Many repairs for 1991 Q45

[alex05]

I bought a 91 Q45 a year ago and it has been great. I just took it in for a 90,000 mile tune-up to the dealer and for them to check out a short in the electrical and a rough idle. Now they want almost $3000 in repairs for the car. Here's what they said I need and the installed prices:

trans mount - $307engine mount - $600front/rear rack dust boots - $365front strut boots - $430rear strut boots - $490coolant temp/sensor - $255

I don't know much mechanical about cars (much better with electrical etc.), but these seemed a little ridiculous to me and some friends I talked to. There are some other repairs too, fuel injector and upper links which are covered by an extended warranty I bought with the car (but they said these two repairs run $1192). I really just cannot afford to pay those prices as I only paid $5500 for the car originally and a gasket they replaced previously ran $1500 (paid for by my warranty). So any input anyone has on where I can by the parts for a good price and where in LA I can find a reputable shop that is not going to rip me off like a dealer will would be enormously appreciated.

[elwesso]

Welcome Alex!!

First of all... Do you know about the timing chain guides on the 90-93 Q.. It needs to be mentioned first...

Also that list the dealer gave is a decent list... Not all are really needed right now.... How many miles you got on the Q, and any other service history notes..... extended warranty for a 9093?

I think the transmission/engine mounts can wait a little while... The rough idle most likely came from the bad injectors.....

Front/rear rack boots, I assume your Q is a Q45t or at least has HICAS, that price doesnt seem too bad if it does all 4..... The front/rear strut boot price is ABSURD..... You can get a whole set of struts WITH boots from one of our LOVELY sponsors at the righ for HALF that... The coolant temp sensor seems high, its a pretty cheap part IIRC and its really easy to fix (just need a deep socket and 5 mins)..

So basically we are left with: You dont need to worry about engine mounts just yet, that can be put on a back burner..... Consider them important but they shouldnt take priority over the other crap...

How handy are you?? Maybe you could DIY (do it yourself) some of this and save some money.. Im sure there is another Q owner around there that may offer a helping hand.....!

[DAEDALUS]

Actually some of those prices aren't bad for a dealership, but still a rip-off. Did they tell you why you need a coolant temp sensor, or is that the short? Is the check-engine light on? A rough idle should not be fixed with new mounts! It should be fixed by making the engine run as smooth as it was designed to. The service writer is taking the wrong approach on a lot of things.You can go down to Jerry Tucker in San Diego for good work, or we can help you do it yourself. Where in LA are you?

[alex05]

My Q is not a Q45t, just the standard suspension and currently has 90,070 miles on it, interior exterior in excellent condition. Because the previous owner took the car to this dealer for EVERYTHING, I have a complete service history, here are the bigger repairs done:

New A/C system at 19,595 in 92Engine mounts replaced at 57,955 in 98Replaced tension rods at 57,955 in 98Installed new trans assy and radiator at 58,841 in 98Replaced fuel lines and coolant hoses at 74,698 in 01Replaced chain guides at 80,929 in 02Replaced fuel injectors 1, 3, and 4 at 86,399 in 03

Along with many other things--lots of brake related and different fluids leaking. I don't know why they wanted to coolant temp sensor replaced, it didn't seem to have anything to do with the short. They told me I needed new mounts because the ones currently on the vehicle have collapsed. I am currently a student at UCLA (hence the not having a hugh budget), so I live in Westwood. My mechanical abilities are not that outstanding, but my dad who lives nearby is very good with cars. Any other info I can provide that will help just let me know. You guys are always so helpful so quickly and I really appreciate it.

[alex05]

Also, as far as the short...No check engine or any other indication something is not working has shown up. I just lost my dash lighting one morning and figured it was a fuse. I pulled out the ILL fuse and it was blown. I replaced it with anohter 10A fuse and it immediately popped too. Then the dealer told me that I have no power going to the fuse holder at all. That can't really be true if I kept blowing the fuse. So that was kind of weird. They said they found a wiring harness they thought was to blame, but didn't have a quote on that for me yet. Since they spent all day trying to figure out what it was though I thought I shoul dprobably have them replcae it.

And on the rack boots, he said it wasn't front and rear there was only one to be replaced.

[DAEDALUS]

Wow! Lots of early component failures. I'd stay away from that place...which dealership was that? Santa Monica? With the engine mounts done 32,000 miles ago I would hope you don't need new ones quite yet. A power balance test should be done, maybe an injector rail flush too. The rail flush you can get at a lot of places. The coolant temp sensor you can do at home in less than 2 hours. I remember I once paid $80 for a temp sensor, it might have been that one but I'm not sure. I would feel pretty comfortable doing most of that work myself. I've never done engine mounts, but I just bought a tool that will allow me to, so hopefully in the near future I can add that to my list. Any good independent could be trusted with that stuff too, and they charge less. Problem is that I haven't found a good independent closer than San Diego. But I quit looking a long time ago and just bought more tools.Any parts you buy, get them from our wholesale sponsors. I have saved $1000s over the past 3 years. I always call Joe up at 1-888-216-5328. Compare his prices to the dealership's and you'll be amazed. He won't collect tax outside of AZ so that offsets ground shipping more or less. Tell them you're from NICO.

[alex05]

Okay, so I don't need engine or transmission mounts right now, but how do I know when I should replace these?

[DAEDALUS]

Well, I can't say for certain that you don't need them, but I would expect them to last at least 60k. My point was that it sounds like they were attempting to treat a symptom--rough engine--instead of the root cause. Unless they did a power balance test it's a bit premature to order new mounts.Always good to ask about their diagnostic procedures and their train of thought. Did they narrow down the possible cause to just one or two? Or did they get it down to a subsystem before they began their work?

There is a big disconnect between what people expect and deserve and what dealerships actually do. Customers take their cars in expecting that, for $90/hour, the shop will effectively diagnose the problem and fix it.The dealership, however, doesn't provide enough straight time to the tech to allow him to properly diagnose the problem. But techs do get paid for every part they remove and replace. The dealership, in effect, encourages throwing parts at problems, all at the cost to the customer. It's not the tech's fault; he/she deserves to get paid for their time.

[alex05]

Sounds good, I'll ask them once they get back to me. As far as the struts go I found thesehttp://www.trademotion.com/par...=3221from the phone number you gave and this seemed like a good deal. It says they come with factory dust boots as well, do you know if these are the same as the rack and pinion dust boots the dealer said I needed to replace?

[elwesso]

Personally I would go with SWA for the tokico shocks... $260 IIRC gets them shipped to you... About $30 for all 4 dust boots saves you $30!!!

[elwesso]

Also, Dennis has said that the motor mounts should last about 120k...

[DAEDALUS]

Actually I thought the dust boots were closer to $20 each. Shop around and get quotes. One other thihg...there are some rubber bushings in the shocks that should be replaced as well because, like any rubber bushing, they get deformed and harden over time. Any dealership sponsor should be able to look them up for you. The bushings provide an extra amount of cushion and work well with the new struts to soften things up a bit till the struts break in.

[elwesso]

Quote From Joe..

Front bump stops/dust boots- 13.64 eachRear bump stops/dust boots- 30.34

not sure on the difference but whatever!!!

[DAEDALUS]

So they average out to $22 each--Joe's package is a great deal, but of course add a bit for shipping. The strut gaskets (another item that should be replaced) also have a big difference in price. One axle was almost $20 each, and the other was about $3 each. Same material and almost the same size. Go figure.

[elwesso]

Strut gasket????

[DAEDALUS]

That thin orange thing that sits between the top cap and the body. I think Infiniti calls it a spacer. I'm guessing it's to prevent any noise from the metal on metal contact.

[Q451990]

Also, as far as the short... I just lost my dash lighting one morning and figured it was a fuse. I pulled out the ILL fuse and it was blown. I replaced it with anohter 10A fuse and it immediately popped too.

Check your brake lamps and sockets for signs of overheating! That's the classic sign of bad brake lamp sockets. They should cost $10-20 each from one of our sponsors. You can do this yourself if you can plug in a socket and change a light bulb!

You might also unplug one socket at a time and see if the problem goes away to help isolate the problem.

Heath

[MR.Q]

GREG FELTON a call (360) 563-9315 or FAX at (360) 563-3903.The place is called FELTON'S AUTO PARTS, INC. The web address is http://www.feltonautoparts.com141 Maple AveSnohomish, WA 98290Tell him Leon sent you. Though not in California the prices are really resonable.