1997+ q45 infested with problems

[laszlo]

Modified by laszlo at 9:51 AM 9/17/2006

[maxnix]

1.) wow I've been doiing a ton of research on y33 q45's and it scares me.

2.) as for the older f50 (91-06), those are even worse.

3.) what surprises me is that alot of you nissan owners will stand this lack of quality in your cars.

4.) I've gone to 3 different mechanics asking about repair costs of a 1997 q45, and 2 of them tell me that NISSAN has the highest failure rate of all japanese cars (toyota, acura, nissan).

5.) I've never heard of such failure rates in all of my years of owning a Acura.

6,) the fact that your MAF connectors can fail if you slightly move it tells me something already.

7.) the fact that you can't do a transmission flush without special tools also tells me something. Everything seems to be soo complicated in terms of how the car was built.

8.) anyhow maybe I got it all wrong but I have never seen such failure rates as I have now.

9.) I read on one post that you should expect to pay about 500-1000 bucks a year on maintenance and parts for a 1997+ q45. Now that is simply rediculous.

10.) then you guys have the common start up - idling issue.

11.) please prove me wrong because this scares me. I don't have the time or the money to be spending on a car.

1.) Too bad. It should enlighten you!

2.) Not the later ones (1994+). Surely you discovered the 1995 was the JD Powers winner for long term reliability? The earlier ones only had the timing chain guide issue as a major concern. Running changes cured most annoyances by 1993.

3.) We don't. You should check the MB and Audi boards. You do know this is the Infiniti section of the board?

4.) I would say none of them are senior Infiniti techicians.

5.) I also own a first generation Legend. No difference in failure rate between any of the Q45 and Legend. Both are exteremely low. Only the Legend left me stranded with failed (and soon recalled) igniter.

6.) That it is an early example? That some cheapy lube shop tried to change the oil filter from the top?

7.) Don't need special tools, just the correct fittings. Acura transmission has a screen that can't be replaced without disassembly.

8.) Wow, and you don't even own one! Siimply amazing!

9.) You're right! Save the money and buy a Dictionary and a Thesaurus.

10.) We do? News to me.

11.) You are right. Keep the push scooter! You have no business in an imported luxury V8.

[laszlo]

thanks

I wanted to hear that.

I just didn't want to spend the money on heavy maintenance.

[BlueC]

I think you are better off not getting a Y33 if you are worried about $500-1000/yr for maintenance. It doesn't even add up to that much, in the last 6 months I have spent $250 total on 2 oil changes, and a Transmission flush/rear differential oil change. The transmission flush and rear differential oil change were both needed for the 60k service that the previous owner did not complete.

So take those out of the picture and i've spent probably $60 on regular maintenance.

Any car you buy will most likely need new tires sooner or later, that's going to be $500-1200 depending on the car. So keep that in mind. I'll remain happy driving my Q45, which hasn't needed any mechanical attention so far.

[greenwar]

Oh mine God the 98-02 Acura TLs are soo reliable. Only requires a new transmission every 50-60K miles.

I own a stick honda myself. But the autos in the v6 honda motors are possibly one of the worst transmission shipping out of japan.

[laszlo]

Oh mine God the 98-02 Acura TLs are soo reliable. Only requires a new transmission every 50-60K miles.

I own a stick honda myself. But the autos in the v6 honda motors are possibly one of the worst transmission shipping out of japan.

your right with the transmission's, honda's do have a overall lousy transmission. Another typical honda-acura replacement part are the transmission and engine mounts.

I guess every manufacturer has it's weak spots.

[zinkie13]

Where did you do your research? Did you get this info from the BMW, Audi, Lexus, and Mercedes forums?

[Jesda]

We have a last-gen TL owner on this forum. He hates his car.

The Y33 has among the lowest ownership costs of any luxury-branded full size car. I think only the Town Car is cheaper to own.

[BadQ45t]

My 97' has been in my garage for about 6 years now, bought in April of 2000 with 42k. This is what i have spent, I'm not counting oil changes which are done with either Mobil 1 or Royal Purple every 3k or 6 months whichever comes first:

60k Service, not done at Infiniti but at high quality shop - $900, included transmission, power steering, coolant, brake fluids and new plugs, aligment, turning rotors and tuning70k - $500 for new tires on new rims ($200 off Nico Member), WR rated Yokohama ES10080k - new torsion bars and fresh brake pads, turned rotors $500 bucks85k - bought KYB SR Specials $680 + Tein lowering sprigns $24085k - transmission switched to Redline transmission fluid, coolant changed, installed SR Specials and Teins installed $700.

Round off to 4,000 with oil changes, so that is about $700 a year say and my Q gets the best treatment possible. I expect that it will get a bit higher as I hit 100k but maybe 1,000 is about right, that is cheap to keep the car in top shape. I'm also including the extra springs that I wanted and didn't need and better performance shocks.

This car has had ONE mechnical issue that was fixed under my extended warranty, the gas door popping open on its own. That's it, no other issues, this thing is a like a swiss watch. My friends call it the electric jet it is so smooth.

Your completely dead wrong about Nissan, take it from a 22 year owner of 5 Nissans, 4 of which I still have. The Nissan products is as reliable and more so than some other Japanese products (add Mazada here). I ran 300k on a 85' Maxima and gave to charity, I have 160k on my 84' 300ZX that has the original motor and still runs very well. I drove the Maxima into the ground, the Z will be in my garage the day I die (hopefully a long time from now). My wife has a 99' Sentra that has never had a single issue and the tune-ups and whatnot are a joke on that car. When I wanted a SUV I didn't hesistate for one second to buy a 05' X-Terra which has had nearly zero issues thus far and runs great.

Bottom line is the WAY the car is taken car of in the first 5-7 years means alot more than the name on the tail. If you get a thrashed Y33 of which I have now seen more than a few, it will be a POS in 7-9 years, at the same time if you have a 5-7 year old Lexus, Honda, name your car here the same thing will happen.

The 97-01 Q is one of the most reliable luxury cars on the road if you take care of it period. What can you say bad about it. I would have liked a bit more horsepower, always. The aftermarket parts world sucks for it, I had to get the springs and shocks/dampers from Nico members directly from Japan, would have been alot easier to get them from a local dealer but is doable.

If you're looking to buy a Q45, make sure you get all the paperwork on what was done to the car and have a serious inspection done so you know what you're getting yourself into. Most people do NOT take care of their cars the way people on this board do so if you get a car with 50-80k on it expect to pay in the first year, but you should negetiate that up-front so you have $$ left over.

[Q45tech]

T3 is unique in that we repair both Lexus and Infiniti [and a very small assortments of Nissan, Toyota, Jag, MB, BMW owned by customers who insist]. Our business is 49/49 between the 2 Japanese brands.

I can assure you that an idiot owner [80% of owning public] can destroy any vehicle in less than 100k without trying.

Never buy a car where you will be the 3rd owner [not counting the dealer/used lot], never buy a leased car return, or a repo.............or water or salt damaged.

[Falkdesigns]

Funniest post ever!!

I've had my 98 Q45 since March 2004, so just about 2.5 years. It's needed: 2 O2 Sensors, 1 alternator, and oil changes. Everything else done to it was stuff I WANTED to do to it. By far one of the most reliable cars I've ever owned. Whoever told you Nissan is the worst Japanese brand in terms of reliability is an Idiot. Nissan is the No. 2 brand IN Japan, Mitsubishi is the most unreliable Japanese brand, and is currently struggling for survival (of it's automotive division). The 2nd gen Q45 has NO LOWER than 4 out of 5 stars in EVERY category on Consumer Reports website. It's an extremely well built (by hand I might add) car with first class fit, finish and materials.

[Q45tech]

I guess I should be clearer if all our business was just 97-01 Q45 we would be out of business. And not just from the low numbers sold!

They are very reliable and in 10 years we have yet to change an engine and very few transmissions.

Thankfully Lexus has continued to redesign the 90 LS400 progressively to reduce reliability, not necessarily with total intent just to increase power output and add gears and reduce weight in areas to stabilise weight overall.

Really cannot compare a 97 and later LS400-430 to a 97 Q which is a significantly lesser car.............you would have to look/examine the underside or tear open the dash or doors to get the gest of this comment.

The 97 was a great $40k car just not $60k like the LS.

[Q_SHIP]

175,xxx miles = no major repairs. Gas, oil, drive. enuff said.

[q45j30guy]

you have a 97 Q and 84 zx and an 05 xterra and your wife has a 99 Sentra.

can you share your secret? I know I could never get away with that. My spouse's response would be

As for my 94Q 3 yrs of ownership, rotors and pads, drivers side window regulator, and 2 small items still on the list to be done, window switch/door lock issue. still looking for the solution and TCS/slip litght coming on. (per the posts here two simple relays to replace. Outside of regular O&F and a set of Good years that is it. Taking out the tires I bet I have spent less then $500 in 3 years. If it cranks and runs well i figure it ain't broken and does not need fixed. (I am sure if i took it to the dealer for a once over they could find 3k in needed repairs.) the car had 50k when I bought it and now has 96K. I have no complaints

[BadQ45t]

Really funny story, I took her down the Infiniti dealer intent on getting her into a G35. She drove it, liked it...but than my dad called me up and asked if I knew anyone that wanted to buy his friends 99' Sentra really cheap (like 6 grand with 24k miles, this was 2+ years ago). I thought, cannot hurt to ask the wife as we were in the market for a new car and she asked me what kind of gas mileage it got, I said 30+ and she said "sold". She loves the car, I frankly hate driving it as it is slow as a dog, but you put in oil, gas and turn key, period. She brags about how she can get 33-35 MPG, makes up for my Q's guzzling!!