Another convert!

[LuvMyJ]

Hi All,

This site RAWKS! :ylsuper

I just bought my 1995 J30 with almost 200K miles, mostly from highway driving. It's been reported to have been maintained regularly, but no maintenance records are available. Even before I pick the car up I'm having the timing belt and water pump replaced. I've read the Great transmission Flush debate and have a couple questions

1. If I drop the pan to change the filter, how do I refill it? Do I pour fluid into the pan and then install it?

2. Should I R&R the filter before or after the flush?

I'm also installing a transmission cooler as soon as I get it home, and replacing all fluids with synthetics (Mobile 1). What else should I look out for? Is it unreasonable to expect to get another 100K out of this car??

Thanks for everyone's posts, I've learned A LOT from this site already!

Cheers,Bob

[elwesso]

Welcome to NICO Bob...

1. Pour it in through the dipstick tube. Couldnt imagine doing it that way, its messy enough as it is.!!!!

2. I would do it before, that way the filter and pan are clean so you dont circulate bad stuff.

I think your plan is golden..... Just replace all your fluids and check out everything else. Chances are your suspension is gonna need help, and other things along that line.

[LuvMyJ]

Thanks for the info!

Re 1: I thought I had read on here somewhere that it wasn't advisable to pour the transmission fluid into the dipstick tube, but couldn't find that reference again so maybe I just made it up in my head (random thoughts occur whenever the voices are quiet!).

Re 2: That sounds right to me.

There's a faint rattle from the left rear that I was told is coming from the strut. From what I'm reading that's not exactly an easy DIY, so I guess that will be my next 'shop' project.

Thanks again,Bob

[rydwhite]

Welcome to NICO Bob. I'm glad your finding the site so helpful. Be sure to tell your friends about us. And if your friends don't drive Nissan or Infiniti's then it's time to either a) dump your friends or b) have them dump their cars and get Nissan and Infiniti's.

[rydwhite]

And Bob, toss up some pics of the J in the members ride section.

[elwesso]

1. Thats how the FSM says to do it.. And thats about the only way to do it.....

[LuvMyJ]

Cool! Like I said, the voices confuse me at times

I'm gonna have to keep checking eBay for a set of manuals... my trunk is empty. Another quick Q, should I go ahead and replace the timing belt tensioner while I'm at it?

I gotta admit, buying a car that already has this many miles is a new experience for me (my Saturn finally got tired of my abuse at 180K) but buying and Infiniti is new to me too. I just couldn't bring myself to look at another Toyota or Honda after I drove it! What a SWEET ride.

Cheers,Bob

[elwesso]

I have J30 manuals, email me.....

RE your quetion, Id say so... Search the forums, not to timing belt savvy... Hell Im not real timing guides savvy, because I dont have to worry about either!

[carlos_knology]

Bob, welcome to NICO and congrats on the J30. I also have a '95 J30.

When you get a chance, check out my J30-specific web site:

http://www.fuzzycats.com/j30.htm

Carlos

[NICOmom]

Welcome to Nico Bob! Lots of great information on the site. Make sure to check out all of the different forums while here. You never know what you'll see.

(:

[VimyJ]

Welcome to J30ville. There is occasional talk about Q45s here. Watch out for those guys.

200k, eh? You have the current mileage crown. It will be informative for all the J folks to see what maintenance issues your car will have. Most of the bugs were worked out by 95. No doubt you will need new struts, bushings, etc. As long as you change the filter and get new fluid. It doesn't really matter the order.

I have 133K.

Welcome to the club.

[LuvMyJ]

Thanks for all the encouragement, everyone. Now that you mention it, I think I recall one or two posts about the Q45. Didn't pay much attention...

Mike. I'll definitely keep NICO up to date. I'll have pics as soon as I get the car, hopefully by Friday. And Carlos, I already have your site bookmarked. THANX! (Nice lookin J30, too.)

Bob

[docsmile71]

Hi All,

This site RAWKS! :ylsuper

I just bought my 1995 J30 with almost 200K miles, mostly from highway driving. It's been reported to have been maintained regularly, but no maintenance records are available.

Congrats on the purchase.

So the person you're buying it from claims that the car has been regularly maintained but the Infiniti database has no record of the car ever going to the dealer? I don't know about that...at least while the car is under warranty, the car should have been taken to the dealer for routine maintenance.

I would check out the vehicle history before purchasing such a high mileage vehicle...especially one that is so expensive to maintain....have you checked out prices for J30 parts???

At least with my Q, I don't trust any independent shops and only go to the dealer for service (even they don't know what they're doing half the time).

[AZhitman]

Thanks for all the encouragement, everyone. Now that you mention it, I think I recall one or two posts about the Q45. Didn't pay much attention...

LOL - New guy already cracking wise - I like it!

Welcome to NICO Bob. Glad you've decided to join us.

[VimyJ]

Doc brings up some good points regarding your vehicle's history. Get the car throughly inspected.

However, J part prices aren't any worse than Q parts and the J doesn't have some of the drawbacks of the Q in terms of scale of maintenance. The J's V6 is almost indestructable. The transmission (a I'm sure you've gathered) needs TLC.

[LuvMyJ]

TLC for the transmission will be a priority when I get the J (with it's new timing belt), along with a major tune-up (all OEM parts). Is it possible to get the ATF TOO cool? Does the ECU monitor it's temp, and if so, what does it do with the info?

I checked the car out pretty well after reading this site for a few days, and had an import shop (not a dealer) check it out. They're the ones changing the timing belt. I'm going to have the dealer run my VIN when I go pick up my parts. (Apologies to all the site's wonderful sponsors, but I'm in a rush to get this initial PM done.)

I'm sure there's going to be a lot of other things to do. I didn't even try the CD player. I figure if it works, I'd better run out and buy some PowerBall tickets! I'm looking forward to driving this car for a long time.