We all love mods, especially ones that are low in cost, yet effective.  What is one mod that far too many people skip after installing their SR20DET? Wiring up the Nissan consult port.

What is the Nissan Consult? The consult port is a cable connection that was available in most Nissans beginning around 1991-2000.  This port is used to communicate with the ECU using your laptop+software.  You can read/reset ECU codes, monitor (in real-time) everything from injector duty cycle to timing and data logging. Most SR wire harnesses will be missing this consult port, reason being that the harness came with a plug that connected to the rest of the interior wiring harness, resulting in most SR exporters simply cutting this plug.

Why do most people skip wiring up this port? One reason may be that people simply don’t know what the consult port is, and the other (more probable) reason is that the majority of the SR20DET wiring guides have you wire up the bare minimum to get the engine running.

If you have a 91+ 240sx, then you already have the consult port. If you have a 89-90 240sx, then you can get a consult port wiring for very cheap (we’re talking $10 here).  Search for sale threads on forums or check your local junk yard.  You can use a consult port from any 91+ Nissan.  They are typically found in the DRIVER’S SIDE kickpanel around the fusebox.

You will need to buy the Nissan consult datacable (aka consult interface). This connects your computer to the consult port.  You can find it for around $50 online, or you can make it yourself.

Instructions:

Nissan Consult Port Pins

Use the above diagram as a reference. Splice each wire to the corresponding wires listed below.

SR20DET J2/J3/E4/E5 Pin Diagram

SR20DET J4/J5 Pin Diagram

Splice:
1) Rx wire (Receiver) to ECU’s Green wire with Black Stripe (pin 7)
3)Tx wire (Transmitter) to ECU’s Green wire (pin 15)
4) +12V wire (Power) to ECU’s Black wire with White Stripe (pin 38 or 47)
5) GND wire (Ground) to ECU’s Black wire (pin 39 or 48)
6) CLK wire to ECU’s Green wire with White Stripe (pin 14)

Software:
You can buy software to diagnose your engine (ie: Nissan Datascan, which is worth every penny, costs $100+), but there are free options available. Check out ECUtalk.

The great thing about this “mod” is that it will help you work with your engine throughout the life of your vehicle, regardless of what future mods you install.

Pressurized piping, in certain angles and conditions, may have some problems like popping off or blowing out the couplers that are connecting the pipes together.

First and foremost, if you are using worm clamps on your intercooler piping, best idea is to upgrade to T-Bolt clamps. Worm clamps do not do a good job of keeping up with the air pressure a turbo can produce.

Tip: Use hairspray. Before assembling your intercooler piping, get a can of hairspray and lightly spray the ends of the pipes.  Continue to assemble the piping together onto your vehicle, and wait at least 30 minutes before driving in order to ensure it completely dries.  Using this method resolves two things: it makes the couplers easier to slide over the pipe, and it helps prevent leaks without causing any damage.

Need a quick way to figure out what size a pipe is on a vehicle you’re working on, without having to take it all apart to measure the diameter?  Get a string of any sort, and wrap it around the pipe. Mark/cut it, measure the string, then divide that number by pi (3.14).  That will give you a good indication of what size the pipe is.