Expensive Mistake?? Please comment!!

[nv310]

Recently purchased '94 Q45 w/110K miles on it, drove from LA to the SF Bay, then up to Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver B.C.

Now it's in Seattle and one thing after another.

Car started to overheat on the I-90 floating bridge, I panicked, turned on the heat-cold air.

$400.00 later, I have a new radiator.$400.00 again, I have a new starter

I now need new shocks/struts, badly!Any advise on where to puchase?

As of last week, the check engine light came on, and terribly rough idle.From reading through this website, looks like I need to replace the Fuel Injectors (all 8? where to buy?), and have my mechanic clean the MAF thing.

I'm worried about the alternator and fuel pump. I HAVE noticed a slight gas smell...........but that could be from the fuel injectors, right?

ALSO, car died on me 3 times, thought it was battery, purchsed a $75.00 heavy duty one from Wal-mart (never going there again).

NOW, periodocily, my "Low Fuel" light comes on, which in the 5K miles that I've had it, and driving quite low on fuel a few times, I have NEVER seen that light..........and the "Low Batt Charge" light.

These 2 warning signs came on only after I replaced the batt.

One thing after another worries me.

A 100K mile car doesn't.

I have a 96 RL w/156K miles that went through a batt and alternator in 50K miles.........NO probs. like what i'm experiencing.

SERIOUSLY, I did so much reserach on the Q, however didn't find this site until some guy in downtown Seattle randomly placed the nicoclub card on my windshield.........Sorry I was rude if you're reading this........In LA we get crap placed on the windshield aLL the time, and I always ignore 'em for safety reasons.

=)

Also-would like to know where to find a remote??

Should I fix this car or ditch it??

To spend the $1500 on new wheels/tires to make it look decent seems cRazy if I'm going to have to keep putting money on this high maintance vehicle.

.................Can I have some wisdom??

Thanks!!

NV

[elwesso]

moved it to the Q45 forum, somehow you posted in the j30 forum!!!

Welcome to NICO!!! Im glad you came here from someone "tagging" you....

Anyway, about your Q you shouldnt give up... Your probably looking at some injector related issues (either from the O rings or injectors themselves). Read some stuff on Q45.org and read the article about ohm testing your injectors.... That should help...

Get your shocks/struts from joe. Call him up (contact info in my sig) and tell him you know Wes, he'll set you up real nice with a set of tokico blues with new dust boots!

If your CEL is on you need to check your ECU codes....

It seems like the car has a lot of problems, but i dont think it will take too much to get it running perfect again!

[96Qowner]

One thing after another worries me.

Don't get too discouraged. The Q45 is a bit of a persnickety beast, but once you get it in shape, it pretty much stays that way. The problem, of course, is deferred maintenance - people don't put cars into prime condition just before they sell them. The Q45 was a $50,000 car. When you only pay a few thousand for a used one, that's easy to forget. At the 100-120K mark, it starts to need some serious maintenance.

I think of it as a $8-10K car. If you paid $4000 for it, you owe it at least $4000. You have an advantage with a 110K car, but it's still going to need some money to make it another 110K miles. Once you've invested it, it'll be reliable, I promise.

I'm guessing you're $1000-2000 away, right now. Alternator, shocks (be sure you get the boots, too, with the replacement rubber stops), probably an injector or two, and a fuel pump soon (listen for the buzz).

And for a remote, look for one on ebay, ID# A269ZUA073
Modified by 96Qowner at 2:51 PM 11/1/2006

[Q45tech]

people don't put cars into prime condition just before they sell them

FOR SURE and they usually don't sell cars until they get an estimate for repairs close to resale price of the car.

Somebody or group of people got $45,000 worth of value from the Q in 110,000 miles and 12 years.

I not sure $4,000 will return a 12 year old car to near new operation but it is a 94 so fewer things go wrong compared to 90-93 [or so they say].

We rarely see starter failure probably just the starter relay.

Shocks are way over due [buy them on ebay] and get new boots and rubber components from our sponsors.

Consider your self lucky in that you could have bought a 94 LS400 and paid $5,000 more and still need to do repairs.

[xerexabante]

as you have said that you overheated your motor. i hope that you did not blow your cylinder hear gasket. don't be disappointed as all vehicles will overheat if you don't maintain it. most problems will come out when you overheat your car. you need to fix the problems as all cars. the more you put off iin fixing it the more you repairs will be. get a reputable mechanic that you can trust, and know what he is doing.

i would get a compression check if i were you. your engine misfire could it could be a cylinder not working because of your overheat. thiis can cause your Check Engine Light, or as we call it MIL.

i would not get the habit in running your gas tank too low. gasoline is the only cooling your fuel pump gets in your tank. if you run it too low your fuel pump will burn out.

i would get your maintenance up to date, and change your habits on your vehicle. cars need maitanance, if you do not, it will break down on you.

if you need advice NICO is here for you to use. like i say "if you take care of your car, thus it will take care of you".

[nv310]

Thank you all who replied to my posting!

I sincerely appreciate the wisdom and comments.

While driving today, I nearly had a panic attack because of the dire need of struts/shocks and the chugging/stuttering while driving...

From my understading in reading through all these and other comments I need to replace:

1. Fuel Injectors (all 8?)

2. Fuel Pump (I remember hearing the hum and slightly panicking)

3. Struts/Shocks (Currently feel like i'm seriously driving a hoOp-dy.)

Just to make it through Feb. 2007 whereas I will be selling this high-maintance beast.

Loved the car, but i'm over it.

Thank you again to all whom replied, very kind-I also received an email from another.........Whomever placed the Nico Club Card on my card in downtown Seattle, please forgive me for ignoring you! Having lived in LA, i'm simply street-wise....get in the car, lock the door.

thanks again,

NV.

BTW-I've never posted on forums, only myspace.



So I have no idea how to reply, but i'ma figure all this out!

[FarFetched]

I beg you not to blame Seattle for all these happenings please. Seattle is still one of the prestine cities in US and known for its car-healing powers! Your troubles happened to be a coincedence. I hope you enjoyed your stay in Seattle!Cheers!

[Jesda]

Pfffft! Portland > Seattle!<- ex-Washingtonian Strangely enough, the alternator in the G20 started to die as I headed down Denny Way.

The error messages on the display are usually complete and utter lies. My advice is to fix the car enough to be sellable (so, make sure it starts/runs, forget the suspension), then try to get $2500-$3500 for it.

[96Qowner]

From my understading in reading through all these and other comments I need to replace:

1. Fuel Injectors (all 8?)

2. Fuel Pump (I remember hearing the hum and slightly panicking)

3. Struts/Shocks (Currently feel like i'm seriously driving a hoOp-dy.)

1. It's seriously doubtful that you need all 8. Before you do anything, find a BG Products supplier and run a can of BG44K (injector cleaner) through the tank.

http://www.bgfindashop.com/locator/index.php

Then ohm-test the injectors according to these instructions:

http://www.q45.org/ohminjectors.html

2. If the fuel pump isn't buzzing loudly you probably can put off replacing it.

3. Call Joe at 1-888-216-5328 for a quote on shocks with boots.

You might be able to get it running smoothly again for under $500.

[bmwkiller]

Found these injectors online. I"ve never dealt with either company, but you can see that injectors don't have to cost a fortune.

http://www.directautomotivepro....html

http://www.rockauto.com/catalo...28504

[bmwkiller]

$400.00 later, I have a new radiator. $400.00 again, I have a new starter

What shop are you using?

[breaksr]

For the gas smell you need to check the rubber hoses that connect to the fuel rail under the plenum (big spider thing on top of engine). The ones that are in the back of the engine near the fire wall will eventually dry up and crack. You can get the fuel line hose (buy several feet and cut it into pieces) from Scotsdale Infiniti. The fuel pump you can buy used from someone here on the Q45 parts forum for about $50-60 (new there about $225). I have to warn you if buy the struts from ebay your going to get the tokico blues which are a bit harder then the factory stuts but much cheaper in cost. Make sure you buy the boots that go over the struts (inside the springs) they cost about $100 for all four and check the rubber spring seats since they are relatively cheap. I actually changed all of the metal-rubber mounts that go on top of the struts but I think that maybe overkill.

[nv310]

I rounded up-Dere Auto in West Seattle, family friend who works there does other work on the side for me.....at his house. Although his boss owns the shop, I'm not that happy with Dere Auto

[nv310]

The car def starts/runs.....just idles super rough.

It's been parked for a week since I'm OVER this car.

I think I've finally decided to get rid of it CHEAP, I, myself, am high-maintance enough.......let alone worry about taking my dam car into a shop every few months/weeks.

Too bad I didn't find this forum when I did extensive research on autotrader and edmunds.......and google searches.

bLeh.

I fully understand all this is maintance, but i've already put over 1200.00 into this beast, and i'm not in love w/this car enough to put aNother 1200.00 into it.

Anyone want to purchase it??

It still LooKs good.

[nv310]

Thank you!!!!!!!!

Everyone who has posted on here is very kind to offer their wisdom/advice.

Sincerely appreciate it.

May Good karma come back to yoU!!!!!!

[Jesda]

Post a for-sale ad in our classifieds section. I bet you'll find a taker!