New Q-45 owner

[Americain]

Hi everyone. I will take delivery of my 1993 Q-45 this Friday. I picked it up quite inexpensively ($1800.00) so I figured that I couldn't lose at that price. Besides, you only live once, take a chance on something cool! I've been researching the Q quite a bit and I'm aware of the timing chain issue and some other interesting factoids. I did speak to an Infiniti master tech a few weeks ago and he had some interesting things to say. He said that if the car has had its oil changed on schedule and maintained properly the chain guides should be just fine. I asked him if he was sure and he said that he was because he owns a Q and has rarely seen the problem. He did mention that one should allow the engine to achieve full oil pressure before driving so that the tensioner can tighten up before jumping on the gas. I do have one question about the Bose sound system's cassette player/amplifier...can a CD changer be added to the system? So knowing full well that this could be a huge money pit I took the plunge anyway. I mean, it was too cool looking to pass up and I'm a sucker for a gorgeous body.

[96Qowner]

Welcome to NICO!

Actually, your Infiniti Master Tech is right - if ... IF, there was never any appreciable degradation of the oil, changed religiously, etc, then it's likely the plastic guide backs are still in pretty good shape. A handful of posters have pulled the cover on their 90-93s and found fully intact plastic guides. But the consequences of a bad guess .... ouch.

The best way to add a CD player to the Bose system is to swap in a later model head - some will plug in directly, the others just need a simple harness adapter.

The car can be a money pit, depending primarily on how much the previous owner left unfixed. On average, it will cost 20 cents per mile - less if you DIY. Most early Q45s need $3000 in deferred maintenance. But, as you say, this is quite the special $50,000 car - a few thousand spent towards restoring it is very rewarding.

[Americain]

Thanks man. I'm excited but concerned about maintainance but like I said the initial expense wasn't too bad. I'll probably end up selling it to one of you blokes anyway. LOL.

[AlabamaDan]

Welcome to NICO! There isn't a better place to be if you own a Q45 anywhere.

You'll learn plenty here to do your own.

[Americain]

Thanks! I'm definitely listening.
Modified by Americain at 6:25 AM 9/15/2007

[Americain]

So far it's going pretty well. Here's what's been done...

1. Brake calipers have been dismantled and lubed. Just for good measure a new master brake cylinder was installed. 2. Two fuel injectors have been replaced. The car runs pretty well as you might expect.3. I recently purchased an upper control arm from Scottsdale Infiniti and when it arrives I will have it installed and the front end aligned. 4. I ran a can of BG-44K through it and I can see the difference. I'll do it again after a couple tankfulls. 5. I cleaned out the throttle body with carb cleaner and have yet to test drive the car. Hopefully it will show even more improvement.

That's it so far. I'm about finished with the mechanical stuff and now I think I'll just enjoy it for awhile. You would not believe how much knowledge I've picked up while browsing this site, thanks everyone. Man, do I love this car.

[yodawill2000]

You should change the oil after using the BG44k !

Thats how strong that stuff is !!!

[Americain]

You should change the oil after using the BG44k !

Thats how strong that stuff is !!!

It washes that many contaniments into the oil? If so I'd better get on it but I'd hoped to wait until right after my next can of BG-44K, in about 400 miles.

[qship96]

[QUOTE=yodawill2000]You should change the oil after using the BG44k !

That statement gets repeated alot around here but consider this fact-99% of BG44k use is by professionals when a customers car is in for service,and LEAVES their facility with a fresh can of 44k dumped into tank,do you really think the owner goes BACK to a shop a week later again to have their oil changed? my guess is most,if not ALL do not,and are not even told to do so!

[96Qowner]

You would not believe how much knowledge I've picked up while browsing this site, thanks everyone.

Isn't NICO an amazing site? Great bunch of folks and an unbelievable archive of past threads.

400 more miles shouldn't make a huge difference with the BG44K. It just degrades the oil - your call.

[Jesda]

Only CD changer you can add would use an FM modulator or tape adapter, and it would have a separate control unit.

[maxnix]

So far it's going pretty well. Here's what's been done...

1. Brake calipers have been dismantled and lubed. Just for good measure a new master brake cylinder was installed. 2. Two fuel injectors have been replaced. The car runs pretty well as you might expect.3. I recently purchased an upper control arm from Scottsdale Infiniti and when it arrives I will have it installed and the front end aligned. 4. I ran a can of BG-44K through it and I can see the difference. I'll do it again after a couple tankfulls. 5. I cleaned out the throttle body with carb cleaner and have yet to test drive the car. Hopefully it will show even more improvement.

1.) By "lubed" I hope you are referring to the caliper pins.

2.) "Pretty well"

3.) Best replaced in pairs. Now your other arem is looser and will fall out of alignment sooner. How about the tension rod bushings? Tie rod end links?

4.) Why a new owner changes all fluids and filters presuming theyhave expired without verifiable evidence to the contrary.

5.) Read the under plenum threads. This will produce the most gain in reliability and performance.

Welcome to NICO You've made a great start.
Modified by maxnix at 10:08 PM 10/26/2007

[maxnix]

Only CD changer you can add would use an FM modulator or tape adapter, and it would have a separate control unit.

Not exactly true as Rex had an early OEM dealer installed Sony CD player for the Clarion head unit.

[Haitian_King]

If that's the case, then I'll BG 44K my car around 89,900 miles because I'm due for an oil change at 90,072

[mxr662]

The chain guides get brittle with age. I would recommend changing them. The ones in my 1990 were perfect but brittle.

Welcome to Nico

[Jesda]

Not exactly true as Rex had an early OEM dealer installed Sony CD player for the Clarion head unit.

How was it connected to the head unit? How do you control the changer?

[Americain]

1.) By "lubed" I hope you are referring to the caliper pins.

2.) "Pretty well"

3.) Best replaced in pairs. Now your other arem is looser and will fall out of alignment sooner. How about the tension rod bushings? Tie rod end links?

4.) Why a new owner changes all fluids and filters presuming theyhave expired without verifiable evidence to the contrary.

5.) Read the under plenum threads. This will produce the most gain in reliability and performance.

Welcome to NICO You've made a great start.

Modified by maxnix at 10:08 PM 10/26/2007

1. Actually it was the rear caliper slides which had frozen.

2. I have a slight miss that is slowly going away thanks to the BG-44K. When the car was checked over they ohmed the injectors and they check out fine. I think we may be dealing with a clogged injector. Stay tuned.

3. The suspension guy who shook down the Q felt that all those other areas were solid. I'll deal with them as they come up.

4. I like to establish a baseline from which I can proceed. I'm funny like that.

5. I'm on it! Thanks so much for the tip. Methinks I have some interesting reading to do.
Modified by Americain at 5:28 AM 10/27/2007

[Americain]

The chain guides get brittle with age. I would recommend changing them. The ones in my 1990 were perfect but brittle.

Welcome to Nico

The Infiniti Master Tech at the dealership advised against it. As a Q owner himself I felt it was a good idea to listen to him. He also said that it was a good idea to start the car and give it 15-20 seconds so that the oil pressure can tighten the timing chain. Starting the car and stomping on the gas is to be avoided. My Q has been very well maintained through an Infiniti dealership so I'm fairly confident that I can take his advice.

[goody90q45]

Looks like you got a great deal for $1800 for a dealer maintained Q. Congrats. IMHO if you're not going to change the guides you ought to at least remove the covers and check them for peace of mind. Your call.

I'm curious what the build date is on your 93Q. You'll find it on a label on the driver front door sill. If it's unreadable I think it's also on the driver side firewall. For the record, I've got a 94Q, with metal backed chain guides, with a build date of 2/93.

CD player- For laughs have you removed the trunk trim panel covering the antenna motor to look for an unused electrical connector? I don't think the 93Q had the side mounted CD player but it only takes a few minutes to check.

Jesda's right about going the FM modulator route. The install is pretty easy since it ties into the antenna cable. Check the Infiniti Parts forum, there's one for sale cheap.

[greenwar]

Looks like you got a great deal for $1800 for a dealer maintained Q. Congrats. IMHO if you're not going to change the guides you ought to at least remove the covers and check them for peace of mind. Your call.

I'm curious what the build date is on your 93Q. You'll find it on a label on the driver front door sill. If it's unreadable I think it's also on the driver side firewall. For the record, I've got a 94Q, with metal backed chain guides, with a build date of 2/93.

CD player- For laughs have you removed the trunk trim panel covering the antenna motor to look for an unused electrical connector? I don't think the 93Q had the side mounted CD player but it only takes a few minutes to check.

Jesda's right about going the FM modulator route. The install is pretty easy since it ties into the antenna cable. Check the Infiniti Parts forum, there's one for sale cheap.

This looks like a new owner welcoming thread - so I will join in. Seems like you got a great deal. I am amazed at how much research you did before buying the car - great job. I wish you good luck with your car and many years of happy motoring!

[96Qowner]

The Infiniti Master Tech at the dealership advised against it. As a Q owner himself I felt it was a good idea to listen to him.

For future reference, would you tell us which dealership this is, so other Q45 G50 owners know they can find a competent Infiniti Master Tech in Columbus, Ohio?

[maxnix]

3. The suspension guy who shook down the Q felt that all those other areas were solid. I'll deal with them as they come up.

While it may not have been as worn, it will still not be as tight as new.

When you have it aligned, you want both sides to have the same amount of play.

Don't trust us. Read Q45tech's posts.

[maxnix]

The Infiniti Master Tech at the dealership advised against it. As a Q owner himself I felt it was a good idea to listen to him. He also said that it was a good idea to start the car and give it 15-20 seconds so that the oil pressure can tighten the timing chain. Starting the car and stomping on the gas is to be avoided. My Q has been very well maintained through an Infiniti dealership so I'm fairly confident that I can take his advice.

Depends how lucky you feel. Ask him if he personally will guarantee parts and labor for your car if the timing chain guides fail? That should give you a really good clue.

Many early G50 have passed through this forum, and most who have postponed the timing chain guide replacement totalled their engines. I remember one stretch of six months where 3 1992 Q45 went down. About 85% of those that did service them found at least cracks if not serious damage to the oil pump chain, timing chain and tensioners. Pieces in the sump is even more labor.

Failure is forever. Don't risk it.

[mxr662]

I run my Q pretty hard after the necessary warm up period. That's one of the reasons I did mine. Also I plan to take some trips in the Q. Don't want to worry about the guides failing. Also I have too much time and money on this car to leave a time bomb in my engine. I trust the people on this thread who told me to change my guides when I did not want to.

zerothread?id=227603

The chain guides were not that bad to change out.

Andy

[Q45tech]

If an incompetent Master Tech tells you not to change old style guide please post his name and dealership so I can have Nissan Regional Manager have a sit down with him.

Telling you old style guides don't fail is a sure sign of ignorance and proves he hasn't work on enough to be called even a technican.

Or he has an ulterior motive?

[Americain]

Did the requisite oil change (10-30 grade) yesterday, after a can of BG-44K no less. I only need to get the front end aligned and the spark plugs changed and then sit back for the winter. Of course, there's no real sitting back, right?

[Jesda]

1992 w/ 186k

[maxnix]

Of course, there's no real sitting back, right?

Aa illustrated above, best thing not to do with original early chain guides is start the car. So sitting back is a great option until you remove the front covers for an inspection and timing guide change.

It is not a question of if, but of when failure will occur.

Did your "tech" give you that written guarantee for parts and labor?

[bullittandy]

Did your "tech" give you that written guarantee for parts and labor?

This is the stupidest thing I've heard in a bit. A mechanic is going to give a full warranty on an used engine with likely over 100K?

[bullittandy]

[QUOTE=96Qowner]Welcome to NICO!

Actually, your Infiniti Master Tech is right - if ... IF, there was never any appreciable degradation of the oil, changed religiously, etc, then it's likely the plastic guide backs are still in pretty good shape. A handful of posters have pulled the cover on their 90-93s and found fully intact plastic guides. But the consequences of a bad guess .... ouch.

QUOTE]

X2. If you're certain the oil was changed and you can stomach having to possibly replace the motor with a JDM, its a good gamble.

Remember, its a car, not your heart-or brain-or your marriage, all of which should demand more maintainence than a 14 year old car.