'99 Q45 grinding pully bearings

[Q45_4me]

Hey Everyone. New guy here, and wanted to say hi 1st before I get to my mystery issue (scroll down). Been lurking hear reading and reading for the last 1.5 months I have owned this amazing car. Truly is the most bad a** car I have had the pleasure of owning. My name is Zach and I am from Springfield MO. Previous cars are '93 740iL, brief stint with a '99 3.2TL (hated that car), along with some boosted 4g63's when I was younger along with others not worth mentioning. I'll be around a while as I am totally hooked on this car and for once in the last 10 years I have that Car Passion back that I lost somewhere. The one that makes you take the long way home and wash it 3 times a week. All thanks to this Q

I sell used cars and this car came into our Inventory, and I immediatly had to have it! It was flawless inside and out with 128K on the dash, and drove perfect!! Black on Black BTW. My 1st issue came 2 weeks into ownership in late June when we were going through a really hot spell (90+ for days) I started to have charging issues and a local part store tested my Alternator to pinpoint a bad diode. The Dealership of course wanted $400+, and no way was I going to buy an Oreily's Auto Parts Store Reman unit. I felt pretty good about the New OEM Hatachi Unit I got from a local Import Parts Store Roy Rogers for $220 with no core. Bolted up I was all good, or so I thought. With in a week I started to get a grinding bearing sound from the Alternator area. A scope pinpointed the grinding to the Alt Tensioner Pully. I immediatly got one from the local dealership. A few days later it was bolted on and the noise stopped. Not 100% stopped but more like 90%. Well, with in 2 weeks it was back again. This time scratching my head I took it to the dealership. They shocked me with coolness when the told me that even though they didnt install the part they would warranty the part AND LABOR to put on a new one. Well, a few days later when the part came in I took it in. While there they told me there was an additional pulley behind that one and they would reaplace that one as well for just the cost of the pully. Picked it up later that day and it was quite running just like I hoped. Thought I was all good this time until only 6 days later the grinding sound is back and this time worse than EVER!! I am royally bummed and discouraged. You can hear the bearings just grinding, popping and getting ready to leave me stranded.

My question of course is WTF? I have done a TON of searching here with little help. I guess my next step is to get another Alternator and start there as that was when all these bearing issues started. Anyone have any input, thoughts or ideas?

Sorry for the long post, I am just really bummed about this issue. Once again THANK YOU for the awesome site and resource. I should be around here a while. Only plans for the car is a set of 19's, a small drop, tint, and a In dash Nav unit as well as a drop down 10" DVD screen for my 4 yr. old spoiled son.

[elwesso]

My first inclination would be something with the alternator. Have you ruled that out??

The pulley bearings definitely do go out from time to time but you might only see one set of replacement pulleys for the life of the car...

My guess is they replaced the alternator and AC pulley, but not the PS/water pump pulley...

I would still not rule out the alternator bearing though, seems like all this started when the alternator was put in. All that stuff is really close together!

Welcome to NICO!

[maxnix]

You are doing well, but you need to read more (perhaps in IOM?).

It is standard practice to replace all four belts at once to avoid repeat labor. Also any pulley bearing (there are 6) that does not spin flwlessly and siently. Use on top grade bearings. OEM blets are always the best fit and almost always the best quality. For parts, call the Forum's sponsor for superior service and prices

http://www.infinitipartsusa.com

Presume you have downloaded the FSM from http://www.nicoclub.com/FSM/Q45/ ? There are a lot of TSB also, but you have to get a one day subscription from http://www.infiniti-techinfo.com to get them.

It is also standard practice to replace all fluids and filters of an unknwon provenance. I am betting also some of the suspension rubber and strut and shock units are either expired or darn near it.

[tfvesquire]

Hi there:

Glad to hear you found the Q to be a car you want to take care of and learn about. Your '99 has some nice upgrades from my 98 and before you get a nasty reply post from the forum gallery, I suggest you do some research on this site and definitely download the FSM (factory service manual) that will give you some much needed information on your car.

You can find the free download link if you do a quick search. BTW, there are six (6) idle pulley bearings on your car and I suggest at 128K miles on the clock you should replace all of them including the belts so you don't have to do this all over again. As a side note, if you want to diagnose which other pulley is making noise, take the alternator pulley belt off and run the car just long enough to hear which one is squeaking. You can do the same with the other pulley belts. I did a writeup on installing these pullies and which bearings will save you a ton of money over the ones the dealer sells for $30 each.

Good luck and hope you find the info you are looking for.

Ted

[Q45_4me]

tfvesquire, printed text can be read so many different ways. When you said "before you get a nasty reply post from the forum gallery", did you mean I am going to get a nasty reply post, or did you mean before I get a nasty reply, that I need to post in the forum gallery?

Sorry for the Newb Question, I desire to be an active member, and do the right things. I have been lurking long enough to read 100's of posts where other have been flamed for posting wrong or not searching. That is totally understandable, especially for not searching.

BACK on TOPIC........ absolutly I did replace all 4 belts and I was shocked as to how bad they were. I hope that is no indication as to the PO's habits. Unfortunatly I got this car with NO records and the dealership is no help in that area either. Fortunalty the car is VERY VERY clean. Honestly I give it a 10/10 inside and a 10/10 outside. And that is stout for a 10yr old car w/ 128K

[DrewQ45]

Be careful while doing this. While the car is running and noise present, shoot WD-40 or some other spray lube directly into the pulleys one by one. I'd shoot the AC and Waterpump pulleys as you have changed the alternator pulley already. Whichever one stops squealing is the culprit but the general consensus is to replace them all if you're going to do one. Same age/manuf = close failure rate. Also, the waterpump itself could be going bad. Have you checked to see if any antifreeze is seeping from around it? It usually starts off chirping then heavy grinding.

[maxnix]

Do NOT use WD 40 as a lubricant substitite as it is hygroscopic!

OP needs to find a different dealer or a better service Writer/manager to social engineer.