dave

[CraZyMoFo]

I thought the powerFC was a replacement ECU

[TomM]

I tried making my own - spazzed it up - but have a working version now. Pretty handy

What PC interface are you using, Jez?

What does it allow you to monitor in realtime? All of the ECU's inputs?

[Drifts_S14]

To test it I just stuffed the wires directly into the consult port plug
But now I know it's working I'm going to wire it directly into the ecu.... unless anyone knows where you can buy the consult plugs from?

Can I get a check up please doctor

[Jez]

What PC interface are you using, Jez?

What does it allow you to monitor in realtime? All of the ECU's inputs?

I wrote my own - at the moment it just extracts the data I need to do S14a chips, but I could get real time info from it - just have to write all the flashy graphics code and logging stuff...

[shadow1]

[shadow1]

when i read posts like this i start to think my wife is right. (i am as thick as) !!!

[LeonatLarge]

will you make them to sell ?

[evil_scooby]

thought you could use an opened paper clip to plug in and watch how many times it flashes the engine management light to get data?

Or does this tell you a lot more than the simple diagnostics?