Buying Q45- Advice?

[rlars7]

Looking to buy 1997-2001 Q45. Have owned Infiniti I-30 for 5 years and love it.

Looking at a 1997 Q with 175k. Transmission replaced by Cottman about 10k ago.

Have done homework on car but would like some advice from experts.

Anyone have experience with Cottman trans in Q? Should I be put off by high miles?

Have read threads about changing fluids when buying used Q. Any others advice for new Q owner? Any help appreciated.

-Rob

[maxnix]

First, read the sticky above in this Forum on how to buy a Q45. It is all about conditon and service history.

Second, Cottman = Run Away Fast!

Third, you are in Atlanta. Have Byron at T-3 inspect any contemplated purchase after you have procured the car's service history for both of you to inspect.

The best in the FGY33 series are the 1999-2001. Be aware of what the active switching shocks on the t and ae models will cost to replace.
Modified by maxnix at 11:09 AM 2/10/2009

[96Qowner]

Good advice from maxnix. Byron is one of the most experienced Q45 techs in the country - heck the world, for that matter.

You'll save thousands in future expenses by taking a prospective car to T3 in Smyrna and paying for an inspection.

[Q45tech]

When you first buy any used car older than 3 years, do a total liquid analysis. Examine every fluid by dropping a sample on to a white paper towel and side by side compare the drop with a drop of brand new fluid.

Any visible difference in color saturation [intensity] is very suspect.

Every liguid in vehicle cost less than $100 to replace without labor.

Rear diff, ATF, engine oil, coolant, brake fluid, power steering, ac compressor oil*, even washer fluid.

Start out your ownership with everything brand new.

* the ac compressor has 8 ounces of oil which becomes acidic eventually and wears the seals inside compressor and eats the evap/condenser solder fins from inside. Whether it is better to wait until $2-2,500 in repairs are needed or spend the $200 to service and change oil is up to owners.Spending $200 now to defer another year or 2 is always cost effective.

[qship96]

Please explain how to get the 8 ounces out of a/c compressor for $200

A single evac/recharge generally costs $99-139 and maybe gets out 1-2 ounces of compressor oil that can be replenished with new oil?

[rlars7]

Thanks for replies. Have used T3 for my I30 and was impressed.

On a side note, if anyone has/knows of 97-01 Q for sale near Atlanta, let me know.

Thanks again.

-Rob

[Q45tech]

Depending on the visual analysis of the 1-2 ounces* of compressor oil, you may need to disassemble the system and use special flurocarbon flushes to clean out the remaining oil and metal/seal bits but then we are into total repair anyway.

* When I am doing mine or friends, I usually do the vacuum recharge process TWICE depending on oil look. [just as one might do a ATF exchange twice if motivated].The problem is most don't spray clean the used oil container so it is spotless and doesn't mix previous oils for examination.

Nice thing about AC is you can do something else if financially motivated while the 30 minute vacuum is occuring.............thank goodness for $10,000 automatic ac machines.

A properly trained owner or technican would know the advantage of replacing receiver/dryer/filter canister after the system is vacuumed down before the first recharge.

Regardless even with all my PM the compressors still fail after a number of hours of use but I sucessfully kept the same evaporator for 19 years, however I have used 3 compressors [oem + 2 used from wrecks]. These used units usually only last a year or 2 due to previous abuse.............after all they are 15+ years old remanned already at least once units.

R12 system are tougher to maintain than R134a units but to me the few degrees colder is worth the effort

[bullittandy]

I am always wary of a rebuilt transmission as they are so hard to repair well.

That being said, the 97-01 cars are very reliable and only appear to have a few trouble spots with the most prominent being the ignition coils failing. Not a big deal if just one fails as they are $75 each but it seems that they are intermittent in failure and cause an idle stumble for a long time without ever indicating which one is bad via the check engine light whih means...

You can drive the car with the idle stumble until the CEL illuminates and pay $75 for one coil and wait for the next one or replace all 8 coils and not think about it.

[qship96]

Qtech, thanks for the explanation. I replaced my original compressor with a new one from Joe in Spring 07 along with the dryer and it is operating good with no other system maintenance since then except external foam cleaning the evaporator core. Should I be looking to have a evac/recharge/oil change performed this Spring?

[Q45tech]

R134a is a bit more forgiving than R12 so you can probably wait 2-3 years before first vacuum unless the system leaks or cooling. I am assumming that technican did a full internal flush and used a special cleaner dryer prior to final install of the new dryer assembly.

The oem compressor replacement kit comes with new hoses and 2 dryers, sometimes they just sell compressor and a single dryer to save owners money since the 12k/12month warranty is enough to sell a car.

I try to persuade owners who plan on keeping car to replace condenser since they cannot be cleaned internally as well as R12 units.

Of course things are relative if you don't live in extended hot humid areas. Houston/SE US.

[Victor]

The air conditioner in my 21 year old GMC van still runs fine. The only repair or maintenance i ever did on it was when I had to get it fixed once while it was still under warranty. So no problems in the last 18 years, not even a recharge. The airconditioner in my 94 Infiniti J30T that has 193,500 miles on it is still running fine, and the only repair I ever did was replace the drive belt, and according to the maintenance records the previous owner gave me he never had to do anything to it either. I say if it ain't broke don't fix it.

[Johnny Rocket]

dont buy one

[Q45tech]

Technically don't understand the comparison between GM and Nissan as they are very different companies.

You are very lucky as we replace a ton of J30 systems annually but then California is very different from ATL or the South [in many ways], why I put in disclaimer about location variability.

Personal experience are usually helpful if you have specific knowledge about hundreds of the models and years we are discussing.

[goldmamas]

Please HELP!!!!! I have just bought a 2002 Q45 with 58k about a week aga and notice that it has a little bit of smoke on starting. That clears up but it still has some emmissions at idle and some takeoff that i am worried about. Temp here has been between 32 and 45 degrees. I unfortunately did not get an extended warranty as the miles were low. Please advice on what to do. Thanks a lot for your help.

[Infinitiguy19]

I bet you really wish you got the warranty now don't you.

But are you using premium 93 octane gasoline?

What does the smoke look and smell like?

Next time please start a new topic.

Welcome to NICO

[goldmamas]

Am sorry, I really do wish i had bought the warranty. I have been so sick since. The first, when u start 1st thing is like a wisp of bluish smoke. It clears then it is just like the regular exhaust output on a cold day. I just thought it would clear up after the car warms up but this morning I had driven for about 45 minutes on highway and make a turnoff to another road and noticed the exhaust was still putting out stuff ad also when I stopped at light. I had someone drive after me and he said it seemed it was happening when it idled and didn't seem like smoking from bad engine. I got the car from an acura dealership and had them take it to an infiniti dealership before I got it. They said it checked out ok and all they sent me was an invoice that they did used car checkup. Can't remember exactly but I have it. Thanks

[goldmamas]

Yes I am usuing 93 gas. I actually sold an 05 MDX just to get from the payments and got this and now I dont know what to do. shold I go to dealer in morning? Someone suggested get oil changed to synthetic and it would help. Thx Paul

[Infinitiguy19]

Your Q45 is suffering from a poor engine design, The engines have been known to burn oil.

All 2002-2006 Q45 (F50's) do this or almost all of them.

I recommend you go to the dealer and see what he can do, But I think he will tell you, you need a new engine or engine rebuild to fix the piston rings.

Sorry to be the bear of bad news, do you have a 30 day warranty at least?

What is your current oil level and color?

[goldmamas]

I have nothing! I think the car was seerviced so oil is clear,golden.

[Infinitiguy19]

Wow so your three options are to repair it, leave it as is or switch to synthetic (which I don't think will do any good in your case).

[goldmamas]

So why wud d dealership pass it, I wonder? May God help me!

[Infinitiguy19]

If you have no warranty that you know of they would charge you for the repairs, But I think you may have something to cover you.

Still go see the dealer ASAP.

[goldmamas]

thx. will let u know

[maxnix]

So why wud d dealership pass it, I wonder? May God help me!

Infiniti Dealer had no stake in it.

Go back to the Infiniti Dealer and nicely ask for a print out of the Infiniti Dealer performed service history on your car. Search through it and verify 3,750 OCI.

If you cannot, you may have recourse to both dealers.

Report back the service history.

[goldmamas]

Hey Paul, Thx a lot for your help. I got them to print me out a service history and it looks like it was all done at the dealership and quite well taken care of. It has a lot of the 3,750 in it which I guess is the service interval. Not sure what OCI is. We also called the dealership that checked it out before I got it and he also remembered it. They both said it was in very good condition.It was a bit warmer today and did not seem to do it much today. Will keep you updated. Thanks again. Ips I actually wrotethis last nite n wanted to find the paper so I can write the exact things I was told but hadnt had time so am postin this as I have go to go out. I will do it tomm. Thx again

[maxnix]

OCI = Oil Change Interval

You want to see a new filter and fill every 3,750 miles on the records.

If the smoke is white and evaporates immediately, it is just condensation. If it is grey or black, you have a problem they didn't catch and should have noted.
Modified by maxnix at 6:30 AM 2/24/2009

[Q45tech]

The thing to always remember is every used car needs at least $3,000 in rehab work, especially those with more than 6 years of service.

The best pristine used cars are always sold by the product dealer. All the rest are wholesaled or swapped to other high lone dealers, the next lower tier condition are auctioned to who ever.

It appears the vehicle might be out of time to purchase an Infiniti extended warranty??????? What was the in service date on paperwork?