I know you can pull codes on a second gen by getting the flash codes off the ecu, but that is not my question. My question is where can you go just to have codes pulled? Do you need to find a place that has some special adaptor cord for the second gen? Do you have to do it at the dealership/can the dealership even check a car this old (87SE)? Thanks for any help.

-Carson

 

You should be able to get them pulled at an autozone. They usually have OBD I scanners for older cars. Yeah nissan can do it too but theres is like 90 bucks just to pull codes. I don't know how much autozone costs.

 

Autozone doesn't charge for the test...

Will ANY OBD I code reader work with our cars, given the correct connection to the harnes?

 

I know they guy at advanced cannot do it...he has an OBDII scanner with some software to check older cars but he said he cannot do a nissan.

 

Nissan did not use OBD-1. OBD-1 was only used on all older GM vehicles that have a certain diagnostic port under the dashboard. a special key or jumper wire can be inserted across 2 terminals and the "service engine soon" light would start to flash the trouble code. first, code 12 is flashed three times, which is one flash, a pause, then 2 flashes. then each trouble code is flashed 3 times, then code 12 again when all codes have been displayed.

OBD-2 did not come into play until 1995-1996 for most vehicles. Every car after that was required to have OBD-2, but before that, each car had its own way of checking the trouble codes without the use of computers. in Chryslers, you turn the ignition ON-OFF-ON-OFF-ON-OFF-ON to get the service engine soon light to start flashing. in most Hondas, you simply had to look at a panel of LEDs on the computer to see which ones were on or which ones were off, kinda like reading binary code. in my 94 nissan, you access the ECU, turn the screw clockwise, count to 5, turn it back, and the check engine light flashes.

there is a diagnostic port on vehicles pre-OBD-2, but they're not all the same. you'd have to go to a dealer or garage and pay them to read your codes.

Dan