Love the car but it's going to have to go!

[luvmyq45]

Let me first say I haven't really wanted to put much into my 92 Q45 since I'm waiting to get the G35 as soon as EPP (Employee Purchase) is available as I work for an automotive supplier, not Infiniti. But some issues have come along that is forcing me to add maintenance to my current car.

Here's the short story:

Last winter I smell fuel when cold. I bring it to and independent twice with nothing found.

This past fall I have the valve covers resealed. Not because I'm afraid of engine damage, I'm basically sick of leaving oil drops on peoples driveways, its not a large leak as I've never had to add oil in between (3000 mile synthetic) oil changes. While their in there, I ask them to replace all the hoses under the plenum (no fuel leak I'm aware of at this time since I haven't smelled it since the previous winter and basically forgot about it) since I have read several time on this and other forums that this is a general maintanance item that eventually has to be done.

$1400 later, car runs better, well... I should say starts better as its always been a perfectly running car. They did a tuneup while they were at it. But.... The oil leak is still there, turns out to be an oil pan leak. Can't sink another $600 into it, getting closer to getting my new car. Basically spent $1400 so that it starts better for the next owner....

As a side note: my fuel consumption has gone from 400 miles/tank to 325/tank ????

This past weekend my belt for the power steering/water pump breaks. I get the car to the independent and turns out the tensioner seized up (This has happended EVERY time I've had the belts changed since I've owned the car, strange).

Now I pick up the car. They tell me of a serious gas leak under the intake. $600 to remove intake and repair. The mechanic I talked to (he didn't work on my car) didn't think the intake had to come off when they did the valve cover work.

Where did I go wrong here, I assumed!!! the plenum work was done, is this a seperate thing from the intake? Did it/both have to removed for the valve cover work?

I just want to make sure I have everything straight here before I talk to the owner of the garage so any advice, mechanical details... would be greatly appreciated.

[Q451990]

The plenum (a/k/a intake manifold) does not have to be removed to reseal the rocker covers. Not sure what in a "tune-up" would add to the approximately $600 a rocker cover reseal should have cost... Do you have an itemized invoice?

Oil pan leaks are very rare... I don't know that I have ever heard of one not related to road hazzard damage. I would suspect a leaking oil pressure switch or rear main seal. Might be worth completely cleaning the engine with degreaser and then looking in a day or so to see where it's really coming from.

Have you been replacing the tensioners with OEM parts? Repeated failures are rare - but they are a maintenence item with replacement intervals at 80-100K on average.

Heath

[Rex]

There has been some reports of fuel line leaks at the firewall (behind plenum) when the old lines "shrink" during very cold weather. A "temp fix" is to tighten them. Look for a thread/post by Jesda about fuel lines.

[Q45tech]

People that don't want to spend $3,000* per year [or the equivalent in their time + parts] should look to more economical simple 4 cylinder cars [Toyota/Honda] or domestics.

* After they spend the $3,000 to $10,000 in rehabilitation of buying a used old Q.

Owning an old lux-o-sport and keeping it in as brand new condition separates the rich from the poor and can make the rich poor.

Just like owning an airline!

[senatorjames]

Have the repairman show you exactly where the gas leak is. Just telling you that the leak is underneath the plenum is not really pinpointing the problem. Perhaps it's a guess on their part. Though, my gas leak look as though it was under the plenum or even through the throttle body, it was actually from the Fuel Pressure Damper (which didn't require removing the plenum). Be as informed as you possibly can when talking to your mechanic.Good luck, Harold

[luvmyq45]

Good to see your still around Q45Tech, been a long time since I've been on the boards, you probably don't remember me but I'm the one that drove from MI to Atlanta to get my chain guides done( I'm probably not the only one from MI anymore). I'm sorry the wife and I didn't take you out to dinner as you certainly deserve it, you've been a big help through the years. It's a late apology but one I've always been meaning to give.

Yes, this car has been extremely well taken care over the years. The interior could easily pass for new except for the worn drivers seat(cracked but not split). T3 to get the chain guides done is the only place other than the local Infiniti dealership to have worked on this car, even all the oil changes were done at Infiniti. I went to an independant to get the valve covers done basically because the dealership really wanted nothing to do with it, they had a new mechanic and the independant had just done the same job on a 91 Q45 one week prior to mine.

Even the exterior is in extremely good shape, could've almost pass off for new... Untl last year. The cancer has started, I've tried to keep up with it but that is another huge on going expense in itself. So...

...Once the air condition went out...Can't keep up with the rust...Half the bulbs are out in the dash...Wife doesn't speak to me for 2 days whenever I spend over $100 on her ( a good week when I got the valve covers done, its ok, I needed a break : - ))

And now the problems as of late, has really put me in the mood for a new car, I can no longer fight the fight.

The sad thing is, it's such a nice car, and with a little TLC and someone that likes to tinker a little I think it would make a great car.

I refuse to spend $600, I refuse to sell it with a gas leak so off I go to one of Americas largest Q45 graveyards (at least it used be, I think they got rid of alot of them when they moved the yard) and see what they'll give me.

[Q451990]

Why not put it up for sale here on NICO? If you disclose everything, you shouldn't feel guilty for selling it (e.g. with a fuel leak)

If nothing else, someone will buy it for parts... really it sounds more like a good project car for someone with relatively minor issues. If you no longer have the will to repair it, that's cool... everyone gets the new car bug at some point.

Good luck!

Heath

[redmanfx]

Whooaaa! Before you send the Q to the Graveyard, I'd like to know how much you'd sell it for or at least give it to someone rather than bury it. I have nothing but time to fix it and put it back on the road. I'd like to at least discuss the possibilities. My Q is reaching the end of it's restoration and I need another one.