What OBD reader works on Early Q45’s

[D Q]

Tried a obd2 w/ a1 plug on it, it didn’t work, a friend has the snap on brick, I need to read a 91 and a 95 Q45, will it work, if so, what cartridge for ea, I see the plug I need to get.

 

[Victor Rusk]

Tried a obd2 w/ a1 plug on it, it didn’t work, a friend has the snap on brick, I need to read a 91 and a 95 Q45, will it work, if so, what cartridge for ea, I see the plug I need to get.

The Snap-on MT2500 Brick"is an excellent choice and will absolutely work on both the 1991 and 1995 Q45, provided you have the correct internal setup. The reason the modern OBD2 scanner didn't work, even with an adapter, is that these early Q45s do not use standard OBD2 protocols; they utilize a proprietary system called Nissan Consult. While a modern plug might fit physically, the scanner cannot speak the pre-1996 language of the car's computer. The Snap-on Brick is legacy technology designed specifically for this era, making it fully compatible where modern tools fail.

To get the Snap-on unit communicating with your car, you will need to hunt down a few specific modular parts. First, you need the Asian Imports Primary Cartridge, ideally a version labeled "through 1999" or "through 2000" to ensure it covers the 1995 model year. You also need the specific physical adapter for the Q45’s gray 14 pin port, which is part number MT2500-40, labeled as Nissan-1 or NISS-1. If you end up buying a newer programmable cartridge (usually black), the scanner will likely ask for a Personality Key to configure the pin layout; for these cars, the required key is K-14.

If you need to read engine codes immediately and don't want to wait to buy the Snap-on components, you can actually access the codes without any scanner at all using the car's built in diagnostic mode. The ECU is located behind the plastic kick panel on the passenger side, to the right of the footwell. On the side of the metal ECU box, there is a small selector screw. With the ignition turned to the ON position (but the engine off), you turn that screw fully clockwise for two seconds, then fully counter clockwise. The Check Engine light on your dashboard will then begin to blink the error codes, using long flashes for the first digit and short flashes for the second digit.

 

[D Q]

Thanks, I’ll get the 2 PCs and let yiu know how it works.
There are manuals that used to come with the cartridges, I’m not sure what manual to get for the one I buy