My 1994 Q45, a gift from mom.

[TellarHK]

This year, my '97 Mazda Millenia S decided to commit belt-related suicide on me, so my mom finally decided that it was time for me to take posession of her '94 Q that she'd had for about ten years. This is a California car originally, but spent the last 7 years as a garage queen and summer driver in Maine.

I'd taken it out to give it a washing, and discovered just as I pulled into the parking lot to take some photos that I need to run out and grab a new brake light bulb. I love the diagnostic system, already!

EDIT: Added interior shot.








Modified by TellarHK at 6:13 PM 11/14/2008

[maxnix]

Give your mom a big hug and never drive it on salt!

[Razi]

Wow!!! SUPER clean.Same color scheme as my father's Q, good luck cleaning those wheels they are a pain to clean thoroughly.

Take good care of it.

[Jesda]

Your mom rocks. Its hard to find G50s that clean anymore.

[maxnix]

Give your mom a big hug and never drive it on salt!

And change all fluids and filters that are over 1 year old.

Plan on adding an auxiliary ATF cooler since you are in the mountains and have hot summers.

How old are the tires? Code on sidewall will tell you date of production.

[TellarHK]

Fortunately, I don't think they use a lot of salt where I am, but even if they do, the Q gets to sit in the garage on bad days while I take the Jeep Wrangler out on the road!

Those pictures don't do the car much justice, unfortunately. The tires are brand new "Hero 668" models with 370 miles on them since I got the car that my mom put on it just before shipping it out to me (The Pirellis it had on before wore out too fast, so these were essentially free, if not brand-name) and there are a few little things I may need to get taken care of.

Sometimes - but not always - I can hear the slight buzzing from the rear passenger side, which I understand from reading here is the fuel pump. Fortunately, no performance-related symptoms are popping up. Also, when I'm in reverse and turn the steering wheel all the way to the left, the tire rubs against a hose inside the wheelwell. I'll be getting that looked at as soon as I have the money aside to take it to a shop. The last thing, is that the rear struts are in need of replacement, but that's not critical just yet.

Other than those things - and today's bulb replacement - the car's just a dream to own and drive. Total mileage ticked past 123,000 a few days after I got it, and I can't even -smell- any differences in this car from when I first saw it in '98. The paint's original, save for the rear bumper, which was repainted in full after my stepfather closed the garage door about a millimeter too closely.

[maxnix]

The tires are brand new "Hero 668" models with 370 miles on them since I got the car that my mom put on it just before shipping it out to me

Sometimes - but not always - I can hear the slight buzzing from the rear passenger side, which I understand from reading here is the fuel pump. Fortunately, no performance-related symptoms are popping up.

Big red flag here! Check to see they are at least 95 load rated adn H speed rated. I bet you don't get to 10K on them without things getting alll squirelly and dangerous. Billiard balls will last a long time but tires should not be used over a couple of years three or four at the most, depending on your environment.

The fuel pump is probably warning you. Don't let it damage the much more expensive FPCU before you change it. If it's never been done, cahnces are almost certain it is time.

[TellarHK]

Thanks for the tip, I just went out and took a look at them and they appear to be rated 96H, so they should be fine for a while. I'll keep an eye on them and check the treadwear and see how well it holds up, but they seem to be holding the road just fine now - wouldn't expect otherwise from brand-new tires, though.

I just talked to my folks, and they said that the buzzing sound isn't the fuel pump, as they had that looked into a few months back when they were dealing with a battery drain issue. The battery drain turned out to be the Body Control Module, but they also replaced the MAF. So the fuel pump is good, and the only real concern now is the wheel.

[maxnix]

There is no way to confirm the health of the fuel pump without either measuring the fuel pressure (idle and WOT) or looking at the wave form of the motor.

[TellarHK]

Well, my folks took the car to an Infiniti dealer repeatedly, trying to nail down the electrical issue they were having (3-4 days of sitting in the garage, battery would die flat) and they went over it with (I assume) a fine-toothed comb. They were assured months ago, that the brief buzz from the rear of the car wasn't anything to worry about - and were told what it was, though they couldn't remember it when I asked tonight. They don't see anything to worry about, and since I'm not noticing any problems that would come from fuel deprivation, I'm not going to put it on my high priority list.

I've noticed a real tendency here on the forum for people to just automatically assume that you need to spend thousands per year on preventative maintenance. A: I don't have thousands per year to fix things that aren't broke yet or showing signs of failure, and B: I'd rather save that money up so I can fix the things that _do_ break.

Now, I understand that there's a control unit that costs even more to fix if the fuel pump drives it under, and for that reason I'll be keeping an eye out for performance/fuel problems but I can't afford to start chasing shadows. Fluids and filters will get changed out over the next 2-3 months, as I do know that the prior owners (my folks) were meticulous about having those things done.

The Q45 is certainly an expensive car to maintain, and when things do start turning southward, it very well might become less cost-effective to keep it on the road and in good shape compared to picking up another car on payments. But in all honesty, I'm prepared for the day to come when the Q has to sit in the garage for a little while to give me time to bank up some cash to put into repairs. Fortunately, all the major signs right now are telling me that day isn't one I need to be ready for now.

... Leaving me with some time to put a bit of money into my '95 Wrangler YJ. (Bikini top, new wheels, new tires, transmission fluid, paint recovery..)

[Infinitiguy19]

I saw that you mentioned the BCM AKA Body Control Module was draining the battery, was that ever replaced?

If not I have one for sale.

[TellarHK]

Yeah, that was replaced. They paid way, way too much for it, but got it new from a dealer, with install and everything else. It was stuck trying to unlock one of the doors or something.

[maxnix]

1.) They don't see anything to worry about, and since I'm not noticing any problems that would come from fuel deprivation, I'm not going to put it on my high priority list.

Now, I understand that there's a control unit that costs even more to fix if the fuel pump drives it under, and for that reason I'll be keeping an eye out for performance/fuel problems but I can't afford to start chasing shadows.

2.) I've noticed a real tendency here on the forum for people to just automatically assume that you need to spend thousands per year on preventative maintenance. A: I don't have thousands per year to fix things that aren't broke yet or showing signs of failure, and B: I'd rather save that money up so I can fix the things that _do_ break.

3.) The Q45 is certainly an expensive car to maintain, and when things do start turning southward, it very well might become less cost-effective to keep it on the road and in good shape compared to picking up another car on payments.

1.) Fuel pump and O ring from Joe is ~$270. When FPCU blows (performance is noteceably decreased) it is $700 from teh dealer. Less if you can find one used. Why risk it?

2.) Imported luxury car systems are very expensive to replace, so it is usually wiser to practice preventative maintenance to maintian those systems. Filters and fluids are relatively cheap. Many non-original owners abandon their cars when they run them into the ground by deferring maintenance and discovering the used components don't last as they are worn and new ones are expensive. Even jus tfollowing the factory minimum maintenance schedule will get the car to +250K pretty easily. Most of us will be disappointed not to see 350K. What is remarkable is how the as new OEM performance parameters can be maintained if one so desires. One can turn it into a beater easily by neglect.

3.) For $3K a year, one can lease, but not own something like a G35. One can own a Civic. Why we choose to maintain, pay the lower insurance rates, not suffer the depreciation of a new car, and experience fuperior build qualtiy and still exemplary performance. Much cheaper and more satisfying than trying to obtain one's car from the bank before it wears out.

[TellarHK]

1.) Fuel pump and O ring from Joe is ~$270. When FPCU blows (performance is noteceably decreased) it is $700 from teh dealer. Less if you can find one used. Why risk it?

The bottom line for me in this discussion, is the fact that I've been assured that there's no problem or sign of one now, in regards to the fuel pump. If it dies, it dies. If it takes the FPCPU with it, it dies and costs me more money - but in the meantime, I'll be able to spend that $270 on fixing up my Wrangler. The Jeep's prior owner wasn't even remotely as good with his maintenance as my folks have been, so there's a lot more "remedial" work to be done there. Tires that are 4-5 years old, for example. Fluids that may not have been changed... well, ever. And this is a '95.

In regards to the Infiniti, I'm far more likely to be inclined to spend a bunch of money on it in order to deal with the wheel-rubbing issue that I've mentioned. That's at least a known, physical problem, that might take the car off the road by being a safety hazard. Once I get that looked at, and once I get the Wrangler fixed up to be my daily driver, then I'll start looking ahead more long-term with the Q.

I can recover from an FPCPU death, especially considering the sentimental value this car holds for me. If that worst-case scenario hits, it'll be off the road for a month or so, but it'll recover. I might not be so lucky if a wheel falls off at 70.