straining to get up mild grades

[alexander]

Check engine light came on after twelve years of ownership of this '96 Q.Had 120K service performed ($890) as well as new Mass Airflow meter and as well as Valve Assy-AAC ($1600), as well as welch pugs replacement ($1600) Performance now is worse. Driving home to SF from Marin Infiniti CA, even minor hill/grades were a strain for this Q. It wasn't great before this service, but worse now. Had to down shift just to keep up with traffic.Original transmission but all required service always completed.134k miles is this the begining of the end to my wallet?

[craigztoyz]

Thats alot of money. I do all my own work, so I guess its alot more to me, then one who pays for work, but wow. for plugs? WTF?

Obviously they screwed somthing up, weather its a unconnected wire, or a real issue, run the codes, and get in touch with the service manager. Are your injectors FN up? Id check the MAF

[qship96]

Are you saying you dropped $4100.00 on one visit at the Infiniti dealer???

[BadQ45t]

dude, you have a 12 year old car and your going to the most expensive Infiniti stealership in the USA!!!! You need to say, this is a 12 year old car that is worth 5k at most, time to find a good 3rd party mechanic. I can recommend one to you in San Mateo if you do not have one, he's very close to the airport so you can drop off and take BART back.

Seriously, this car should only see the dealership for an occasional oil change with a coupon.

[alexander]

Yep... $4200 just today and the headlight in-opp came on tonight, guess they slammed the hood once too often. Marin is a beautiful place to live if your a Infiniti dealership owner.I had the feeling no one has ever paid for repairs at this service department before at this rate. Even the rep was amazed at the bill.This does not include the $2500 cross member replacement 3 months ago and the new $500 blue shocks and the new $2000.00 valve cover replacement . Wow should have a new car by now. The kids are going to public school this year, and get jobs.

[Q45denver]

I've had Q's for over 10 years and I've never even heard of anyone having their freeze plugs, valve covers or cross members replaced. Did you verify that they actually replaced these items or why they needed replacement? You probably could have bought a couple new cars by now.

Yep... $4200 just today and the headlight in-opp came on tonight, guess they slammed the hood once too often. Marin is a beautiful place to live if your a Infiniti dealership owner.I had the feeling no one has ever paid for repairs at this service department before at this rate. Even the rep was amazed at the bill.This does not include the $2500 cross member replacement 3 months ago and the new $500 blue shocks and the new $2000.00 valve cover replacement . Wow should have a new car by now. The kids are going to public school this year, and get jobs.

[maxnix]

Regardless of the amount of money paid, you probably would have been a lot better off going to http://www.jerrytucker.net and let them do the work. I would still go there and let them do a once over and report back to the dealer what they did wrong if you have afforded the dealer one opportunity to correct their mistakes. If the dealership replaced your worn crossmember (why?) and didn't replace your front motor mounts, they are incompetent.

It is not so much about what you paid to restore your car as I would also spend that much if required as mine are easily worth over $20K each to me in terms of performance and condition and available alternatives in the market place. It is more about the competency of the service you received which was insufficient. Of the bay area dealers, I don't recall anyone using Marin before, and I certainly can see why.

If you have more time, spend some of it here by reading Q45tech's posts. A good owner must know as much as the dealer technicians as there are so few Senior Infiniti technicians left. Does Marin have one? I doubt it. BAsically, I am afraid you paid for your ignorance, and will still have to pay more for your dealer's ignorance.

[craigztoyz]

I would have a long talk with the service manager, about the condition of your vehicle after leaving, AND the price, and services Offered. get with a good Dealer that is 'approved' by Q guys here, and ask them what they think, take a copy of the bills. But it sounds like the labor, I am guessing 85 an hour? we are still talking about 150 hours????????????? WTF My math may be a bit Bushish but I'd be pissed, and when the kids find out they are going to school with the best of the rest, they will go and help plead your case. Sorry, trying to find humor in a very upsetting situation. If that happened here in ATX, I'd help you kick some tail.

Good luck, and dont let them do this to you, Sorry to hear the rest of the repairs. Crossmember, did it hit something?

Craig

[alexander]

It was the rear cross-member replaced. The bushing were completely worn out metal on metal and the contraption gets replaced. That service was not done by Marin Infiniti, but an independant guy.Marin Infiniti has a senior Q tech on staff , been there forever.i'm not saying they made any mistakes. But if the transmission is starting to go, I don't think they'll be doing the work. It is nice to have a '08 G35 as a loaner for entire week, and they said to bring the Q back for this performance issue with a loaner again. No place gives loaners when the car was never bought there.For what I shelled out that would have been 10 lease payments.

[maxnix]

1,) It was the rear cross-member replaced. The bushing were completely worn out metal on metal and the contraption gets replaced. That service was not done by Marin Infiniti, but an independant guy.

2.) Marin Infiniti has a senior Q tech on staff , been there forever.i'm not saying they made any mistakes. But if the transmission is starting to go, I don't think they'll be doing the work.

3.) It is nice to have a '08 G35 as a loaner for entire week, and they said to bring the Q back for this performance issue with a loaner again. No place gives loaners when the car was never bought there.For what I shelled out that would have been 10 lease payments.

1.) That would be your rear subframe. Not that difficult to do with the FSM. Just requires competence.

2.) Transmissions are replaced with new Nissan rebuilt ones from Joe. Dealer will insist on replacing radiator also as clogged cooler lines will kill a new transmission. Since you are an astute NICOnaut, you have of course installed an B&M auxilary ATF cooler, perhpas by passing the OEM heat exchangers. Don't forget to replace the external ATF filter when the time comes.

Let me guess. Labor = $145/hr.?

3.) I have always received loaners from Infiniti dealers when required or requested and I have never purchased an Infiniti new nor from a dealer.

[alexander]

Yes, that was a rear frame cross member.Wasn't aware that the '96Q needed upgrade trans cooling.My '91Q did need two trans replacements but I thought that was dealt with the '94-96's.Driving today on I-280 to San Jose Ca showed no problems with the performance (so looks like a new trans might be on the books ), since hills are the problem with the trans trying to shift.We'll see tomorrow, the upgrades to Santa Cruz and the Concours d' Elegance in Pebble Beach Sunday might prove to be an issue on Highway 17.

By the way GM are showing all there MOTORAMA Cars tomorrow at Pebble Beach. Gotta get some pics of this event

[maxnix]

1.) Yes, that was a rear frame cross member.

2.) Wasn't aware that the '96Q needed upgrade trans cooling.My '91Q did need two trans replacements but I thought that was dealt with the '94-96's.

3.) Driving today on I-280 to San Jose Ca showed no problems with the performance (so looks like a new trans might be on the books ), since hills are the problem with the trans trying to shift.

1.) No rear "cross member," only a subframe.

2.) The twin heat exchangers in the 1994 and later G50 with the external ATF filter helped extend ATF life greatly. But a true auxiliary cooler did more as it did not heat ATF once the car is up to operating temperature.

3.) No mention of the result of the ATF white paper towel test? That would tell everyone a lot about AT condition.

[alexander]

White paper towel test shows bright red fluid.Transs had a full flush 30k miles ago.

[maxnix]

Any deposits on the pan or obvious detritus in the screen filter? What was the color of the old fluid?

[alexander]

That service was done at Infiniti. Didn't ask about specifics, and they didn't tell.

[maxnix]

You no ask, they no tell. BG machine, or drain and refill?

[elwesso]

sounds like a return trip to the dealer.. after 4200 worth of repairs they should fix your car and they should also take you out to a nice seafood dinner as well.

[Q45tech]

After 10-12 years most 90-96 Q have had Knock Sensor failure. Be sure to have them checked as they don't illuminate check engine light and can cause significant power loss up hills and accelerating.

[NightRiderQ45]

At least $9000 spent in 3 months and about to spend more dollars....I'm sorry, but I would start looking for something else or drop kick the service manager to make sure my car is running correctly.

As far as loaners, I asked for one awhile back and my Infiniti dealer told me that they don't offer loaners for older cars. I think the guy told me that it has to be 3yrs old at the latest!! I wonder if it's a regional thing?

[NightRiderQ45]

You no ask, they no tell. BG machine, or drain and refill?

Dealer...... I bet it was just a drain and refill. The dealer service manager here told me that they WON'T have ANY of those machines on their property. They live by drain and refill.

[maxnix]

Dealer...... I bet it was just a drain and refill. The dealer service manager here told me that they WON'T have ANY of those machines on their property. They live by drain and refill.

That is true.

At least you know your Infiniti dealer is not a Tier 1 dealer.

[NightRiderQ45]

That is true.

At least you know your Infiniti dealer is not a Tier 1 dealer.

Exactly!! I realized that after hearing how you all were able to get loaners!

[alexander]

If the problem are the knock sensors will their failure always send a code?The idle is perfect. No knocking no shaking.Performance on the straight away is fine at freeway speed.Performance on up grade is not.Only once in awhile is lane change accerlation an issue.

Previous transmission flush service record states "MOC System flush Trans MTF15 labor $156.00MOC A/T Service Kit 09141 $49.00Tans Fluid 12 28.20

This dealership is no longer in business so can't ask that it was a toal flush or just a drain and refill.Would the above pricing be a 'total flush' or not?Marin Infinti is requesting to bring Q back.Guess they need to pay for school supplies soon for their kids now that I paid for their tuition!

[maxnix]

Hell, their kids want iPhones now!

MOC is Greek to me. I am betting on drain and refill.

Ohming the KS is easy. Many writeups in IOM. Try it.

Clogged EGR might also have those symptoms, but let Q45tech or Heath comment on it.
Modified by maxnix at 11:37 AM 8/18/2008

[qship96]

Somehow, I dont think this is a worn transmission problem at all. I would look at knock sensors, maybe misadjusted throttle position sensor, or other malfunctioning electronic sensor

[96Qowner]

And it's not atypical for the average G50 to exhibit some problems with long mild grades in 4th gear - just not geared properly for it. The easy solution is to downshift to 3rd.

You might consider getting a BG intake fogging, or cleaning the intake path manually.

[alexander]

That's what I do, downshift to 3rd. Been doing that for the last year. Never had to downshift before.BG clean out was performed 10k miles ago, with some performance improvement but still only get 12mpg highway and not much better uphill.

[96Qowner]

only get 12mpg highway and not much better uphill.

Oh. Nope, you got a problem, then. Should easily get over 20mpg.

[maxnix]

It's time to ohm test the KS.

[goody90q45]

It's time to ohm test the KS.

....and ohm your fuel injectors. I understand the stealership doesn't do this as part of the Consult diagnosis. Both will take you only 10 minutes and the only tool required is a $15 Radio Shack / Frys / Best Buy volt meter. The group of connectors can be found at the base of the plenum on the passenger side.