Am I getting snowed by Infiniti?

[90Q45blue]

Consider it done.

[AZhitman]

You the MAN, Nick.

[Q451990]

I'm so glad to see that you got this addressed in time! It's so easy to take the answer you want to hear from the so-called experts at the dealer... "I've seen one or two, but it's really rare" or "It should be fine." The last time I talked to a service advisor at my local dealer, she had never heard of it...

That's what I did and at 120K I had guide failure. I was lucky enough to only slightly bend one valve with no head or piston damage. Had it towed to the dealer and they kept the costs down as much as possible to $2800.

Back in 1999 when all of this happened, I hadn't found the yahoo board or it didn't exist, or whatever that old usenet board (was it alt.q45.net?) so my only information was from an AOL group that had about three posts a month. I was aware of the problem, and had even planned on going to T3 to get the guides replaced, but I was waiting for two more weeks for a house I was selling to close so I wouldn't have to float it on a credit card.

Heath

[maxnix]

I think we should make Jim's post into a front page article.

Yes, along with Q45Viper.

Another article may be on why Canadian Infiniti Dealers are so bad. From reading the posts here and at Yahoo, they seem to fall several grades below a stateside Chevrolet dealer. Not a good prospect for those of us visiting our cheery neighbors to the north in our pampered cars.

Does anyone have a positive experience to report with a Canadian Infiniti dealer?

[Q45tech]

I first heard about the problem from T3 in Mar 1997! All of the employees at that time had come from dealers: Jacksonville, [Troncalli, and Roswell Infiniti in GA].

The problem was well known by all at that time as they had been doing repairs since 1993 [under warranty]............fortunately most made it beyond 70k in less than 6 years and there was some discussions about a secret warranty [for the original owners to 7/100k] just like the secret warranty on the transmissions.............I had just come off my 7 year/100k TRW Extended Service Insurance Policy so I ended up paying $1,000 out of pocket for the guide job....[little did I know that I would be spending another $22,000 during the next 6 years for 151,000 miles]..............that's when I decided to become a Q expert {June 1997}.............. unfortunately it was mid 1999 before I got the time to do much on the WEB.

Cars are driven so many annual miles in Atlanta that we have a hard time imagining 100k early Q as most we see are around 200k-280k.

[Jesda]

$22k in 6 years... you could buy a used Q every year at $3500 and throw each one away when it dies.

-Jesda

[PalmerWMD]

$22k in 6 years... you could buy a used Q every year at $3500 and throw each one away when it dies.

-Jesda

But dennis' car is in near perfect shape!

Fred...

[AZhitman]

...mechanically.

Of course, I suppose that's all that matters.

[Q45tech]

Remember that was for 151,000 miles in that period.....14.6 cents per mile for maintenance and repairs combined.

If you can do it less expensively and still maintain as new performance in all systems let me know how.

That included a transmission, new AC all around every piece including new condenser fan and condenser, a diff, a new subframe, a new driveshaft, 3 sets of shocks, lots of brakes, lots of tires, an alternator, a special radiator, new sunroof, new headlights, 2 fuel pumps, hundreds of other little items.......plus around $7,000 of that was reimbursed from business use via mileage so my out of pocket cash was more like $15,000........really about $2500 per year.

"you could buy a used Q every year at $3500 and throw each one away when it dies".

The problem is I couldn't stand to drive a $3500 Q for a year or a month, who would feel safe in the typical one you get for that price........they all need the same $3,000-$10,000 worth of work.

ONE YOU KNOW IS A LOT BETTER and easier to deal with .I have purchased around 9 Q in the last few year for the company to use as parts cars $500-$1500..........none of these could be brought up to standard for resale for less than $5,000- our cost.

[Jesda]

I dunno... there's a lot of cars out there, Qs included, that run forever with oil changes, maybe one replacement transmission, belts, alternators, batteries, tires, other fluid changes, and nothing else major. They remain safe AND reliable for long trips.

You do have to admit that youre a perfectionist.

-Jesda

[Q45Viper]

I am so glad this turned out well, after being rescued at the last moment by Dennis and Fred and others here I just felt I had to return the favor to somebody and that's why I jumped in here so forcefully with Jim and volunteered my phone number, we had a good talk and I was able to pass on my information and research here and with Joe. I would STRONGLY endorse putting this thread or a summation by the moderators on the front page so we can all refer the folks who come here to their FIRST priority, FIX THE CHAIN GUIDES! I would also suggest that we put a list of the parts needed and unneeded to do the job. The unfortunate fact is that there have been so many posts on this that there is some bad information, notably several threads that list parts numbers that include the chains that were well intentioned questions that our gurus subsequently corrected. I also think posting the part numbers and a summation of what needs to be done on the home page would save countless hours of Fred and Dennis and others from responding to the repetitive question regarding this, it would be real easy to say, Look at the home page for the article "Fix your guides first" and here are the part numbers. I think it would also be a good idea to endorse Joe in that article and T3, as the best sources of parts and service.

[gymbeau]

Hi, Folks. Me again.Just thought I'd update on that article I threatened to write about my timing chain guides experience and how NICO saved my lower cheeks.

I did one of my radio commentaries on the subject, and anyone interested an hear it archived at http://calgary.cbc.ca/media/au...O.ram

(I hope the link works!). It's a RealAudio file (as opposed to a real audiophile!).

And I just put a longer version on my Web magazine at http://www.technofile.com/cars....html

Comments are welcome; the radio rant is history, but the Web page can be changed at any time.

BTW, still waiting for the @#%^& Tokico shocks! Geez.

Finally got some photos of the Q, too, so if anyone's interested I can post them. Also took some shots of some rust on it, in case anyone has knowledge about how serious it is and how quickly I should get it taken care of. The Q lives in a nice dry garage now, which should help, hopefully ...

Anyway, thanks to all of you once again. You're a wonderful bunch of people and I really appreciate your ongoing input and support.

Jim Bray

[PalmerWMD]

Awesome!!!

I am gonna check out those links right now!

Fred..

[maxnix]

Also took some shots of some rust on it, in case anyone has knowledge about how serious it is and how quickly I should get it taken care of. The Q lives in a nice dry garage now, which should help, hopefully ... Jim Bray

Glad to hear your Q45 is doing well. In my observations in Seattle, I would have to say the Q45 ahs one of the most effective galvinization processes for a steel body car. Thus, any corrosion should be treated immediately. Remove body cancer is far more expensive than mechanical repairs.

Contrary to popular belief, if left untreated, a heated garage (which is any garage protected from the weather) can actually accelerate the corrsion process due to the warmer temperature. Another reason why this is best addressed ASAP while the weather is warm and it is dry.__________________Brian1995 Q45 & Q45t

Discover the power of the button!

[PalmerWMD]

Jim:Good job!

You have quite the radiovoice too!

Fred...:thumbup

[gymbeau]

Thanks for the rust advice. The garage isn't heated, just covered, but I'll definitely look into it.

Cheers!

[gymbeau]

Thanks for the kind words, Fred.I have a radio face, too....Actually, I hate the way I sound on radio, but they keep paying me...

[maxnix]

Jim, that is a well articulated essay on internet forums and NICO in particular. Hopefully you will give permission for NICO to use it on the home page. Maybe even Jesda will read it.

However, I would say that the NICO forum, and the Infiniti sections in particular, is of a greater caliber than most other automotive forums. This is due in particular to Dennis (Q45tech), Palmerwmd, AZhitman, Heath, Sopdapope (Soph), AAAcomp, LonAllenQ, Carlos_knology, Landtodd, Greg_Atlanta, Forecast, Chally... well a ton of considerate and qualified owners who have contributed meaningful information to this community. As you have verified, it has raised the ownership experience beyond what even Infiniti was able to achieve on its own. Might want to send Infiniti corporate a hard copy of your show, also.

__________________Brian1995 Q45 & Q45t

Discover the power of the button!

[Jesda]

Now THAT is a great writeup and commentary. I'll be forwarding this thread to friends and family.

One comment...Even after chain guides and other upkeep, a 1990 Q45 still ends up being at least $5k-$8k cheaper than an LS400, and will even outperform one.

[gymbeau]

Brian, NICO may freely reproduce the piece, though I'd appreciate a URL to my site at http://www.technofile.com, to help drive traffic to it as well.

Thanks muchly!And Jesda, one of the reasons I bought the Q instead of an LS400 (which, I must admit, I had always lusted after) was its lower entry price - and nowadays its increased exclusivity.If only I can get it back to A1 shape without breaking the bank! There are still a few things left and I've now discovered that some of the parts underneath the car (suspension?) appear quite rusty and I'm hoping that won't affect the installation of the shocks if they ever get here!

Cheers

[lessthanjakejohn]

Nice right up on the Q, I'd have to say the Infiniti section contains the best info of any forum on NICO, but I have little qualification to post here.

Jim, I'm enjoying some of your other articles too, I'm reading the ones right now on audio receivers.

[gymbeau]

Thanks!The magazine has been going since 1995 and has grown quite large, though since it's really a one person operation some of it gets out of date and I just can't keep up.

Needs sponsors so I can hire staff! Catch 22 - don't have time to sell and write, so I write.