Description of CONSULT-III:
Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. has released the CONSULT-III, (*1) a hand-held diagnostic testing equipment for servicing Nissan in-vehicle electronic systems, with the aim of realizing swift and accurate diagnosis and repairs at Nissan dealerships worldwide. The diagnostic tester will be introduced at Nissan dealerships in Japan and other global markets. The progressive launch of the new system will coincide with the release of the new Skyline sedan in Japan in late 2006, and other global markets which sell the Infiniti G35. Subsequently, the Consult III will be progressively introduced to all of the remaining markets as the next generation of Nissan vehicles is released.

The timely and precise diagnosis of a vehicle’s problem has become increasingly complex as more intricate electronic hardware is an intrinsic part of new vehicles. There has also been a remarkable increase in the number of computers connected to the vehicle’s Controller Area Network (CAN). In the past 5 years, the number of computer systems installed in modern vehicles has doubled from only 8 or so in 2001. The CONSULT-III has been designed to address these complex and advanced in-vehicle electronic devices, maximising diagnostic precision, improving repair time and quality and further reducing service times and costs for Nissan customers.

The basic diagnostic system is composed of the main unit which is housed in a durable and rugged laptop PC, a wireless vehicle communication interface and wireless measurement interface; the laptop PC and each interface is connected via Bluetooth technology. Through a wireless LAN, this diagnostic system can be connected to the Nissan network in Japan, enabling the dealerships to retrieve information from various sources and display service technology data on the laptop PC.