1996 Q w/leaking valve cover

[alexander]

I have been told by Infiniti Service that my '96 Q45 has a leaking valve cover. Up to $1800.00 to repair. Any thoughts on this.Car has 111,000 miles and has been regularly serviced.

Also this car has trouble keeping up on hills with even huge trucks. Niot bad on freeways but going to Santa Cruz I stay in the slow lane. Is this trans problem?

[3Q Jay]

welcome to the best Q resource available. read,read, read. lots to learn from here.

very common to have vc's leaking at this age. my '94 with 112k just barely seeps so i let it go (don't even have to add make-up oil in between changes). it's a biotch of a job, so while thier price is high, it's also not cheap. how much spotting on your driveway? see or smell smoke from under the hood on hot shutdown? if 'no' on both of the above, unless it's too objectionable, you might want to just watch it for a while.

as for the power, need more description. does the engine not build rpm, or do the rpm's take off, but the car goes nowhere?

[Q45tech]

We charge 7 hours plus gaskets to replace leaking valve covers.ATL prices are $75/hour independent, $100 at dealers: CA prices might be $125/hr at dealers?

[alexander]

There is a smell but no leaking on the garage floor.I guess luckily I lightly rearend someone who thought they should stop at a red light. That optional in san Francisco. So the hood is slightly at an opend angle, so the smell is just alittle annoying.For the power problem, the rpm's just creep up, but never getr passed 3500, and the car just trugs along at 45mph and no faster even giving itmore gas

My previous '91 Q went through two trans (under warranty) xso I'm concerned about that.

Thanks for the quick response.

[3Q Jay]

if you can't go over 3500, then you've got some problems with engine, not trans.

when the engine is warm and trans in park, (don't do this to a cold engine) can you slowly raise the revs upto and past 4000?If so, what happens when you go WOT from a stop? what rpm does 1-2 happen?

idle smooth? any hesitation when throttling up?

[alexander]

It goes above the 4500 rpm mark.What exactly is 'WOT'. I can't figure out that abbrev.I'll try tomorrow to check the 1`st and 2nd gear rpm rates.

Thanks for your help.

[MinisterofDOOM]

What exactly is 'WOT'. I can't figure out that abbrev.

WOT means Wide Open Throttle.

[goody90q45]

.....Also this car has trouble keeping up on hills with even huge trucks. Not bad on freeways but going to Santa Cruz I stay in the slow lane. Is this trans problem?

Your problem could very well be bad injectors but if I had to guess I'd put my money on a bad fuel pump and/or fuel pump control unit. Very common problem in Q's with over 100,000 miles. This post has simple checks to determine if one or both are bad.

zerothread?id=73822

I just had a coworker bring his 94Qt by for the same symptoms and after following the troubleshooting in this post he's now buying both units for replacement. Do you hear what sounds like a swarm of bees buzzing behind your rear seat?

[qship96]

dealers quote probobly includes plenum removal{ as both my local md dealers quoted] when asked about replacing my valve cover gaskets.

[alexander]

Ok........... Did the WOT and the first shift was at 6500 rpm.Idle smooth.............. no hestitation.I do notice the 'humming a little bit when the tank is less than 1/4 full.My first Q '91' needed a fuel tank at 70,000 (under wart). And two transmissions at 60-90,000. Not looking forward to that.

Any thoughts?

[Q45tech]

Transmissions are just NORMAL replacement items like oil filters, belts, spark plugs, knock sensors, fuel pumps, alternators, compressors, injectors, driveshafts, diffs, etc .

If you operate the vehicle long enough.

[franknitty69]

that's blasphemy! read up, get tools, do work yourself

on the other hand if you don't have green thumb in wrenching...

you may have to lube up and take it from the dealer.

I have been told by Infiniti Service that my '96 Q45 has a leaking valve cover. Up to $1800.00 to repair. Any thoughts on this.Car has 111,000 miles and has been regularly serviced.

Also this car has trouble keeping up on hills with even huge trucks. Niot bad on freeways but going to Santa Cruz I stay in the slow lane. Is this trans problem?