im considering buying a Q45 (Y33)...

[TrizzyDizzy]

Ok, im considering buying a Q45. I was just wondering if there is anything i need to look out for when buying, or just in Qs in general. Ive never heard anything bad, mechanically, about the Y33, but then again, ive never heard anything about the Y33 really.

Also, did the black Y33s ever come with black interior? did any of them come with black leather interior? just wanting to know, before i go on a wild goose chase.

If anyone in the SE has one for sale, please let me know, lol. Thanks all.

[maxnix]

Yes to B on B. Much better to buy on condition than color or even model.

Get the Infiniti dealer performed maintenance history first before inspection so you know at what you should be looking.

I prefer 1999 and up.

[TrizzyDizzy]

thanks man. but im patient for a good quality car/deal. so ill just wait for a good black on black, or a superior quality black on tan. Thanks for the info.

[cullenj76]

I know of a black/black for sale. If you are interested just let me know.

[Solini]

I don't know about how's the weather in Alabama, but my Y33 is black on black and man I wish I had a tan interior. Granted my windows are tinted but for the first couple of minutes running the A/C you still have to wait until it cools down the interior a serious pain in the *** literally, lol

[maxnix]

I don't know about how's the weather in Alabama, but my Y33 is black on black and man I wish I had a tan interior. Granted my windows are tinted but for the first couple of minutes running the A/C you still have to wait until it cools down the interior a serious pain in the *** literally, lol

Yeah, my wife's FY33 has a black interior and even with Hüper Optik Stark 30 it is noticeably hotter than my tan.

On FY33, only light interior I've seen on black is bone, which looks great if maintained.

Black cars south of the Mason Dixon line are questionable choices, IMO. Like I said before, buy by service hsitory and conditon and inspection report, not color. Being able to restore to ans new OEM condition for the least amount of money is the name of the game unless you just want it primarily as a driveway ornament.

[Solini]

Yeah, my wife's FY33 has a black interior and even with Hüper Optik Stark 30 it is noticeably hotter than my tan.

On FY33, only light interior I've seen on black is bone, which looks great if maintained.

Black cars south of the Mason Dixon line are questionable choices, IMO. Like I said before, buy by service hsitory and conditon and inspection report, not color. Being able to restore to ans new OEM condition for the least amount of money is the name of the game unless you just want it primarily as a driveway ornament.

Yes, I'm running Johnson film 20% on the sides and 30% on the rear glass and it's annoying especially when the sun is infront of you. You can tell the sun is heating up the steering wheel and dash. A reason i'm considering tinting the front windshield 45%. I was going to do it last week up until this dump truck left a nice rock chip on my less than a year old windshield, Actually Brian there's two different light interiors on a black Q. There's the bone color you were talking about than there's a darker shade of it.

But yes color aside find the best Q in the best shape for the money. And once you get it post pics, not attachments, lol

[TrizzyDizzy]

thanks all. ive already considered the heat factor, because AL is notorious for being the most humid place in the US, aside from LA. And i go through cars very quickly, so im sure ill have a Q by the winter, and sold by next summer, unless i absolutely love it.

Are there any notoriously common Q45 problems?

Cullentj76, im not allowed to use PMs, so please contact me at [email protected]. Thanks

[maxnix]

Yes, I'm running Johnson film 20% on the sides and 30% on the rear glass and it's annoying especially when the sun is infront of you. You can tell the sun is heating up the steering wheel and dash.

Get a sunshield at http://www.canvasworks.com/main.html for the windlshield. Much better than tint while parked. The brand Joe carried only covered about 95% of the windshield. Don't know if he converted.

I have the Johnson tint on one of my G50. Can't hold a candle to HP for heat reduction so replacing it in the future when I get rich!

I think you are correct in that there may be a darker grey/charcoal interior over black too in some years. Still prefer the bone, personally.

[qship96]

Brian,I have that heatsheild-fits great and protects the dash and seats from the sun coming thru the windsheild- Formula One tint takes care of the rest of the UV and IR

[HashiriyaS14]

I don't think that any Y33's got factory black interiors before 1999, after that they were fairly common.

IMO the best combination is silver/black, but that's just my opinion. If you get a well taken care of car, it'll last you 10+ years of serious driving.

[Falkdesigns]

Black was available in all years for interior. I've seen them, and I have the original dealer promotion box set for the Y33 Q. I have a heatsheild that I got at Super Autobacs for 5 bucks, works great with tint and roof slightly open, it never gets that hot inside the car.

[paranoidjack]

Black was available in all years for interior. I've seen them, and I have the original dealer promotion box set for the Y33 Q. I have a heatsheild that I got at Super Autobacs for 5 bucks, works great with tint and roof slightly open, it never gets that hot inside the car.

what an idiot I am...never even THOUGHT to vent the roof! LOL. And I'm a engineering graduate???? I pity america's future.

[Falkdesigns]

:

[TrizzyDizzy]

rofl!!! but seriously, anyone in the SE know of a good Q45 for sale?

[maxnix]

what an idiot I am...never even THOUGHT to vent the roof! LOL. And I'm a engineering graduate???? I pity america's future.

One downpour in a Texas thunderstorm will make you glad you didn't.

[Falkdesigns]

What's a thunderstorm?? How I love Socal.

[Jesda]

What's a thunderstorm?

It is the liquid that fell from the sky in mass quantities while I was visiting Los Angeles.

[Falkdesigns]

Yeah it rains occasionally, but thunder? In 10 years I've head it like 4 times.

[Rex]

Black cars ... they're my vain .

My black on black Q is hotter than my black on tan and I've already said, I'd never buy another black car ... lets see how well that works .

trizzy - there was a White Y33 in AL for a while on autotrader.

[Skibane]

Are there any notoriously common Q45 problems?

The transmission is probably the weakest link on the Y33. The factory in-tank ATF cooler was marginal, so it isn't uncommon to see transmission failures well before 100K. Check the service records, do an ATF sniff test, and pay particular attention to how the transmission shifts during your test drive. (Note: The transmission will not shift into 4th gear (overdrive) until after it is warmed up - something that can be worrysome during a test drive if you aren't aware of this "feature").

[BadQ45t]

Really, I have a Y33 and I have never heard of a transmission failure at all, never mind before 100k??? I have not seen threads on this board either about it. Anyone else hear of one??? I think the G50 had lots of transmission fails in the early years but that is about it.

[QBaller]

I'm in Atlanta, GA and I'm selling my grey with tan interior Y33. It's a 1999 and is tinted. It's got 96000+ miles.I do find the transmission does not shift as smoothly as my wife's Lexus. The shifting is more on par with my Pathfinder....never heard of transmission failures either when I was researching.Service history shows they did replace the coils and the tension rods.I'll take some pics and post in classifieds this weekend.

[Falkdesigns]

I'll 3rd that. In 2.5 years on this forum, and on no other site have I ever seen or heard of Y33's having transmission failure. Mine shifts seamlessly, like a CVT.

[TrizzyDizzy]

Well regardless of if its common or not, ill be sure to check for it. But yea, i saw that white Y33... really liked it, but i want black. And i first gotta sell my WRX Wagon (anyone?). One thing on the Y33 i need, is less than 75k miles.

[Skibane]

Really, I have a Y33 and I have never heard of a transmission failure at all, never mind before 100k??? I have not seen threads on this board either about it. Anyone else hear of one??? I think the G50 had lots of transmission fails in the early years but that is about it.

I went back and searched, and couldn't find any threads that mentioned it either. However, general concensus is some of the ATF cooling enhancements which were introduced on the later G50s were lost with the introduction of the Y33 (which has a small, single cooler in the bottom of the tank). For this reason, one of the most popular recommendations to new Y33 owners is to install a supplemental cooler. Many NICO members have already done this (or at least switched to synthetic fluid) - which might help to explain why they're happy with their Y33 trannies.

[maxnix]

I went back and searched, and couldn't find any threads that mentioned it either. However, general concensus is some of the ATF cooling enhancements which were introduced on the later G50s were lost with the introduction of the Y33 (which has a small, single cooler in the bottom of the tank). For this reason, one of the most popular recommendations to new Y33 owners is to install a supplemental cooler. Many NICO members have already done this (or at least switched to synthetic fluid) - which might help to explain why they're happy with their Y33 trannies.

That and the fact that the same transmission is now coping with 10% less power than in a G50, and less weight.

[Chrisfrend]

There is at least one issue regarding the FY33 transmission to watch out for: a leaking turbine sensor. These are fairly common and indicated by transmission fluid leaking from the rear of the transmission. A dealer would want $1,200 or so to fix it but a good transmission shop could do it for half of that; still, a big expense to be avoided if possible.

I've had a 97 Q45 for almost 3 years and they generally are very reliable.

[BlueC]

I'll 3rd that. In 2.5 years on this forum, and on no other site have I ever seen or heard of Y33's having transmission failure. Mine shifts seamlessly, like a CVT.

Only time will tell. Nissan tends to make less quality transmissions. Mine is already having issues, I know it wont last past 120k.

[BadQ45t]

I have gotten long life out of all my Nissan trannys. I have not installed a cooler, I live in a cool part of the Bay Area but I recently switched out to Red Line Syn and I highly recommend it. I for sure noticed it shifts much better and way smoother, it is all that my transmission will ever taste. Falk run Amsoil in his car if I remember correctly so perhaps our conclusion on the Y33 is spend on syth transmission fluid.

I got 250k out of my Nissan Maxima's transmission, that was not bad for 1985 car...84' Z car transmission rebuilt once in 1991, now has 60k on rebuild and will probably never need to rebuild again as it is a sunday driver.

I expect 200k out of this transmission, fingers crossed and knock on wood!