Yes, it's true. I built a circuit that interfaces the consult port to a 9600 baud serial terminal. Using the free version of conZult for the Z32 I can monitor almost everything in realtime. The full version of the software is 75 euro and it does datalogging and playback.

Bad part is I messed up my serial driver IC (Static from the seat) and it keeps throwing gibberish values into the program. Despite this, I HAVE gotten it all to work and display proper values during a test drive.

Keep in mind this is a prototype and I'm still experimenting. I plan to replace the A/T Power Comfort switch blank plate with an RJ-45 wired to the consult port for easy connection. The board itself will eventually be in a box and all nice and pretty.

Here's some pics I took this morning. They show the interface, temporary connection to consult port, and some of the crazy values it throws with the smoked Driver IC: http://ghettomods.net/gallery/consult

I'll keep updating on this project. I think it's about time third gens had a little datalogging lovin'

 

Is a PC required? Or will it interface to a Palm type? NICE! Glad you got it done!

 

Thats hella cool....I wish I had that kind of know-how

 

AFAIK it only works with a PC, but if there was a serial interface to the palm I don't see why not if you had software. I don't have a palm so I can't really test that sort of thing.

 

awesome job man!!!!!!!

 

Well I have an old Palm m100 or whatever that I got free for test driving an Infiniti. Would that work? I could send it.

 

hmm. Actually I do have a handspring visor (old).
I know the conZult software is only for PC, but if someone could get ahold of the 'nprobe' software that Eric (maximan) bought, it might work. I'm reasonably sure that the data stream is the same among the various interfaces.

 

Thats awesome dude, I want one!

 

sweet! Nice work Keelan. I built a generic OBD-II one a while ago but it was nothing special, all it could do was read the standard SAE functions. I wouldn't mind getting a VE one once I get a lappy .

 

Not Bad! I never knew you were into doing those things.

 

hehe, I wanted to keep it under wraps until I was sure it would work.

Now that it does though, I'm going to etch a PCB and build it into a box.

The cool thing will be installing an interface port into that blank panel.

Thats my old-old-old laptop and it works well for the conZult software, not much else.

 

I was just about to say....

 

great work!
did you just design that circuit from scratch or what? how did you figure out which pins from the consult are which? I dont think the FSM has any info on Consult stuff.

 

I found it in some Z32 information.

Since I'm not interested in selling these or making profit (just being the first and I think thats been established) I might as well spill the beans...

http://www.users.bigpond.com/webspac..._Schematic.pdf

 

Very good work dude! I have a new Inspiron so I will try this too. Where is the conzult s.ware available from?

 

sweet, nice work Keelan.

 

very very nice

 

search google for conzult and you should find it pretty easily. I did that earlier today but on another computer so I dont have the link handy and am too lazy to go to google now

spipe - thanks for the link, good stuff

 

Keelans homepage is google

 

Very nice work! Since I've been doing this Zemulator stuff in my car, I've needed a Consult device pretty badly. I think Ash is working on making his Zem software has ConZult capabilities. So all you do is just simply upgrade your software and you got it.

But good work. One day, I might just buy the techtom or nprobe system.

 

Speaking of Consults, have a look at this..
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=2464365762

Good for you Americans with the current exchange rate...

 

Now modify it so you can alter settings.

 

Might ask you to build one for me... wish wish

 

Sure. Only 100 euro for the full software.

 

if anyone is interested, I can have the PCB made up for like 33 bux each, maybe less if there are more orders. All you would need to do is pick up the parts at radio shack or digikey and solder them to the board. For a few bux extra, I guess I could do it for you.

e-mail me for interests, I dont check the board that often. sales@db-performance-eng.com


Damon

 

Only $123 for a fully programmable ECU?

I'm in!

 

100 euro is more like 80, USD is worth 1.23 Euro, I think you got the exchange rate backwards.

Damon

 

Nope he has it 100% right, the current exchange rate is 1 euro=1.22614 USD.


Spipe,

That's great, I 'need' this right now and it's cheaper for me then getting an $85 diagnostic done at the dealer

 

Straight from the official conZult website:

I cannot say whether some/all/any features will work on the maxima or not. They told me it wouldn't work at all.

What are the Conzult Tuner and Lite versions ?

These software-only versions of the conzult package are meant for those that want to built
their own consult DDL-interface.

Conzult TUNER software:
----------------------------
» FULL ENGINE realtime sensor monitoring, logging
» FULL ENGINE active tests and work support
» READ ONLY Access to ECCS ROM (Fuel and timingmaps, K-val, etc)
» ENGINE SELF LEARN Control
» FULL AIRCON realtime sensor monitoring, logging and active tests
» FULL HICAS realtime sensor monitoring, logging + active tests
» FULL AT sensor montoring
» ECCS logfile replay
» Logfile graphical analyzer
» Extensive User manual
» free software support and updates for 12 months
Price for the Conzult TUNER software : 150 EUR


Conzult LITE software :
--------------------------
» FULL ENGINE realtime sensor monitoring
» FULL ENGINE active tests and work support
» ENGINE SELF LEARN Control
» Extensive User manual
» free software support and updates for 4 months

Price for the Conzult LITE software : 75 EUR


NOTE: Both TUNER and LITE versions only work with the '90+ 300ZX

 

Sweet! I have a 300zx ECU in my car so I know it will work since I've already got this 90-92 ECU to work. Since the z32 and VE ECU are so similar, I could see it very possible for those ConZults to work in the VE maybe with some minor tinkering.

When I swapped in the z32 ECU in my car, I had to do a few things to keep from getting a check engine light. I first had to swap in the z32 MAFS so the motor would run ok. Then I had to do some soldering in the ECU itself. One was the fuel temp sensor, I simply solderedin a resistor to fool the ECU. Next I had to get the o2 sensors working so the z32 ECU thinks there are 2 o2 sensors. So I had to solder in a jumper wire to split the signal and then another jumper wire to link to the o2 sensor heater terminal. That was IT!!! Everything else is identical between the z32 and VE ECU.

 

So I'm envisioning a loggable, EEPROMable, fully tuneable ECU for at least the VE in the near future.

You may want to check out zcontrol.net, theres some good stuff there too.

 

Yeah, Ash already has that being made as we speak. I already have the Zemulator for the z32 ECU, which there are some bugs you have to work out first before that can work. But since the 95/96 z32 ECU has virtually the same "non EPROM" type of ECU that the VE has, when Ash makes that, it will work for the VE.

Ash's idea was the solder in a daugherboard to allow for EPROM functions. That would create an ECU that's able to use Ash's same Zemulator.

The Zemulator can already change everything there is about the motor. You can even change timing and fuel while the car is running. It's called real time mode where you can actually see which cells the ECU is using in the different maps. Pretty cool. Ash already has created a Zemulator that has road dyno capabilities. It's a simple free up grade of the software. I think he said it works off the speed sensor.

And he already has Consult capabilties in the works, which is offered with a free upgrade of software that you can just download.

The Zemulator IS the best tuning device in the world for any car. It's even better than full standalones b/c you can keep your stock ECU and you can datalog up to 7 additional sensors. You can't datalog additional sensors with standalones.

But it sounds like your sort of on the same track. If you're able to spend the countless amount of hours creating a nice program for all this, then you will basically have the Zemulator.

There are people out there that have done what you have done in their 300zx. They decided not to spend the $800 for Ash's Zemulator and they get that cheap software and rig it up. But there's a LOT of learning about how to read the code and what to change and how to change it. BUt it sounds like you know what you're doing. Good job!

 

this all sounds very interesting, but can someone try and explain this to me in plain english?
how do you change and view what the car is doing?? etc..
thanks, just curious.