AC Problem 1992 Q45

[stock1992q45]

I ordered a new A/C compressor and parts from Scottsdale. Had an independent, Paul's Automotive, Torance CA, install and supply the R12 freon. Compressor leaked but was easily repaired so I didn;t hassle the return. Now the Suction hose (part # 9248060U26) leaks. Can't find one. Infiniti does not make anyomre.Lost all the R12. Yikes!Questions:Anyone want to sell the part?I could return the compressor and parts and get a refund. Maybe go with newer freon converison?I may give up and sell the car. I really like it. I'm the original owner, 1992 with 222,000 miles. I'm most proud of never having to replace the transmission! I just put $1000 in leather and $800 for a new radio.Thaks to all for your advice and info.Doug

[qship96]

Remove hose and take to a commercial a/c shop,they should be able to fabricate a replacment for you.

Regarding the transmission,wow thats great and unheard of it lasting this long! Please give us a quick rundown of what you did to make it last soo long-how often fluid/filter was changed,etc and whether you installed any auxilliary cooler,etc

[stock1992q45]

On the transmission I just had it serviced every 30,000. Never added a cooler or anything else.I'm careful to drive slow when it is cold but after it warms up I'm a fairly agressive driver.

[Q45tech]

The last time [ October] we bought a Q R12 compressor it came with an update kit including both hoses + new receiver dryer.

Yep 232k [2002] I had to replace compressor, both hoses, condenser + receiver dryer................every single component in AC has been changed except the evaporator [18 years 317k]...................

[qship96]

On the transmission I just had it serviced every 30,000. Never added a cooler or anything else.I'm careful to drive slow when it is cold but after it warms up I'm a fairly agressive driver.

What did the service every 30,000 consist of? drain/fill ? filter change? full machine exchange/flush?

[lino]

... I just put $1000 in leather and $800 for a new radio.Doug

Can you share a picture?

Thanks

[stock1992q45]

I don;t have a digital camera. I'll tell oyu what I did. New drivers seat, steering whell cover and arm rest cover. $1000. I did not buy the leather from Infiniti; too expensive. Match we plenty good enought.

[stock1992q45]

Just the standard refill and replace with new filters. Used the standard filter kit.

[stock1992q45]

I bought all the kits too. This is especially frustrating because of leaks in the home and the compressor.I'm going to see about getting a hose made as suggested.

[qship96]

Just the standard refill and replace with new filters. Used the standard filter kit.

WOW,just a simple pan drop,filter change,and replace fluid every 30,000 miles got you to 222,000 miles?

[maxnix]

Maybe. The crux would be how it shifts. Must be no hills or long highway drives with no auxiliary ATF cooler.

How about the timing chain guides?

[Haitian_King]

WOW,just a simple pan drop,filter change,and replace fluid every 30,000 miles got you to 222,000 miles?

Sounds like he's quite the exception to the rule.

[goody90q45]

On the transmission I just had it serviced every 30,000. Never added a cooler or anything else. I'm careful to drive slow when it is cold but after it warms up I'm a fairly agressive driver.

You're a testimonial to the long term benefits of frequent fluid changes. I grew up in Manhattan Beach (13th St.) and Redondo Beach (Perry Ave.) and know that you probably have a lot more stop and go traffic (2nd/3rd gear) than 50+mph driving in 4th gear. Not only around town but on the freeway!

Have you been driving this whole time with a 2nd gear start TCU?

[stock1992q45]

Timing chain was changed around 150,000. Thanks to reading the Infiniti Club site - the old one - I asked ot have it done.

[stock1992q45]

I've never had it adjusted for 1st gear starts. I live on Catalina Ave so I'm not doing the hills when it's cold. The first half of the car's life was in Brea where I had a 40 mile mile r/t commute. My usage has gone from about 20,000 per year to 5,000. Funny thing, when I bought it in '92 I figured to keep it 10 years because it was so expensive. I had a $20,000 budget but thought if it lasts twice as long why not $40,000? Acutally $42,100 out the door. Thing thing runs great. Vavoline 10/30 every 3750 miles. Never added oil; never burns oil.I figure to keep it another 5 years if I can get this a/c fixed. And, I've budgeted for a new transmission for when the time comes!

[Haitian_King]

I've never had it adjusted for 1st gear starts. I live on Catalina Ave so I'm not doing the hills when it's cold. The first half of the car's life was in Brea where I had a 40 mile mile r/t commute. My usage has gone from about 20,000 per year to 5,000. Funny thing, when I bought it in '92 I figured to keep it 10 years because it was so expensive. I had a $20,000 budget but thought if it lasts twice as long why not $40,000? Acutally $42,100 out the door. Thing thing runs great. Vavoline 10/30 every 3750 miles. Never added oil; never burns oil.I figure to keep it another 5 years if I can get this a/c fixed. And, I've budgeted for a new transmission for when the time comes!

Wow. That is quite impressive. You really seem to know your onions.

[qship96]

Impressive to say the least! Kind of makes you wonder if the rest of us are flushing money down the drain with transmission maintenance above and beyond your regime of simple 30K drain/fill and filter swap.

Plenty of us do much more in the way of chemical flushes/machine exchanges/synthetic ATF /external coolers and voodo additives and have spent tons more without a significant increase in lifespan,hell most havnt even matched your lifespan!

Congratulations,sounds like you have a car worth the effort to figure out the AC issue and enjoy for years to come.

[Haitian_King]

Has the driveshaft been replaced? I hear it was a common replacement for the 90-93 Q45 and the problem was remedied in the 94-96 versions. Did it ever affect you stock1992Q45?

[stock1992q45]

Yeah, the driveshaft was replaced around 190,000. The other major replacement as injectors around 150,000 miles.Plug: I use Takada Enterprises in Gardena, CA has my mechanic. Great guy and reasonable!

[Haitian_King]

Good to hear. I'd love to see the Q when you get a chance to post some pictures.

[Q45tech]

Hard to correlate mild temperatures of coastal California with Southern or Northern extremes.....................kind of like asking how long brake pads last in Iowa vs Manhattan or Atlanta.

[RAP]

Impressive to say the least! Kind of makes you wonder if the rest of us are flushing money down the drain with transmission maintenance above and beyond your regime of simple 30K drain/fill and filter swap.

Plenty of us do much more in the way of chemical flushes/machine exchanges/synthetic ATF /external coolers and voodo additives and have spent tons more without a significant increase in lifespan,hell most havnt even matched your lifespan!

Congratulations,sounds like you have a car worth the effort to figure out the AC issue and enjoy for years to come.

Truer words are never spoken, especially the "flushing" money down the drain part. If money is plentiful, then no problem but doing all those fluid changes every other day is a useless exercise.

If car owners would just follow their owner manual their lives would be really simplified. It seems like the car manufactures recommendation is not valued but coming on these car forums and reading "stuff" written by someone with no known credentials is taken as gospel.

Disclaimer: I have NO special credentials either.

Jack