2003 - Replacing/Cleaning the "enter" button

[Dachristianman]

So, the "enter" button on my dash only works periodically. I have to click it numerous times and hold my tongue just right before it'll work. Has anyone else experienced this problem, and if so, what is the fix? I figure that if I could take the button/assmbly out and clean it, that should solve it. The up/down/left/right works fine, it's just when I push it straight down that I'm having the problem.

Any help is appreciated.

Tom

[Q451990]

I've heard of this before, but I think there may be more to it than cleaning the button... pretty sure it's circuit board replacement time. I'll try some different searches and see what I can find...

Heath

[Q451990]

2002-q45-voice-control-and-radio-not-wo ... 62106.html

I think it would be worth calling these guys to see if they have any solutions to your problem. They have been in the business for a while. http://www.carstereohelp.com/infiniti.htm

Heath

[Dachristianman]

I contacted those guys and he suggesting cleaning the button. He said it didn't sound like a circuit board issue if that was the only problem I was having with it. He also said that I would have to pull the panel to get to it. Anyone have a clue on where to start to pull that panel?

Tom

[Dachristianman]

Found the details, complete with pictures, on the same website. I will pull it this weekend and see if I can get it back up and working by cleaning the button.

[Q451990]

Awesome! You might also take a look at your car's FSM (factory service manual) at www.nicoclub.com/FSM/ for some info on removing that part of the dash.

Good luck!

Heath

[Dachristianman]

Follow-up. I bought the audio control panel from a junkyard for $65 shipped, and swapped out the circuit board. Problem solved. Even though I had to pull it back out to swap out some light bulbs, the enter button now works perfect.

I also greased up the buttons to make them operate smoothly. What a difference. The old one sort of felt like they were grinding when I turned them. After cleaning them up, it really works nice.

Tom

[Q451990]

Awesome... thank you for letting us know! It's posts like this that help people in the future. We're starting to see quite a few F50 owners now, so it really does help.

So I assume just cleaning the old board didn't work?

Heath

[Dachristianman]

Cleaning the board didn't work. I sprayed cleaner down into the button as best I could and it didn't make an ounce of difference. When I searched online for a used unit, getting one for $45 plus $20 shipping seemed easier than sending mine off for an unknown repair that I'm sure would have been more expensive than $65. And now I have a spare.

It would be nice to see more people posting as these cars are getting into the price range where us shade-tree mechanics will begin buying them. But given the complexity of them, I'm not sure how far our home-grown fixes will get us.

Tom

[BCC93QT]

I just don't see the F50 model as a desirable car. It just isn't worth anything to me. Yes you can pick them up for around 4-6 grand but I would rather put 4-6 grand into a G50 Q model. I have driven all Q models and the first generation is more me. Not saying its a bad car but I turn away from any Q newer than 96. Honestly maybe I am just stereotyping against anything new. Not that an 02 is new but I just hate new cars. I just don't like how they drive and feel. Planned obsolescence.

[Q451990]

Cleaning the board didn't work. I sprayed cleaner down into the button as best I could and it didn't make an ounce of difference. When I searched online for a used unit, getting one for $45 plus $20 shipping seemed easier than sending mine off for an unknown repair that I'm sure would have been more expensive than $65. And now I have a spare.

Sounds like you did the right thing buying a replacement. $65 to get anything working on these cars is good!

Heath

[seldomseen]

I just don't see the F50 model as a desirable car. It just isn't worth anything to me. Yes you can pick them up for around 4-6 grand but I would rather put 4-6 grand into a G50 Q model. I have driven all Q models and the first generation is more me. Not saying its a bad car but I turn away from any Q newer than 96. Honestly maybe I am just stereotyping against anything new. Not that an 02 is new but I just hate new cars. I just don't like how they drive and feel. Planned obsolescence.

Quite frankly, all Q45's are undesirable late model vehicles. Particularly, if a buyer is looking for a reliable late model luxury vehicle that is reasonably affordable to maintain. Q45's have always been an underdog in the import luxury (V8) market segment, that has earned a reputation for having mediocre history of being reliable. Hence, the Q45's demise. Q45's are better suited for buyers that are willing to drop thousands of dollars into a Q45 for the purposes of modifying it. e.g., VIP style.