Fun with car washes

[Desmoquattro]

Here's a little tidbit to keep in mind if you use automatic car washes -

I usually avoid auto washes but my Q was so salt-encrusted after a 2000 mile trip that I really didn't feel like cleaning it myself. So I drove it through an auto wash, the type that uses super-high pressure water jets, including a couple that blast the underside of the car as you enter.

The outside temperature was around -10 celcius, and right after getting the wash I stopped for some groceries. When I came out and restarted the car, the TCS, SLIP and Antilock warnings came on, and the TCS system was completely disabled.

I was pretty pissed, so I drove it straight home and fiddled with it for a bit. Checked the alternator output, perfect, checked all the fuses and relays, nothing out of the ordinary. So I gave up and left it in the indoor parking garage overnight.

When I got up this morning, the car was fine. No lights, no codes, TCS working flawlessly. I'm chalking this one up to water getting blasted into the relays under the battery, freezing, and disrupting the connection (I don't have the plastic cover under the engine bay to stop water from splashing up). I went over everything with WD-40 and I'll avoid high pressure car washes in the future...

[qship96]

why not replace the missing cover,especially with all the salt used in your area-all that salty road spray will slowly destroy everything under the hood

[Haitian_King]

Wow. That sucks. At the beginning of the post I thought it had frozen solid by the time you had gotten out of the store.

I spoke with my grandmother last night, and she told me that every day it's been snowing in Montreal. Are you having trouble getting around?

I learned my lesson about car washes that touch the car. Soft cloths included. The first one I went into broke the plastic license plate holder on the front (The one with the dealer logo and phone number) and bent the hell out of my plate. I straightened the plate out but there's still a small kink. I only use the touchless car wash that has the high pressure jets and moves around the car.
Modified by Haitian_King at 10:29 AM 3/2/2008

[maxnix]

why not replace the missing cover,especially with all the salt used in your area-all that salty road spray will slowly destroy everything under the hood

Now there's a thought. Nissan didn't just put it there for looks.

[Haitian_King]

Did you take the cover off or did you just not have one when you got it?

[CINNALOCKS]

why not replace the missing cover,especially with all the salt used in your area-all that salty road spray will slowly destroy everything under the hood

One good reason is that it is almost $300 from Joe for the 94 and not something I have found available at any local junk yards. My was torn at the points that attach to the body and began to hang and scrape the pavement too noisy ....so I removed them........I want another one too, just have not found it.

[qship96]

One good reason is that it is almost $300 from Joe for the 94 and not something I have found available at any local junk yards. My was torn at the points that attach to the body and began to hang and scrape the pavement too noisy ....so I removed them........I want another one too, just have not found it.

I paid just over 200 a few years ago from joe when mine met its death on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. Painful, but in my mind, an important part.

Junk yard part is bound to be in poor condition,I wouldnt waste your time

Always be present during oil changes, and INSIST the entire sheild is removed, not just one side while it hangs under stress because the tech is too lazy to remove a few extra bolts-I always warn them upfront about THEIR cost to replace a sheild damaged due to this, then observe to inspect what I expect, and also use the opportunity to inspect underside front to back looking for future maintenance needs with my flashlight in hand-they get the picture that I am a meticulous owner by then and act accordingly.

[Q451990]

My was torn at the points that attach to the body and began to hang and scrape the pavement too noisy.

Assuming you still have your old shield - you could use some oversized washers or drill out some pieces of metal to put between the bolt and shield. That should hold it in place. I have used metal flashing for this on another car...

Heath

[qship96]

How about doing away with ALL the boltsClean sheild with degreaser,get 6-8 powerful neodyum magnet buttons and epoxy to sheild in areas that will allow magnet buttons to match up and stick to metal frame on underside of vehicle

[maxnix]

I paid just over 200 a few years ago from joe when mine met its death on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. Painful, but in my mind, an important part.

Junk yard part is bound to be in poor condition,I wouldnt waste your time

Always be present during oil changes, and INSIST the entire sheild is removed, not just one side while it hangs under stress because the tech is too lazy to remove a few extra bolts-I always warn them upfront about THEIR cost to replace a sheild damaged due to this, then observe to inspect what I expect, and also use the opportunity to inspect underside front to back looking for future maintenance needs with my flashlight in hand-they get the picture that I am a meticulous owner by then and act accordingly.

Geez, finally an owner who realizes that it is not there just for the hell of it.

I wonder how long it extends AC compressor and alternator life by just keeping road grime off it? Not to mention proper engine air flow management for better cooling. i thogut it was closer to $200 from Joe.

I bet it is well worth $300.

[oldmako]

If the cover is too much ching for an old car, go to a plastics supply house and buy a sheet of 1/8 inch PVC board. It's cheap, lightweight, flexible and easy to cut. Use the old one as a template. (Or make one with 30 bucks of fibreglass supplies...keeping salt off of those expensive bits is kinda important)

But, it's white. Add some krylon and you're all set.

As far as oil changes go: I have no idea what it's like to access the filter on any model other than my 99 but it's easy to reach from the top. I leave the cover in place. I read one post about damaging the MAF this way and I don't see how that's possible on my car. There is plenty of room to change the filter without bumping into the MAF. I replaced the nuts on the cold air intake (thanks Andy) with SS wingnuts and it's out of the way in less than a minute and the filter is gone in two.

The only time consuming thing about changing the oil on this car is fetching the creeper, the 14mm box and waiting for it to drain. I use this interval to set fire to a product from Havana, crack a frosty pop, ponder the plumbing and clean under the hood.

[Desmoquattro]

The cover was gone when I bought the car. Doesn't worry me much, this isn't a show car and I plan on running it into the ground, considering the price I paid for it.

[CINNALOCKS]

Geez, finally an owner who realizes that it is not there just for the hell of it.

I wonder how long it extends AC compressor and alternator life by just keeping road grime off it? Not to mention proper engine air flow management for better cooling. i thogut it was closer to $200 from Joe.

I bet it is well worth $300.

It is Important without a doubt!!! I beg to differ though, that it is worth 300 or even 200 dollars for a oem piece of plastic, that is not unique.

It is not something I would do. When you can do as one member suggested and cut your own with a dremel tool and some store bought material.

When so many members are do it your selfers why pay for such so much for such an easy fabrication even for a novice like me?

Once again forum members thank you for the information that allows us all to make choices based on personal preferences and economic considerations.

[qship96]

It is Important without a doubt!!! I beg to differ though, that it is worth 300 or even 200 dollars for a oem piece of plastic, that is not unique.

It is not something I would do. When you can do as one member suggested and cut your own with a dremel tool and some store bought material.

When so many members are do it your selfers why pay for such so much for such an easy fabrication even for a novice like me?

Once again forum members thank you for the information that allows us all to make choices based on personal preferences and economic considerations.

Easier said than done-the shield is not just a flat slab of plastic, but a molded piece that fits precisely up under there- no way any flat slab of home made material will duplicate the factory molded one

[maxnix]

The cover was gone when I bought the car. Doesn't worry me much, this isn't a show car and I plan on running it into the ground, considering the price I paid for it.

I predict you will be there sooner than you think. Maybe next set of tires?

1.) It is Important without a doubt!!! I beg to differ though, that it is worth 300 or even 200 dollars for a oem piece of plastic, that is not unique.

2.) Once again forum members thank you for the information that allows us all to make choices based on personal preferences and economic considerations.

1.) Try fitting it on anonther car. I assure you, it is unique to the G50. It is not flat, so fitting a piece of plastic may or may not work.

2.) If ecnomic considerations are paramount, than why would anyone own a $50+K imported luxury V8 sedan? It has to return something to the owner beyond mere bluebook value. My Q45 are more valuable to me than a $200 part.
Modified by maxnix at 8:33 AM 3/4/2008

[qship96]

I dont understand why someone would spend their time here on this forum if all they wanted to do is run their Q45 into the ground? The 2 seem to be at odds

[superuber]

You may be able to make something work. But fit will not be exact.My cover never comes off!

[maxnix]

My cover never comes off!

Another advantage of a remotely located oil filter.

[lino]

When I bought my car, it was missing too. I noticed after a couple days when I took my car for an inspection. I ordered one from the dealer right away. I ordered it even before I changed the oil. I wasn't thrilled about the $270 I paid for it though .

[CINNALOCKS]

I predict you will be there sooner than you think. Maybe next set of tires?1.) Try fitting it on anonther car. I assure you, it is unique to the G50. It is not flat, so fitting a piece of plastic may or may not work.2.) If ecnomic considerations are paramount, than why would anyone own a $50+K imported luxury V8 sedan? It has to return something to the owner beyond mere bluebook value. My Q45 are more valuable to me than a $200 part.

Modified by maxnix at 8:33 AM 3/4/2008

I never said economic conditions were paramount.

They are always however a consideration. If it were not why do some of us go to the wrecking yard rather than buy it new? It is about the value of money, how far can it go.

If it is not possible to manufacture a suitable replacement then I will also end up buying a new one, since they do not appear to be available as a salvage piece.

The original question was.... Why would someone not have this piece? That is what I responded to.

The other thing I want to bring up is that by our own admission ....only a small percentage of the vehicles on the forum are properly maintained. The reason for that is purely economics.
Modified by CINNALOCKS at 2:23 PM 3/4/2008

[Haitian_King]

The other thing I want to bring up is that by our own admission ....only a small percentage of the vehicles on the forum are properly maintained. The reason for that is purely economics.Modified by CINNALOCKS at 2:23 PM 3/4/2008

True. But I think that deep down, everyone wants to have a perfect Q. Economics and social influences have slowed the process down for some. If I didn't have anything else to do, my Q would be in tip top all in one go, rather than doing things little by little. Sometimes I feel that by the time I get one problem fixed, it'll be time to fix another one. So on and so on. A vicious cycle.