HELP!!! Nightmare Q45

[Dr3]

I have a 1990 Q45 has been nothing but trouble, so I hope you can give me some good advice here.

The car has 115k miles, and a remanufactured engine.

I'll give you the whole story.

I bought the car about 3 years ago from my parents, who live out in the sticks. They bought the car from an online auction. It was an Arizona car. They felt that it needed some work, and realized that there wasn't any good import mechanics in their area, considering everybody drives a ford/chevy. SO, I bought the car from them, and brought it back to Minneapolis. It had a bit of a rumble to it, but nothing that seemed critical. After driving it for about a week, the engine crapped out.

I guess the timing chain guides were screwed up and the timing chain had flipped over?! So I ordered a remanufactured engine, which was not cheap. And it took over 2 months to get. I got a mechanic lined up who had "worked on infinitis before, even engine work". He worked on the car for what seemed like forever, and had to order a couple parts along the way. Then he tells me that he is basically stuck, and can't finish the job. Something about rejecting coolant. Idunno. So I went and basically stole my car back, and took it to a nearby Nissan dealership.

The Nissan dealership wanted to check out the engine first to make sure the first guy didn't **** it up. They said that they took out the heads and there was slight scarring on the cylinder walls, but it should be ok. They said he couldn't get the timing chain right. So they finished the job. They also replaced the master (brake) cylinder, which was not a surprise as the car had brake problems earlier too.

$4000 later, I got my car back. I took it for a drive, and it is still rumbling, just like when i got it! OMFG. I talked to the manager and he said that it's because of the "u-joint" or "carrier bearing", and that it's only like $300 to fix, and that the car was safe to drive in the meantime.

The car was not only running like ****, but it was still having brake problems. And now it was also having power steering problems. I've been told that I need a new power steering rack and pump. The car has been sitting around unused for the past 2 years. I don't know what to do with it. I would like to roll it off a cliff.

Is it worth fixing? Do any of these people know what they are talking about? Did I just get screwed or what? Anybody want a parts car?

Please advise.

Thanks. Andre (Dr3)

[elwesso]

Andre

Sorry to tell you this now but you should have found NICO earlier....

Sounds like nothing new to me, chain guides failed and the driveshaft is bad... Unfortunately you learned the hard way..... $4000 for an engine swap assuming it was done right doesnt seem half bad...

I think if you play your cards right you can get it back going for not much money...

Lets review on what this car needs to make it road worthy

1. Brakes?? Could be all it needs is a good fluid change, what do the brakes do?2. Steering rack- How does the steering feel, or does the fluid just leak big time... Could also be hoses3. Pump- doesnt need replaced4. Driveshaft- YOu can get a new complete driveshaft from this one place for like $430.. I know user "91QAZ" bought one and said he loves it.... That should fix your vibration that feels like a massage chair..

I honestly dont see why you couldnt get this car running nicely for less than it would cost you to buy a used honda or something else of much lesser quality...

I just hope they replaced the guides on the new engine....

If you dont want the car ill take it off your hands

[SOCAL91Q45a]

DR3,

You ve had all the typical issues with early neglected Q45's. The worst seems to be over - perhaps ... depending on that motor you bought. The previous owner of my Q45a did what you did and the japanese take out motor they put in his car - died after 26k miles. Worse yet - the mechanics junked his old top end with a brand new set of plugs AND 8 new INJECTORS! !!!! Dumbarses!

On the power steering - the hoses are known to go bad and puke fluid everywhere.

Master Cylinders dont last forever ... now is a good time to fix that.

Drive shafts are also known to go funky - why? dunno - they just do, and a new one is likely in order.

NOBODY locally will LIKE to work on your car ... its PITA. So the easiest thing for them is to say - replace with Y ... when all it needs is X, but X is harder to do than Y - Dealers are famous for this on the early Q's.

Your not going to get $5k for a ill running Q45 [typically] - so decide to fight thru the pain and make it like its supposed to be and enjoy one of the best cars made - or ... cut the financial losses now and unload it.

Nopbody likes a quitter :-) LOL Just Kiddin man.

[Dr3]

Wow, you guys kick a s s. I know I should've found you guys earlier. I didn't know what I was doing at the time.

I don't really have much in the way of funds at the moment, but I've been teetering between wanting to fix it up, and wanting to get rid of it.

The Nissan dealership supposedly replaced the master cylinder. But the brakes were behaving just as they were before they worked on it. The fluid is going somewhere. Seems to ooze out below the master cylinder. It's empty after about 2 days of driving.

The steering is a similar situation. I have to put in fluids every 2 or 3 days. After about a day the car starts to make Chewbacca noises when I steer. But when the fluid is in there it works great. It would be great if it was hose related.

The driveshaft issue worried me the most initially. When I got the car it had a pretty bad rumble. I even took it in to a Nissan dealership. They replaced the spark plugs, but that's just made it worse. I only got to drive it for like 2 days after that. The rumble it has now feels pretty similar, but I assume it's not the same. I presume it will rumble even when it's in park with the driveshaft/"u-joint" problem?

I should have the money to fix the car up in oh, the next 4 months or so. But I will seriously consider selling it. It needs a few cosmetic fixes besides the mechanical ones.

The hood hinge is busted so it doesn't stay open or shut properly. The moonroof doesn't work, but it's probably just the motor. The stock stereo system is all fuxt up, popping and hissing and whatnot. Suspension is just a bit floaty. I no longer have a key. I think that's it...

A friend of mine knows a serious Nissan master mechanic, who is trustworthy. He didn't know him when I needed him though

I've spent a lot of money on this damn car, which makes me want to just spend a bit more and finish the job. On the other hand, I wouldn't feel too bad about cutting my losses. The car doesn't bluebook too high. How much do you guys think it is worth? The body is in great shape, just a few scratches. I can take pictures if you're interested.

Elwesso: Make an offer

Thanks again, both of you. Dr3