Need advice - buying a Q
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Speed_junkie
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Sun Jun 08, 2003 5:18 am
Need advice - buying a Q
I've been looking at early Q45s for a few weeks now and I'd like to know if there are any problems I should be looking for during my search for the right car. I'd like to get a '94 if at all possible. Should I be wary of cars that have over 100k miles? Are there any common problems that you folks have experienced with your Qs? Thanks for all your answers. I hope to become a member of the Q community very soon
Speed Junkie,
Hello and welcome to NICO. I hope you enjoy the unbelievable information you can find here. My best advice to you is to search through previous posts (big red search button at top right) and look up information on the early Q45's. Some common searches to use are "chain guides", "fuel injectors", "valve covers", etc.
On the 90-93 model Q45s there was a serious problem with the chain guides being plastic instead of metal. They could then break and destory your engine. While over the past couple of years this is becoming more widely known among the Infiniti crowd (mostly thanks to this site), there are still plenty of 90-93s out there with old guides. If you are looking at one, make sure the guides are done. The 1994 model is a relatively bulletproof model, but...you always have to remember that after 100k things will start to wear down. Expect to replace fuel injectors, shocks, reseal valve covers, clean throttle body, etc etc on almost any Q you buy.
Finally the best advice I can give you is to search our Buy/Sell/Trade forum (in the Shopping Mall section). There are a few good used Q's in there for great prices and buying from a NICO member always saves hassle because you KNOW it's been well taken care of.
I'm sure others will chime in shortly but overall just search, sit back, and absorb all the knowledge you'll find here. Looking forward to having you in the Q community soon. And if you're worried about longevity of the car, look at my signature
Nick
Hello and welcome to NICO. I hope you enjoy the unbelievable information you can find here. My best advice to you is to search through previous posts (big red search button at top right) and look up information on the early Q45's. Some common searches to use are "chain guides", "fuel injectors", "valve covers", etc.
On the 90-93 model Q45s there was a serious problem with the chain guides being plastic instead of metal. They could then break and destory your engine. While over the past couple of years this is becoming more widely known among the Infiniti crowd (mostly thanks to this site), there are still plenty of 90-93s out there with old guides. If you are looking at one, make sure the guides are done. The 1994 model is a relatively bulletproof model, but...you always have to remember that after 100k things will start to wear down. Expect to replace fuel injectors, shocks, reseal valve covers, clean throttle body, etc etc on almost any Q you buy.
Finally the best advice I can give you is to search our Buy/Sell/Trade forum (in the Shopping Mall section). There are a few good used Q's in there for great prices and buying from a NICO member always saves hassle because you KNOW it's been well taken care of.
I'm sure others will chime in shortly but overall just search, sit back, and absorb all the knowledge you'll find here. Looking forward to having you in the Q community soon. And if you're worried about longevity of the car, look at my signature
Nick
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AZhitman
- Administrator
- Posts: 54540
- Joined: Mon Apr 29, 2002 2:04 am
- Car: 58 L210, 63 Bluebird RHD, 64 NL320, 65 SPL310, 66 411 RHD, 67 WRL411, 68 510 SR20, 75 280Z RB25, 77 620 SR20, 79 B310, 90 Z32, 91 GTi-R, 92 Silvia Qs, 98 S14, 23 Z.
- Location: Surprise, Arizona
- Contact:
Junkie - First of all, welcome to NICO. You've come to the right place. If you can swing the extra couple grand, the 94-95 Q's are the best blend of performance and reliability, and some are still "young" enough to be aftermarket warranteeable.
There is a PERFECT Q on B/S/T right now (owner = rmay) that everyone's been coveting for awhile.
Nick is absolutely right - Feel free to ask us anything, but spend some time reading the online mechanic posts pertaining to the Q45... It'll be time well-invested.
If you find a car, let us know - I'm sure there's a NICO mmber in your (or the car's) area who'd be glad to have a look at it for (or with) you.
Glad to have you on board!
There is a PERFECT Q on B/S/T right now (owner = rmay) that everyone's been coveting for awhile.
Nick is absolutely right - Feel free to ask us anything, but spend some time reading the online mechanic posts pertaining to the Q45... It'll be time well-invested.
If you find a car, let us know - I'm sure there's a NICO mmber in your (or the car's) area who'd be glad to have a look at it for (or with) you.
Glad to have you on board!
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Speed_junkie
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Sun Jun 08, 2003 5:18 am
Well, I've found a few reasonably-priced Q's in the area. The only thing I'm really concerned about at the moment is whether or not the timing? chain guides have been changed. Is there any way to tell whether or not they have been done other than removing the cover? I've searched with the limited time I have and haven't found any other ways to determine if the guides have been switched. Thanks
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lessthanjakejohn
- Posts: 4105
- Joined: Fri Oct 25, 2002 6:39 am
The ONLY way to find out for sure if the guides have been replaced is to open up the cover and take a look. There is no easy way to figure this out by looking at the car. The good news is that because this is such a big job and is costly in comparison to normal repairs that the owner should remember getting it done. If the car has been serviced at the dealer for everything check with them. They should be able to print you out a service history. If you can't find out with any of these methods then you're gonna have to open her up and check. IF the guides are not done you should have the seller automatically knock 1500 dollars of the sell price as that's roughly the average cost of the job. Also, if/when you get the job done, don't replace the chains as that adds about 2000 dollars to the job and is not necessary. The chains should last the life of the vehicle.
Nick
P.S. Again, timing guides are only a problem in the 90-93 Q45s.
Nick
P.S. Again, timing guides are only a problem in the 90-93 Q45s.