New to the forum and brand new to the car...Just bought my 91 Q45 this morning for 1600 bucks!
I want to build the car up to perfect condition and i think i got the balls to do it, but its gonna take some help from people like you...Its got 126k on it and i have no history or reciepts. I was told the car has been sitting for the past six months, computer is reset, and the fluids have been changed (by inspection).
Problems:1) The Active Suspension will literally dance. This problem seems to go away one time you start the car and return again later. When started the car will raise its self, then it seems each hydraulic shock will oscilate up and down. It creates a bad feeling on the road so i am avoiding driving it until i can fix this. The ACTSUS light is on and reamins on even when it does not show the problem.
2) The left rear bushing on the wheel's bearing has been gone for some time. Dust and dirt im sure have found there way inside and i need to consider replaceing the bearings and maybe the axel. But i do not feel any specific vibration coming that side so maybe it can be regreased, covered and salvaged.
3) The power steering pump is leaking. A more minor problem but the preasure hose may be at fault and that would be reason for concern.
4) The transmission is said to need simple maintenance. Im unsure of why but the fluid is a good bright red and shows no signs of grime or metal.
5) I am now thuroughly terrified of the timing chain guide disaster after reading several posts. Any commentary on that would be appreciated
The car is freaking gorgeous inside and out and the engine looks like someone just cleaned it with a tooth brush. It still hauls *** and purrs like a dream at idle. It was purchased three weeks ago at an estate sale of origin i do not know. Then i bought it just today (11/11). I would love to get my hands dirty and really see what this car is made of but it will take at least an FSM if not a great location for parts. Any commentary on what im getting my self into will also be appreciated, Thank You for your time!
91 Q45 suspension, rear bearings, power steering projects
-
chinaonnitrous
- Posts: 421
- Joined: Wed Sep 28, 2005 6:47 pm
- Car: 2002 Maxima to 2004 Evoloution to 1992 Integra
Welcome - sounds like you have time and money to play! There's been alot of posts on active issues. Definitely get in touch with Keith aka Texas Oil as he sells inexpensive accumulators - sounds as if you really need these - there are nine total and go for around $900 for a complete set. The car you have is one of the best vintages of Q IMHO. You will need to do your chain guides as well - think there's a DIY thread on this as well. Do a lot of searches and you'll probably find most all the info you'll need.
-
ceningolmo
- Posts: 1763
- Joined: Fri Oct 14, 2005 2:37 pm
- Car: Silver 1991 Q45a & Green 1991 Q45a
Re: (tkd_q45)
I just want to make sure I wasn't confused about this... there are 9 accumulators.
When I asked for a quote from Keith, he told me that it was $275 per accumulator ($2475 total). He then refunds you $100 per accumulator when you return your stock accumulators ($900 total). Thus, the total cost for the full set of accumulators was $1575 plus shipping.
Still a significant savings compared with dealership repair pricing... but, a lot more than $900! If misunderstood Keith's pricing, please correct me.
Kirby... congratulations on your purchase. I just purchased my first Q (a '91 Q45a with 128K for $2100) about a month ago, and it has already been an adventure. As someone who knows next to nothing about anythhing automotive, the task of maintaining a luxury automobile seems a bit daunting. However, the people on this board have forgotten more about the Q than most Infiniti mechanics know. Do lots of reading, ask lots of questions. I assure you, anything you encounter has already been solved by someone else before you! To help make some of the reading easier, go back over the past 4 weeks of posts and find the threads where I started asking questions, since most of the questions will probably be helpful for your car as well.
Specifically...1. I am sure you have already started reading... but, definately read anything you can find. Do a forum search using "active suspension". Also, check out http://www.q45asuspension.com and http://www.q45.org. Sounds like someone has already pointed you in the direction of new accumulators.
2. I haven't had this problem, so I haven't done any reading on this subject yet. However, I can tell you that with the Active you need to be very careful about how much dirt and grime is getting in and near your suspenion components. You will find out more when you do some more reading.
3. My P/S has a tiny leak as well. Apparently its pretty common in these models for there to be small leaks. Most of the info I have found seems to conclude that the problem isn't a super high priority. The standard reccomendation seems to be the following: Do a P/S flush (you will find a recent thread on this very subject) using the full mechanical or turkey baster method, and follow up by making sure you keep a close eye on the level and color of the fluid. Apparently, by using Mobil1 (or other, depending on who you ask) ATF in your P/S, this process will get a higher viscocity liquid in to your system and will therefore may help with the leaks. I know you said that all the fluids were just changed... but, if you didn't change them and you didn't dictate what fluids were going in, I think people are going to tell you to do it again.
4. Wes helped me by doing a transmission flush on mine about a week after I bought it. And, my transmission acted completely goofy for about a week after that... now, however, it seems to have smoothed out a lot. I don't know if/how that little bit of information might help you, but now you know.
5. My suggestion regarding the timing chain guides is to do as much homework as possible. If you can get a vehicle service history, do it. If you can find someone with a borescope (I think I spelled that right), you may be able to see inside there without taking the engine apart. If you can avoid the frustration that Wes and I recently endured, it is worth a little extra time and money. Wes volunteered to help me change out my guides... proceeded to tear my engine apart... only to find out they had already been replaced. Doh!
Email me at [email protected] and I will send you an electronic copy of the FSM.
Hope some of this helps...
When I asked for a quote from Keith, he told me that it was $275 per accumulator ($2475 total). He then refunds you $100 per accumulator when you return your stock accumulators ($900 total). Thus, the total cost for the full set of accumulators was $1575 plus shipping.
Still a significant savings compared with dealership repair pricing... but, a lot more than $900! If misunderstood Keith's pricing, please correct me.
Kirby... congratulations on your purchase. I just purchased my first Q (a '91 Q45a with 128K for $2100) about a month ago, and it has already been an adventure. As someone who knows next to nothing about anythhing automotive, the task of maintaining a luxury automobile seems a bit daunting. However, the people on this board have forgotten more about the Q than most Infiniti mechanics know. Do lots of reading, ask lots of questions. I assure you, anything you encounter has already been solved by someone else before you! To help make some of the reading easier, go back over the past 4 weeks of posts and find the threads where I started asking questions, since most of the questions will probably be helpful for your car as well.
Specifically...1. I am sure you have already started reading... but, definately read anything you can find. Do a forum search using "active suspension". Also, check out http://www.q45asuspension.com and http://www.q45.org. Sounds like someone has already pointed you in the direction of new accumulators.
2. I haven't had this problem, so I haven't done any reading on this subject yet. However, I can tell you that with the Active you need to be very careful about how much dirt and grime is getting in and near your suspenion components. You will find out more when you do some more reading.
3. My P/S has a tiny leak as well. Apparently its pretty common in these models for there to be small leaks. Most of the info I have found seems to conclude that the problem isn't a super high priority. The standard reccomendation seems to be the following: Do a P/S flush (you will find a recent thread on this very subject) using the full mechanical or turkey baster method, and follow up by making sure you keep a close eye on the level and color of the fluid. Apparently, by using Mobil1 (or other, depending on who you ask) ATF in your P/S, this process will get a higher viscocity liquid in to your system and will therefore may help with the leaks. I know you said that all the fluids were just changed... but, if you didn't change them and you didn't dictate what fluids were going in, I think people are going to tell you to do it again.
4. Wes helped me by doing a transmission flush on mine about a week after I bought it. And, my transmission acted completely goofy for about a week after that... now, however, it seems to have smoothed out a lot. I don't know if/how that little bit of information might help you, but now you know.
5. My suggestion regarding the timing chain guides is to do as much homework as possible. If you can get a vehicle service history, do it. If you can find someone with a borescope (I think I spelled that right), you may be able to see inside there without taking the engine apart. If you can avoid the frustration that Wes and I recently endured, it is worth a little extra time and money. Wes volunteered to help me change out my guides... proceeded to tear my engine apart... only to find out they had already been replaced. Doh!
Email me at [email protected] and I will send you an electronic copy of the FSM.
Hope some of this helps...
-
squeefoo
- Posts: 1053
- Joined: Tue Jul 22, 2003 5:10 pm
- Car: 1990 Infiniti Q45
1994 Nissan Maxima SE
1999 Infiniti I30
2003 Nissan Maxima Titanium
2006 Nissan Xterra Off Road
2012 Infiniti G37x S
Welcome ! My $.02 is the pressure side hose on the PS pump is leaky (common)...not sure what it looks like on an "A"... but it should be cheaper to remove the hose and have new hose crimped in, and make sure the hose ends are oriented or clocked properly. Good luck !
Once you get this car running the way it was made to, you'll be really happy you spent the time on it!
Once you get this car running the way it was made to, you'll be really happy you spent the time on it!
Re: 91 Q45 suspension, rear bearings, power steering projects (kirbyQ45)
Day two of owning the 91 Q45 and i have read so much i feel like iv'e all ready married it. I did get a little more excited though, i think...
After lifting it onto stands about two feet after work(bank hours), I took of the tires and inspected only the rear suspension so far. I found one glaring problem:
Of the three metal hoses coming from the actual strut (Two on top, and one little one on the bottom), one hose had a cracked and broken vacuum/exhaust connector.
Let me describe as best as my imagination can... One hose going into the top of the strut is obviously a high presure lifter for the active suspension. It has very beefy tubing and piping that comes directly from the ACTSUS pumps in rear of vehicle. It is clear that this hose carries the green hydraulic fluid. This line seems to be fine.
The other hose coming from the top of the strut is a lower preasure equalizing hose. I assume it is low presure because the connection i found broken was as thin and a vacuum line, but about 3/4 of inch in diameter and ribbed so it could flex with minor shifting. Any high preasure and the slip on fittings would surely break, and no fluid runs through it or i would have found this much earlier, only air or gas from the strut. This 2 inch connecter was brittle and broken. The more i think of it, the more i'm not sure it is the cause of the suspension shimmy. I am guessing that since both rear sides are broken that the struts cannot equalize from side to side causing the system to over and under compensate in oscilation. I could be totally wrong, but we will see when i replace the pieces with either oem tubing (with the ripples, if i can find them) or simlar vacuum tubing that will probably work just fine.
One more thing:
Any comments from someone who has removed the rear wheel drive axels in a 91 Q45, or anyone who has seen a good post, it would help.
~I am getting excited just looking over every inch of the business(under) side of this car. It is complex, yet self explanitory. I have a feeling im gonna love workin on this car! Hope it doesn't break my heart like my old Bronco II(trash). Never saw my self in Q45, not in a thousand years, but we will see how things work out.
Thank You all for your comments so far... Later On!
After lifting it onto stands about two feet after work(bank hours), I took of the tires and inspected only the rear suspension so far. I found one glaring problem:
Of the three metal hoses coming from the actual strut (Two on top, and one little one on the bottom), one hose had a cracked and broken vacuum/exhaust connector.
Let me describe as best as my imagination can... One hose going into the top of the strut is obviously a high presure lifter for the active suspension. It has very beefy tubing and piping that comes directly from the ACTSUS pumps in rear of vehicle. It is clear that this hose carries the green hydraulic fluid. This line seems to be fine.
The other hose coming from the top of the strut is a lower preasure equalizing hose. I assume it is low presure because the connection i found broken was as thin and a vacuum line, but about 3/4 of inch in diameter and ribbed so it could flex with minor shifting. Any high preasure and the slip on fittings would surely break, and no fluid runs through it or i would have found this much earlier, only air or gas from the strut. This 2 inch connecter was brittle and broken. The more i think of it, the more i'm not sure it is the cause of the suspension shimmy. I am guessing that since both rear sides are broken that the struts cannot equalize from side to side causing the system to over and under compensate in oscilation. I could be totally wrong, but we will see when i replace the pieces with either oem tubing (with the ripples, if i can find them) or simlar vacuum tubing that will probably work just fine.
One more thing:
Any comments from someone who has removed the rear wheel drive axels in a 91 Q45, or anyone who has seen a good post, it would help.
~I am getting excited just looking over every inch of the business(under) side of this car. It is complex, yet self explanitory. I have a feeling im gonna love workin on this car! Hope it doesn't break my heart like my old Bronco II(trash). Never saw my self in Q45, not in a thousand years, but we will see how things work out.
Thank You all for your comments so far... Later On!
Re: 91 Q45 suspension, rear bearings, power steering projects (kirbyQ45)
Welcome to NICO kirby! Contact DRQ [email protected] about removing the half axles from the rear of the Q. He may also have some parts you may need. The half axles are not hard to remove. Mark in vegas also may have some info for you. ([email protected]) Contact Keith Bowers directly aka. Texasoil about your 9 accumulators(actuators). I think the actual price is more like $1200 not $900 and not $1500. He has kept many a Q on the road and has saved many NICO members lots of duckies.
I suggest getting an FSM for your year Q if your going to do the work yourself. Many on ebay for your year Q. The CD(electric version) for 94's and up you can get from members here. I've done a ton of work on mine as have many of us so this is beyond a doubt the best place for info and help.
New part can be purchased from Joe at Everything Infiniti for a discount to NICO members.
The "green" hydraulic fluid is the Active fluid which is a mineral based oil that makes the active simple amazing. Never mix Trans fluid with the active fluid to cut corners. Connectors and hoses can be bought new for not much cash. Carefull when removing the active lines as you will get a bath in the green fluid unless you releive the pressure.
Your PS pump doubles as the main Active pump as well and is bigger and more expensive then the non active Q PS pump. The belts and pulley's are also larger on the active. It's best to buy a new hose then buy a used one. Make sure your active reservoir is full. after you have done your work as the Q's active system is "self healing"
red
I suggest getting an FSM for your year Q if your going to do the work yourself. Many on ebay for your year Q. The CD(electric version) for 94's and up you can get from members here. I've done a ton of work on mine as have many of us so this is beyond a doubt the best place for info and help.
New part can be purchased from Joe at Everything Infiniti for a discount to NICO members.
The "green" hydraulic fluid is the Active fluid which is a mineral based oil that makes the active simple amazing. Never mix Trans fluid with the active fluid to cut corners. Connectors and hoses can be bought new for not much cash. Carefull when removing the active lines as you will get a bath in the green fluid unless you releive the pressure.
Your PS pump doubles as the main Active pump as well and is bigger and more expensive then the non active Q PS pump. The belts and pulley's are also larger on the active. It's best to buy a new hose then buy a used one. Make sure your active reservoir is full. after you have done your work as the Q's active system is "self healing"
red
-
ceningolmo
- Posts: 1763
- Joined: Fri Oct 14, 2005 2:37 pm
- Car: Silver 1991 Q45a & Green 1991 Q45a
Re: 91 Q45 suspension, rear bearings, power steering projects (redmanfx)
Red... do you know exactly how the pricing works from Keith? Obviously the quote I received isn't completely correct.
Since I am going to be tackling the active in the next couple of months, it would be helpful to know how much I need to budget.
Since I am going to be tackling the active in the next couple of months, it would be helpful to know how much I need to budget.
-
texasoil
- Posts: 875
- Joined: Mon Sep 02, 2002 3:18 pm
- Car: '92 Infiniti Q45A
'94 Infiniti Q45A
'94 Mercedes-Benz SL600
Recharged accumulators are:
Set of 4 for struts only $700 +$400 refundable core deposit.
Set of 9 (all of them) is $1200, + $600 refundable core deposit.
Axle set (2 accumulators-front or rear) are $400 +$200 refundable core deposit.
Set of 5 other accumulators (front and rear main, pump, front and rear valve) is $750 +$500 refundable core deposit.
Single accumulators prices are higher.
I am now doing growing business recharging accumulators for Lexus LX-450 & 470 SUV's.
Set of 4 for struts only $700 +$400 refundable core deposit.
Set of 9 (all of them) is $1200, + $600 refundable core deposit.
Axle set (2 accumulators-front or rear) are $400 +$200 refundable core deposit.
Set of 5 other accumulators (front and rear main, pump, front and rear valve) is $750 +$500 refundable core deposit.
Single accumulators prices are higher.
I am now doing growing business recharging accumulators for Lexus LX-450 & 470 SUV's.
-
texasoil
- Posts: 875
- Joined: Mon Sep 02, 2002 3:18 pm
- Car: '92 Infiniti Q45A
'94 Infiniti Q45A
'94 Mercedes-Benz SL600
The unstable height adjusting system can be resolved once you pull any error codes. Flat accumulators will not, by themselves, cause this condition. To cure this condition, you will need recharged accumulators, fresh active system fluid, and detailed assistance (telephone discussions) to adjust the offending hydraulic valves. What occurs is one or more of the solenoid actuated valves is 'saturating' and running out of 'control range'.