'02 Q45 may be too expensive to keep repairing, what do I do with it??

[eschewary]

2002 Q45, 85000 miles

Hey guys, I'm facing a round of maintenance on the Q and trying to figure out what to do here. I've had my '02 Q for 5 years, I love it. But it's starting to fail, and I don't know how much more money I want to dump into it. I took it in to the shop because the windows kept rolling themselves down, concurrent with a loud irregular clicking noise from the dash or column (sounded similar to the turn signal 'cluck'). I tested the fob by taking the battery out- windows still went down by themselves. The mechanic caught several error codes (below) for knock issues, security, fob, door locks and windows. The driver's window cable snapped and it's sagging an inch below the seal. I'm looking at almost $900 just to diagnose these issues, so it's hard to tell how much total after that and actual labor. The valve covers are seeping too, that's at least an additional $600 job it needs, from what the dealer and this mechanic tell me. I have no tools or space (or expertise) to do any of this myself.


Repair codes
P0325 Knock sensor circuit (bank 1) (current)
P1610 Lock mode (current)
P1614 Chain OF IMMU-KEY (current)
P0430 Three-way catalytic converter system (bank 2) 1st trip Air bags (2 DTCs)
P1049 Driver airbag module (past)
P1054 Driver airbag module (past)


What's the best course here? Should I try to fight through the maintenance, eat the bill and hope I'm over the hump? Or do I start looking for a deal on a new luxobarge and drive this into the ground? If it's best to let it go, how do I get rid of it? How can I maximize the money I get back?


It's got so few miles, I hate to see a 3rd-gen Q go like this. Thanks!

[sandydennis11]

Get rid of it. You will spend 30 grand to get it in shape and then find out parts are no longer available.

Donate it and start sleeping better.

I have a1995 Q45 which was built much better than yours, and I have put in 25 grand into it but love the car. Not sure if that will continue.

[q45inca]

If you don't work on cars yourself a car more than a few yours old is not for you. Unless you have a mechanic you can trust. Has he cleared all errors before reading them? Often there are errors from problems which no longer exist, but mechanics will still read them and charge you to fix them by putting new expensive parts. etc etc

[intermech]

I sold my wife's 03 also due to repair cost.
In her case, the big cost was due to 1) engine overheating that needed a new fan (I had Infiniti ordered OEM part) 2) key wouldn't work due to some computer module failure and that was $$$ since getting new part was difficult.
In your case, seems like a long list of "issues", if I were you, I will get it ready for sales. Who knows what else you might need down the road.

[fontana dan]

It seems like the F50 has a lot of over engineering and problematic electronic components, compared to the earlier q45s.

[q45inca]

As a DIY it's' best to avoid buying cars which are newer then about 10 years old as they are full of useless electronic features which either break or make the car worse if they work. So features require to be disabled or disconnected - just like cutting off that "smart battery charger" which is draining batteries in cars like my newest car, recently bought 2016 QX80.

For people who don't work on cars the opposite is true - just get the newest car, preferably on a warranty.

[98_Q45]

I’m curious about this:

“P0430 Three-way catalytic converter system (bank 2) 1st trip Air bags (2 DTCs)”

Are you saying the bad cat tripped the air bag light? If so I’m wondering if mine has done the same. I’m getting sluggish performance, running hot intermittently and a resurfaced air bag light that was previously cleared (dealer only command).

Only thing I could say: for the valve covers, you can likely get by with a new oil change (high mileage/synthetic blend: not full synthetic) and some oil stop leak like blue devil or bars (i know it’s frowned upon, but I use it every oil change in a Cadillac that has a leaky engine, it definitely gets rid of the smell provided you use every oil change (usually good up to 5,000 to 7,500 miles) AND drive the car regularly. Unfortunately, “low miles” is only good to a new model car. Older cars with low miles means, dry gaskets and brittle suspension bushings).

Some of the other stuff sounds repairable, however a problem I’ve been running into in the last year or so: inflation has made even small town mechanic rates ridiculous. Places have gone from $79 alignments to $129. Diagnostics have gone up. It’s upsetting for people like myself with older cars who are trying to rebuild or stay maintained. I do most of my engine work, and can diagnose issues fairly easily, but suspension, brake and stuff that requires proper interpretation of codes, I can’t do.

If it were me: I say keep it, as a 2nd car. That’s what I’ve done. That way you can spread repairs out, versus trying to do it all at once. Selling cars is hard, and unless you’re trading it to a dealer to fix the headache, don’t give it to someone else and spread the illness lol. Fix it, then sell it. So no one comes back to sue you later. Or keep it as a 2nd vehicle and live with the imperfections.

Right now: my Q has an airbag light on for 3 years and the paint is peeling. But it’s a solid 2nd vehicle. I enjoy fixing it up, but between the paint and the possible catalytic converter…I’m almost in similar position you are. And the mechanics in my area don’t want to work weekends, they schedule everything days away, which by then the money I saved has to be spent on other necessities: It’s infuriating. I was supposed to had front alignment work done since last month, the mechanics keep putting me off or changing the prices on the quote. Or I have a bill or 2 due and have to reschedule myself. I can rarely ever get same day or next day work done in my area.

By next week I am making for sure get it done. Going to eat my new tires if it keeps being put off.

[90dsdreamin]

Sell it to a guy like me for $500, but yours sounds clean, unlike mine.