JUST BOUGHT A 1992 Q45

[chaoticchildof]

can anyone tell some recomended upgrades and things to check and also where i can find accesories for a lower price for my car

just got it sunday and its nice the day i drove it home the oil sending unit went out i was mad but better when i realized it wasnt anything big and now i need to replace seats and a few other things i will post pictures soon thanks guys

[96Qowner]

First read elwesso's thread posted as a sticky at the top of the list - "Thinking about buying a Q? Check this out!". Read all the embedded links. That should cover the general stuff.

Then get comfortable with the Search function. The main thing to remember is to check "post bodies" when you search, otherwise you'll only get threads with your terms in the Title. Search in the Q45, Infiniti Online Mechanic and Infiniti General forums - that's three separate searches, plus you need to check both "recent" and then "archived" threads, so that's 6 searches each time.

Or start a new thread for any question and we'll do our best to answer you.

Welcome to NICO and congratulations on being a new Q45 owner!

[maxnix]

Read the Timing Chain Guide article in the Articles Forum before you even think about starting your car again. Really.

Then read every post by Q45tech and follow all links. then download and read the 1994 FSM and then the TSB.

http://www.infnitipartsusa.com is your friend.

Welcome to NICO.

[Haitian_King]

Honestly, before changing seats and doing cosmetic and performance mods, please make sure that the engine and transmission are in working order. Check your chain guides (something that I'm in the process of getting done), reolace all fluids, and have a complete diagnostic done.That way you'll know what needs to be done. There aren't many "performance" options other than the 1st gear start TCU from a '93 and a NICO or JWT ECU. You can do your exhaust, and if you want, get some custom headers.

I have a '92 myself and I'm in the process of getting all of the important things done first. If I were you, I'd take the winter months to do the engine/transmission work and then by late spring/early summer get performance and cosmetic mods done. That's my plan.

Maxnix, please don't be so dramatic. The whole "never start your car again until guides are done" can induce a serious panic in a new owner. I know. I was one of them.

[chaoticchildof]

thanks guys umm how many poeple can tell me actually had the chain go crazy on them cause i know i wont have the money to do so for a while

[Haitian_King]

I thought I was safe, but the experts on the board tell me that it's really like a ticking time bomb. Compare it to a Jack-in-the-Box if you will. Keep turning the crank and you never know when that clown will pop out.

I thought because I had a sub 100k Q that I was safe for a bit. That's not true. There have been reports of chains going at fairly low miles. It's the general consensus on the board to get it done as quickly as you can. If you don't have the money now, don't spend what you do have on cosmetics.

There was a post on the board that said if the car has to be driven before you get the guides done, try to limit your cold starts, and to keep your RPM's below 3k. But that's not a bulletproof solution to getting them done.

[chaoticchildof]

also can anyone tell me how to set the seats lol i have the save seat things and i dont know how to set them and also when i crank the car its got a horrible noise i think its just a belt could this be the chain everyone has warned me about it gos away after it warms up but comes back at a high rpm

[Haitian_King]

Don't know about the noise upon cranking.

From an old post. Mike (GoodyQ45) answered it for me.

For the seat memory, engine off, transmission in park, key to on position. Button on steering wheel telescoping control is out (not depressed). Get your seat where you want it, press SET, then press and hold 1 until it stops blinking. Turn the key off. Repeat for #2 position.

I'm not sure that the 90-93 have the tilt down mirrors in reverse. I think you do the same sequence but with the transmission in reverse.

Once you get it programmed the seat memory doesn't work unless you're in park.

zerothread/263523http://forums.nicoclub.com/zer...91844

I couldn't find the threads in the NICO search so I googled it. What a coincidence that it was a thread that I posted in shortly after getting my Q.

[chaoticchildof]

thank you

[maxnix]

thanks guys umm how many poeple can tell me actually had the chain go crazy on them cause i know i wont have the money to do so for a while

3 1992 VH45DE on this board alone within 6 months a couple of years ago.

It is not if, but when. Take the bus or ride your bike. Replacing the engine is a $5K expense not counting time selecting a decent one.

[Haitian_King]

3 1992 VH45DE on this board alone within 6 months a couple of years ago.

It is not if, but when. Take the bus or ride your bike. Replacing the engine is a $5K expense not counting time selecting a decent one.

Factor in the time that the car will be unable to drive, and it's not worth waiting for. I'm getting mine looked at next week. I don't know if they've been done or not. I'd rather find out what needs to be done, rather than waking up not knowing if today's the day.

[chaoticchildof]

i have another question sry still havent quite figured out the whole search thing but i hear alot of talk about amps how do i know if mine came with one and if so where would it be located?

[Haitian_King]

If you have the stock Bose head unit, I thnik that you'll still have the Bose amps which are built into the speakers. It was a Bose trademark to have a low or zero signal Head unit and have individual amps on the speakers. I don't have much experience with Q audio components. I bought mine an aftermarket Blaupunkt Orlando head unit. So my amps were bypassed. That's assuming that the stock Bose speakers are installed. I've never gotten around to looking.

Right now amps and sound systems are the least of your worries.

Please download the FSM. It might be the most valuable tool in Q ownership.

I'm giving you a link to the entire book in Acrobat form. I'm trying to save you from Maxnix's wrath. He has little patience for those who refuse to read.

http://www.nicoclub.com/FSM/Q45/1994_Q45/

[chaoticchildof]

thanks again man im looking at it now

[bandeedo]

im sort of in the same situation. i just started trying to change the chain guides on my 92 q45. i was going to just replace the engine but reading the articles on here has given me the courage to do it myself. i originally bout a 96 q45 that is wrecked on passenger side at an auction cheap. the 96 runs perfect as i drove it from the auction in austin tx. to san antonio tx. and it drove like a new car. hopefully i wont need the 96 since i went to the junkyard and pulled some steel guides from a junked car and found it wasnt too hard if you got the article on it ( the one on this site)at hand. if its just the chain guides then i am going to take a few parts that i can use from the 96 and part out the rest then junk it. so if anyone needs anything from a 96 q45 let me know where i can contact you. any suggestions on what i should keep from the 96 would be greatly appreciated. by the way, this is my first post but ive been reading the articles and posts for a little while. happy holidays every one

[chaoticchildof]

thanks man lemme know how its goes i need to find out if mine has ben changed or not im still reading up on the whole thing too but lemme know how hard of a job it is man and goodluck

[maxnix]

Use new tensioners and oil pump chain.

[breaksr]

There are five 1990-91 Q45's in the junk yard I frequent. All of them have about 200K and all have bad engines. It can happen at any time and given the age of these cars sooner would be very likely. Buy the new tensioners if your going to go through the trouble of taking the front covers off the motor. Good time to reseal the valve covers since they are probably leaking plenty. Note: no need to remove the valve covers if you are just changing the tensioners. Also I've noticed pleny of Q45's in my area that are so cheap now: $1100-4000. I wish they got better gas mileage I would probably sell my '91 and buy a newer one.

[BadQ45t]

If your going to put any money into the car, chain guides are #1 and everything else is #2. If you do not do #1 and they go, the car is trashed. My dad had a 92' which his friend at a dealership told him the chain guide thing was crapo. Well he sold the car and the poor guy that bought it got 2 drives in, on the 3rd the chain guides snapped (102k on the odo). My dad being a nice guy refunded the dudes money and donated the car to charity.

The older ones are cool, but you need to do this before you spend/waste any other money on it...or sell it and try again with a 94+.

[chaoticchildof]

ya i wish i could get a newer one but A. it was a christmas present and B. i only baought it for 750 i mean it needs alot of work but it was a good deal till i found out about the chain guides man that would realy suck if the chain guides broke cause i know i dont have the money to get them fixed for a while i might just see if me and some buddies can do it ourselves

or if anyone knows where a good mechanic around the atlanta GA area lemme know

[Haitian_King]

There are 3 T3 locations in Georgia. It's like Q45 heaven there. From what I've read, the techs are just as good as the Nissan engineers. They totally understand the car.

You're lucky.

[BadQ45t]

Well for that price just drive it until something snaps or until you have the money to fix it up right. I just think it would be silly to start doing anything before you eliminate this major potential life-ending event. Drive it the way it is, don't start doing cosemtic stuff to it until you get it fixed up right.

Find the T3 guys when your ready....

[Q45tech]

If you chose wrong, wait and lock the engine, tow it to us we'll usually give $400-$600 as scrap depending on condition.

[chaoticchildof]

thanks hopefully it doesnt come to that tho every thing seems to be goin wrong when i bought it the oil sending unit goes out then i realize about the chain guide then i go to change the brakes and realize the rotors need to be changed so i go ahead and change all four brakes ending up needing too rotors and next i found out i have a brake fluid leak i mean omg why cant people just take care of there cars its not hard to know when u need to change the brakes especially in this one it tells u lol or to condition your nice leather seats whitch are in half now i mean if u can afford a car surely u can afford its maintenance i think whoever owned the car before me was a girl lol j/k im not sexist i swear tho whever did own it should never be aloud to even sit in a car

sry i had to vent guys wish me luck on finding and fixing the brake leak and also that the chain doesnt chop my engine in half

[Haitian_King]

Contrary to popular belief, most female Q owners are meticulous about maintenance. My Q's original owner showed she was almost fanatical about her Q (according to the service records.)

When you first get your Q, it always seems like after you fix one thing, 2 more things are rought to your attention. But soon, you'll see that little by little, nothing starts going wrong anymore and you'll know you're on the right track. Q's take time and patience. Sometimes I get fed up and exasperated, but then I look at the Q and realize it's all worth it. At least to me.

I wish you luck on that leak and that your brakes don't fail. Get those guides checked though.

[maxnix]

thanks hopefully it doesnt come to that tho every thing seems to be goin wrong when i bought it the oil sending unit goes out then i realize about the chain guide then i go to change the brakes and realize the rotors need to be changed so i go ahead and change all four brakes ending up needing too rotors and next i found out i have a brake fluid leak i mean omg why cant people just take care of there cars its not hard to know when u need to change the brakes especially in this one it tells u lol or to condition your nice leather seats whitch are in half now i mean if u can afford a car surely u can afford its maintenance i think whoever owned the car before me was a girl lol j/k im not sexist i swear tho whever did own it should never be aloud to even sit in a car

sry i had to vent guys wish me luck on finding and fixing the brake leak and also that the chain doesnt chop my engine in half

Please don't be afraid to use capitalizations, punctuation, good grammar, correct spelling, and correct paragraph structure to render your postings more understandable. Most members are native English speakers and passed 8th grade English. No one here is text messaging over their cell phone to this forum.

Thank you.
Modified by maxnix at 6:05 AM 12/19/2007

[Q45tech]

Buying a car that cost $43,000 in 1992 [would be $68,000 in 2007 $] for a few thousand should tell you something.

That something is it could [will] cost you $6,000-$12,000* to restore it, plus paint and interior rehabilitation.

* Dealer retail, or 20-25% less at T3 or 50% less if do it yourself with discounted new parts or less than 50% with used but functioning parts.

Where I get my all used Q need $3,000 at minimum as why they are for sale in the first place.

I keep harping on this because I hate to see grown men/kids cry........we are use to it with women and cars.

[chaoticchildof]

Ya I know im slowly getting everything fixed lol its just frustrating.

Sorry Maxnix ill try its just no one ever cared realy sense highschool lol and I just might be sending this via text message lol

[chaoticchildof]

well it turns out when I was changing the brakes i pushed the pistons back too far or to fast so i overflowed the master cylinder so all i have to is bleed the brakes and i should be good

so hopefully ill be able to drive tomorow thanks everyone

[Haitian_King]

well it turns out when I was changing the brakes i pushed the pistons back too far or to fast so i overflowed the master cylinder so all i have to is bleed the brakes and i should be good

Wow. that ladies and gents is the reason why I'll never touch my brakes without supervision.

Glad to see that you've gotten it all worked out though.