1999 Q45

[Shawn_hollen]

I have looked at a lot of different topics on this form and others. I have not seen a lot about the 99 model. Couldn't find any kind of videos on how to replace things or a lot of talk about it. Saying that it don't mean they r not there and maybe I just looked right or over looked them. So I'm wondering is the 99 a bad model? I see a lot about 1990-1996 the not much with 97&98 barley anything on the 99. Then after 99 the videos and discussion picks back up

I have a 99 I enjoy it a lot would like to start doing done modifications to it sometime soon. I have not had or drove another year or model Infiniti, so if someone could let me know the reason the 99 is not talked about as much I'd appreciate it.

[TylerW]

Hey Shawn:

I've had a couple of the Y33 Q45's, and like you, I never drove one before buying the first one, which was a 1998 Q45t. The one I have now is a 2000 Anniversary Edition.

The main reason you don't see much discussion about this generation of Q is that the Q45 enthusiasts view this series as an inferior replacement for the 1990-96 series. The second generation has a smaller engine and the styling went much more mainstream.

Is it actually a worse car? That's subjective. I personally don't care for the first generation Q at all. I find them unattractive, and the first few years suffered timing chain tensioner problems, which regardless if you enjoy replacing timing chains in your spare time or not, can be a disaster. That said, I don't view that series as a poor car..I just personally don't like them.

I also don't think the second generation is as good as it could have been. It lacks features the competition had, I don't think the ride, the noise reduction and the seats are anything to write home about, but mechanically they are nearly bulletproof.

I've never been in the third gen(2002-2006) but I feel confident that it would make the second gen you and i own look crude. Many more features and more horsepower than even the original first gen engines had.

You can segregate the second gen into 97/98 and 99-01, although they are essentially the same car. The '99 and later got a glass moonroof instead of metal, an actual analog clock on the dash like the first gen had, Xenon headlights, headlight adjusters, adjustable suspension, active headrests and a power rear shade. The base cars didn't get all of those features though. If you get out of a later second gen and into a 97/98 it'll feel a lot more like a base Maxima.

The best place to get repair info is access the factory service manual, which is available on this site I believe. In fact, you'll notice that a large percentage of answers to questions on second-gens are simply referrals to "read the FSM".

I do all the work on my Q45. It's a simple car to work on once you stop listening to the clucking hens that tell you to use liquid gold infused engine oil, special Infiniti gasket sealant, triple iridium $25 spark plugs BECAUSE IT'S AN INFINITI. It's an old, rebadged Nissan. Maintain it by the book but not extravagantly and it'll run forever.

Enjoy your car, man.

[Shawn_hollen]

Hey thanks I've watched a couple of ur videos they have helped. I work on my own cars to its more pleasing to drive to do it yourself. I'll have to check out the other generations cars and maybe think about upgrading to a newer one. I had my a/c compressor bearing go out having some trouble replacing the bearing AZHITMAN told me I can just leave it off cause it has its own belt. I'm not saying he is wrong I believe him just wanting another opinion or two. Will everything still run good if I leave it off?

[94Q45Beast]

you should be fine unless you turn on the A/C, don't turn on the A/C

[Shawn_hollen]

Lol ok thanks my problem with the bearing is when I tried to take out the old bearing it was so messed up the outer metal of it stayed in the pulley. Not to sure how to get it out without damaging the pulley if anyone has any suggestions please share

[Shawn_hollen]

I put my 99 Q45 back together today without the a/c compressor it's running good and is much quieter. It was very nice to drive it and not hear that bearing noise

[BadQ45t]

The 2nd Gen fixed a number of issues for Infiniti and there was never a V8 CIMA in Japan and there was no Infiniti in Japan in 1997 so the Cima was competing against all the luxury cars in Japan. We did lose out on a 5th gear in the transmission and a few horses, but they traded that in for reliability and looks that wouldn't crater the car into an odd-ball looks category. The 3rd Gen was originally suppose to be the big fix but it sold terrible and it was plagued with technical problems like Gen 1.

the car is hard to mod as there are not many mods out there for it. I have taken my 97' and done coil overs, bigger wheels, sticky tires and kept it up and the car really has held up well. I Pioneer in dash streaming radio makes it way more modern. I am waiting for the 2017 Q50 Red Twin Turbo...

[MovieMaestro10]

My two cents on the three Q45 generations, as someone whose dad owned a 1st gen, who recently bought a 2nd gen, and who test drove several 3rd gens. (Curious if you all agree)

1st Gen- The enthusiast special. I remember this car being much faster than my 2nd gen. Avant-garde looks inside and out, less of a traditional luxury feel. It felt special, from the hefty key to the font on the instruments. I do recall it having a "tinny" feel though, door slams rang hollow and lots of cheap plastic inside (as most cars of the era had). Best visibility from inside the car of the generations.

Nearly impossible to find a good one for a good price anymore, parts seem to be getting dear, you have to deal with OBD1 in most years. I remember my dad eventually sold it for how difficult it was to keep up even then.
Music style: Alternative rock

2nd Gen- The "traditional luxury on a budget" special. Emphasis shifted from performance to greater comfort...More leather, softer materials, chrome, wood, and rear seat space. I find its the most pleasant Q45 to sit in...Immediately feels familiar, if generic. I think the styling has aged the best, maybe because it was the most conservative. It was nicely sharp edged and crisp, like a well tailored suit, when other cars of the era were round soap bars. Best door handles of ANY car!

Feels much more substantial than 1st gen in every way, doors close with a solid thump, but also slower, but still no slouch. The simplest of all the Q's, supposedly the most reliable (though coil packs and steering system issues are common). Parts are plentiful, and these cars sold well and are not hard to find plenty of good ones still out there.
Music style: Smooth jazz

3rd Gen- The boys with toys special. So many gadgets, esp in the Premium packaged cars! Ovoid styling isn't for everyone. Those headlights are neat but are known to have constant ballast issues. I test drove three cars of this gen...All of them seemed to have a dozen electronics that weren't working. The interior controls and gadgets take some time to figure out, but when sorted they're pretty neat.

Much faster car...Terrific engine sound. The safest in a crash too. They didn't sell many of these, so hard to find a well-sorted example, and parts are still pretty dear.
Music style: Techno/EDM


They each have their pluses and minuses. I'm on a budget, and prefer driving my car to working on it, and considering I can't go too fast in LA traffic anyways, the second gen an easy choice for me.

I also drove an LS400 of the same vintage- In many ways a better car, but bland styling inside and out. An equivalent LS400 cost 2k more than a Q45 when I was looking. And trying to find one that didn't need a timing belt change was impossible (Q45 has good old timing chain!)

Do you all agree?

[BadQ45t]

Good overview, I think I agree. Like you my dad had a 1st Gen 1992 Q45 and it was a beast. He got a new car and I took it for 6 months as he was thinking I would buy it for my wife. We drove it during that time and chased some many gremlins that we decided having it and also 2 V8 mouths to feed didn't make sense. On the way back to LA (I live in SF but I am from LA) to LA on the 101 in daylight clear driving I got the old girl up to 145 playing with an S class Mercedes and it had plenty more in the tank. The car was sold to a guy who drove it for 3 days the timing chain guides blew up, my dad being a very nice guy gave the dude a refund and junked the car.

It was not nearly as refined as my 97' in terms of smoothness but it was a beast. I was not a huge fan of the styling either and my 97' is way more comfortable to sit in . I drove a 1996 back to back with the 97' and by 96' the beast mode was gone with VVT eliminated and the car softened up. My personal take is the 94' was the perfect 1st Gen Q with the timing chain guides issue finally eliminated and the looks a bit better with the grill replacing the belt buckle.