1994 Q45
I think two major things are missing from the list:
1. The under plenum hoses are cooked by now and if you are going to do the knock sensors, these hoses should all be replaced. Overlap on labor and you can get the hose kit from Joe for about $200.
2. I doubt that the radiator has been taken care of. I would bet that its on its last leg. About $600 for the rad. + cost of new hoses.
Has the brake fuild and PS fluid been changed? Has the differential oil been drained and changed? A/C been serviced? New shocks?
As for the power steering hoses make sure that it is not merely the clamps that are leaking. My 94 leaked at the clamps, which I replaced with strap-types and have not have a problem since.
Also, do not merely flush the transmission, drop the pan and replace the filter after the flush.
The valve cover gaskets and spark plug labor has serious overlap. The quote for upper links is high and you can easily do that one. Also the tension rods on the car would likely work with a set of new $15 bushings pressed in -- also an easy one to handle. Unless they are bent, there is no need to replace the whole rod.
The belts are an easy one to tackle also. Easy access from below and only two or three wrenches needed.
That is a good looking car. Is the paint all original? I have stated before that when looking at used Q's I would not consider one with a re-paint. The original paint was a awsome feature on this car and superior to re-paints. (Remember the ads with the stuffy Brit guy shooting a dart gun at the car? -- he was right!)
If you could get it for $4K and dump about $4K in it up front, it should be a good car that will last for many years. However you will be upside-down and need to keep the car for several years to justify the expense. But for $8K you will have a very nice ride (regardless of resale value).
Next year you will need a new fuel pump and a water pump -- and continue to change fluids.
This sounds like a lot of things to deal with. However, that is how the guys on this board get these things to run so long and so strong. Study what they say! I have found better advice here than at the dealer. I have actually kept my car longer than planned becuase of this board.
Honestly, there are very few cars out there, particularly performance cars, that would not need this kind of attention at this mileage and age. With the proper upkeep, the Q will knock down 200K+ mi. easily. Good luck.
1. The under plenum hoses are cooked by now and if you are going to do the knock sensors, these hoses should all be replaced. Overlap on labor and you can get the hose kit from Joe for about $200.
2. I doubt that the radiator has been taken care of. I would bet that its on its last leg. About $600 for the rad. + cost of new hoses.
Has the brake fuild and PS fluid been changed? Has the differential oil been drained and changed? A/C been serviced? New shocks?
As for the power steering hoses make sure that it is not merely the clamps that are leaking. My 94 leaked at the clamps, which I replaced with strap-types and have not have a problem since.
Also, do not merely flush the transmission, drop the pan and replace the filter after the flush.
The valve cover gaskets and spark plug labor has serious overlap. The quote for upper links is high and you can easily do that one. Also the tension rods on the car would likely work with a set of new $15 bushings pressed in -- also an easy one to handle. Unless they are bent, there is no need to replace the whole rod.
The belts are an easy one to tackle also. Easy access from below and only two or three wrenches needed.
That is a good looking car. Is the paint all original? I have stated before that when looking at used Q's I would not consider one with a re-paint. The original paint was a awsome feature on this car and superior to re-paints. (Remember the ads with the stuffy Brit guy shooting a dart gun at the car? -- he was right!)
If you could get it for $4K and dump about $4K in it up front, it should be a good car that will last for many years. However you will be upside-down and need to keep the car for several years to justify the expense. But for $8K you will have a very nice ride (regardless of resale value).
Next year you will need a new fuel pump and a water pump -- and continue to change fluids.
This sounds like a lot of things to deal with. However, that is how the guys on this board get these things to run so long and so strong. Study what they say! I have found better advice here than at the dealer. I have actually kept my car longer than planned becuase of this board.
Honestly, there are very few cars out there, particularly performance cars, that would not need this kind of attention at this mileage and age. With the proper upkeep, the Q will knock down 200K+ mi. easily. Good luck.
I went to the dealer and had them run the diagnostic, it came back with about what I expected.needs two front tiresbrakes have about 7000miles leftdrive belts need replacedbrake fluid needs servicetrans fluid needs servicefuel filter needs serviceengine coolant needs serviceupper links looseengine has a pretty serious vacuum leak, the mechanic told me there was a hose knocked off in the back of the engine that was pretty easy to replace...there were some minor other issues and also there was a rust spot on the rear driver's side quarter panel and a little bit of rust on the inside of the rear drivers side door(by wheel well)he also said that the valve cover gaskets did not need replacedanyway the dealer who was selling the car was very rude and I just walked out.but when I took the car for a test drive it was strange...coming of the line the car had no power, we almost got passed by a mini van off a stop light! if you got up to around 20, backed off then floored it, it would sound up the engine well enough but still not much power.,.. why? any ideas?
-
elwesso
- Posts: 30810
- Joined: Sun Feb 23, 2003 4:52 pm
- Car: 94 Infiniti Q45t 5 spd
2007 BMW M Coupe
2007 Infiniti G35 S 6MT - Location: Indiana
- Contact:
Because its an ill maintained POS that looks really good!!!! 
Sorry to be so blunt, but thats the fact of the matter........ Qs NEVER rust...... Or at least its not too common....... My Q has lived in indiana for the last 60k for sure, maybe more, and there isnt a spot of rust on it (just a tad on some of the exhaust stuff, nothing really major).......
My car is low on power because of bad knock sensors, but its still got PLEANTY of get up and go to satisfy the butt meter....... It doesnt do a burn out, but it will still throw you in the back of your seat.......
I got lucky when finding mine....... The dealer I got it from drove it for 6 months, and they did a lot of things I would have had to do (fuel pump, new brake pads, tires, transmission fluid, etc).......
A knocked off hose in the back would probably be either a brake booster hose or the IAC......... Upper links, no biggie, 95 from Joe and a good DIY, about 25-30 mins......
The low power is defintely from the vacuum leak..... Ask him what it is, and then you could haggle for the dealer to get it fixed........
If you like the cosmetics of this car, and you really think its the one (with some help), than this is what I would do........ Say give me the car for 5500 (it will come out nicely to 5500 with indiana sales tax), and say that you will get all the FLUIDS changed and the vac leak done at their dealership....... I bet they'll bite it.......
Be patient, Qs are hard to find in good condition....... Because they are luxuary cars, they will look good, and seemingly run good, when in fact they are running by a thread......
Sorry to be so blunt, but thats the fact of the matter........ Qs NEVER rust...... Or at least its not too common....... My Q has lived in indiana for the last 60k for sure, maybe more, and there isnt a spot of rust on it (just a tad on some of the exhaust stuff, nothing really major).......
My car is low on power because of bad knock sensors, but its still got PLEANTY of get up and go to satisfy the butt meter....... It doesnt do a burn out, but it will still throw you in the back of your seat.......
I got lucky when finding mine....... The dealer I got it from drove it for 6 months, and they did a lot of things I would have had to do (fuel pump, new brake pads, tires, transmission fluid, etc).......
A knocked off hose in the back would probably be either a brake booster hose or the IAC......... Upper links, no biggie, 95 from Joe and a good DIY, about 25-30 mins......
The low power is defintely from the vacuum leak..... Ask him what it is, and then you could haggle for the dealer to get it fixed........
If you like the cosmetics of this car, and you really think its the one (with some help), than this is what I would do........ Say give me the car for 5500 (it will come out nicely to 5500 with indiana sales tax), and say that you will get all the FLUIDS changed and the vac leak done at their dealership....... I bet they'll bite it.......
Be patient, Qs are hard to find in good condition....... Because they are luxuary cars, they will look good, and seemingly run good, when in fact they are running by a thread......
I talked to 2 guys at the dealer, one who was friendly and one who tried to close the deal but was obviously inept at doing so. I told him there were obviously many issues with the car and there was no way I would come close to the asking price, he got all smug and said well in your expert car opinion what do you think the car is worth, I couldn't believe how much of a**hole this guy was! I told him I thought 3500 was a high price for the car he said something like there no way and I was already out the door. The original guy I was dealing with called me many hours later after I got home and appologized for the way I was treated, he offered me the car for 4800 and I said no, I said there's no way that I would go over 3500 for the car he said well I;ll call you back....
I have no illusions that I'm a car expert, but that is far from the way someone should approach selling a car.
I have no illusions that I'm a car expert, but that is far from the way someone should approach selling a car.
-
natsoundup
- Posts: 669
- Joined: Fri Jul 26, 2002 4:27 am
Definitely agree. Once you walk out after offering a price, you don't lower your guns and go back up 500 bucks. Call them every 3 or 4 days and say, "I drove by today and saw that Q45 was still on the lot. Are you gonna take my 3500 or are you gonna take it to auction and make 1500-2000 less?" Seriously, keep calling and one day they'll do it. Anything is better then them having to take it to auction where they rarely make any significant money and usually lose some.
Nick
Nick
Interior is in great shape leather wise, but minor problems, cruise doesnt work, the covienence center bulb is burnt out, memory seats don't seem to work,auto and day functions of rear view dont' work, some lighting bulbs are burnt out, missing a button on the center piece near the shift, missing the pad on the e-brake, needs new wipers, just a lot of little things and the exterior has some dings which I expected but the rust spot bothers me, the dealer said they had it touched up but it looks pretty bad. there's some fairly long scratches but you cant see them unless up close... the rust spot is about the size of a large fist... I don't know, it just seemed like there were a ton of things that would need to be fixed, (and I was very disappointed about the memory seats...) I don't think that this particular car is worth 4000 to me, especially after the way I was treated by the dealer, maybe I would have gone 4 if I had never seen the second guy...
-
SOCAL91Q45a
- Posts: 403
- Joined: Sat Aug 16, 2003 2:28 pm
- Contact:
-
elwesso
- Posts: 30810
- Joined: Sun Feb 23, 2003 4:52 pm
- Car: 94 Infiniti Q45t 5 spd
2007 BMW M Coupe
2007 Infiniti G35 S 6MT - Location: Indiana
- Contact:
Yeah........ I didnt know about all those other little things..........
If I had the money, id offer them 2000 and make it a parts car!!! If it has rust, that means that it was probably hardly ever washed........
Ill keep my eyes out for you...... I scour the ads anyway, just because I like to......
If I had the money, id offer them 2000 and make it a parts car!!! If it has rust, that means that it was probably hardly ever washed........
Ill keep my eyes out for you...... I scour the ads anyway, just because I like to......
I've always been leary of TX and FL used car dealers. I recall some talk of ways they can "clean" a title.
But based on the upside down VIN AZHitman saw on the one, I guess unethical used car dealers are everywhere.
Look on autotrader for any "private seller" cars in TX that are comparably priced to the dealer ones in ebay.
Just a suggestion.
But based on the upside down VIN AZHitman saw on the one, I guess unethical used car dealers are everywhere.
Look on autotrader for any "private seller" cars in TX that are comparably priced to the dealer ones in ebay.
Just a suggestion.
elwesso wrote: I dont like the two tone beige and brown mine has
I almost bought a '90 with the same color scheme as yours Wes a couple of years ago. Get this, the car only had just over 10,000 miles on it but they were asking over 10K for it. May or may not have been worth seeing guides would have still needed to be done. Plus I was of course upside down on my trade-in & would been paying over $400/mo for a 10+ year old car. Then another $1200 or so for the guides.
Wes ..... if a low mile 90 is souight after, I found this on autotrader.
1990 INFINITI Q45, 59,800 Miles, excellent condition, loaded, leather, sun roof, CD, cover, extra tires & rims. $6,900 OBO. (In IL)
And the "actors Q" w/ 61 on the motor, still not comfortable with that one.
There was also one in the 256 area code with a bad motor (anyone need a body)for $1000.
1990 INFINITI Q45, 59,800 Miles, excellent condition, loaded, leather, sun roof, CD, cover, extra tires & rims. $6,900 OBO. (In IL)
And the "actors Q" w/ 61 on the motor, still not comfortable with that one.
There was also one in the 256 area code with a bad motor (anyone need a body)for $1000.
eQlipse wrote:I almost bought a '90 with the same color scheme as yours Wes a couple of years ago. Get this, the car only had just over 10,000 miles on it but they were asking over 10K for it. May or may not have been worth seeing guides would have still needed to be done. Plus I was of course upside down on my trade-in & would been paying over $400/mo for a 10+ year old car. Then another $1200 or so for the guides.
I dont trust old cars with low miles. It makes me wonder how long the car was sitting with old gas, old oil, being ignored. Seals and such could be cracking/breaking?
I dunno, to me 75-125k seems properly exercised if well maintained.
-Jesda