New Q owner, tire/wheel and remote questions.

[TellarHK]

Hi all, first time poster here.

I just got my first Q, as a replacement for my (now deceased) Mazda Millenia S, and noticed that there appear to be a couple problems with it after unloading it from the truck that shipped it across country to me.

When driving in reverse, with the wheels cranked all the way to the left, there's the distinct and clear sound of something grinding or rubbing at the front driver's wheel. Has anyone had this problem before? There's a smell of burnt rubber as well, so I'm wondering if the tires that were put on it just before the car was shipped to me might have been installed incorrectly?

This was my mother's car, meticulously maintained and kept in a garage over the winters back in Maine, no rust, no noticable scratches, the paint still shines like it'd been stored on a showroom floor - I'll post pictures sometime this week. Just this past summer, she replaced the electronic brain (Around $3000, new part) and has had everything major done at the Infiniti dealer 200 miles from her home. The brain swap though, brings up another question.

The keyless entry remote doesn't work. Is there any way I can program it to work with the new brain that was installed? Are there any aftermarket remotes that can tie in with the Q's onboard brain?

[Infinitiguy19]

Woooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooow

What are you talking about???????????????????

Are you talking about the ECU or the Key less entry transmitter in the trunk?

Could be the brake pad grinding on the rotor since its been sitting.

What year Q45 are you talking about 1994,95,96???

For an ECU why go new, I mean a used one might not be 100% new but its 98% cheaper.

Do a search on programing the remote.

Sorry to sound like a ***-hole, But you will see I am the only one apologizing.

Welcome to NICO by the way.

[TellarHK]

I was just about to post that I'd found the instructions on remote programming, they didn't seem to work but then I think the battery in the remote itself might be dead.

It's a '94 Q45, no traction or suspension, fully stock in pretty much every respect. I believe it was the keyless entry system that was replaced, as it was pulled out due to a stuck signal on one of the door locks causing a power drain that was chewing through batteries.

If it had been my car at the time the part was replaced, I'd have tried to find a used one myself. However, my folks are very proud of this car, and now that it's in my hands I'm going to be treating it with kid gloves.

[Infinitiguy19]

So that problem is resolved (with the key less entry) all you have to do is check the battery in the remote and replace if necessary.

And you mean it has no active suspension or Rear steering AKA HICAS, Its also rare to see a 1994 Q45 without TCS.

Hope its just a dead battery and not the controller. but if it is the controller then I have one for sale.

I would also check all the rubber components on the car, Ball joints steering rack dust boots just to name a few.

[maxnix]

Lots of 1994-1996 did not have TCS, thankfully.

Hope they shipped you the records also!

Welcome to NICO!

Do lots of reading here, starting with the FSM

http://www.nicoclub.com/FSM/Q45/
Modified by maxnix at 8:08 AM 10/31/2008

[goody90q45]

....When driving in reverse, with the wheels cranked all the way to the left, there's the distinct and clear sound of something grinding or rubbing at the front driver's wheel........There's a smell of burnt rubber as well, so I'm wondering if the tires that were put on it just before the car was shipped to me might have been installed incorrectly?.....

Welcome to NICO. It sounds like you've got yourself a well maintained Q with a known service history. You didn't mention larger than stock tires being installed so for the rubbing issue check the wheel well liners on both fronts. If one or 2 of the fasteners are missing they can sag and rub on the tire.

For the burning rubber smell I'd take a look at the 3 idler pulleys which are the tensioners for the belts. One of them could be frozen (common problem) after sitting for so long and could be close to taking out a belt.

Other than that...read, read, read. If you found the instructions for programming of the remote you'll be able to search and find answers to anything you might need. Good luck and enjoy the ride. Pics please.

[TellarHK]

So that problem is resolved (with the key less entry) all you have to do is check the battery in the remote and replace if necessary.

And you mean it has no active suspension or Rear steering AKA HICAS, Its also rare to see a 1994 Q45 without TCS.

Hope its just a dead battery and not the controller. but if it is the controller then I have one for sale.

I would also check all the rubber components on the car, Ball joints steering rack dust boots just to name a few.

I think all the boots are good, though I will be checking the components under the driver's side wheelwell for obvious reasons. And yeah, it's a pretty base model of Q. I'm figuring that's probably a good thing, as maintenance would have been more of a nightmare. It looks like what my folks had to replace before was the Body Control Unit, BTW. I would have aimed for a used one, myself.

The keyless entry works great now, though I'll probably need to track down a second remote sometime in the next couple months. Mine works fine, but I'd like to get a second one. It was just a battery I needed to replace.

For a northeastern-owned Q, I'm amazed by how clean this car is inside and out. No notable surface rust under the body, even.

[Haitian_King]

Welcome to NICO. It sounds like you've got yourself a well maintained Q with a known service history. You didn't mention larger than stock tires being installed so for the rubbing issue check the wheel well liners on both fronts. If one or 2 of the fasteners are missing they can sag and rub on the tire.

Not to get off topic, but hypothetically if one were to damage the wheel well liner and be missing a significant portion of the passenger side one, where would said person be able to procure a replacement?

Inquiring minds want to know....

[TBrack]

Lots of 1904-1996 did not have TCS, thankfully.

Hope they shipped you the records also!

Welcome to NICO!

Do lots of reading here, starting with the FSM

http://www.nicoclub.com/FSM/Q45/

Where can I buy this elusive 1904 model Q45?

[Kiven422]

For the burning rubber smell I'd take a look at the 3 idler pulleys which are the tensioners for the belts. One of them could be frozen (common problem) after sitting for so long and could be close to taking out a belt.

Don't know if you seen what Mike said but it does happen out of nowhere. Towing is costly...Like most mechanical parts on this car, its pretty self explanatory if you just look at it.

[TellarHK]

I did see that, but the burning rubber smell is definitely only caused by the driver's front wheel when it's cranked full left in reverse. I haven't had that issue in the past few days since discovering it, and avoiding that sort of turn until I can get it someplace where they can pop the wheel off and look. There are no problems under the hood. The car also only sat for a week and two days on a truck, and it had been driven regularly before that.

So it's good to know about the belts in the future, but I'm positive those aren't a problem now.

[Haitian_King]

I did see that, but the burning rubber smell is definitely only caused by the driver's front wheel when it's cranked full left in reverse. I haven't had that issue in the past few days since discovering it, and avoiding that sort of turn until I can get it someplace where they can pop the wheel off and look. There are no problems under the hood. The car also only sat for a week and two days on a truck, and it had been driven regularly before that.

So it's good to know about the belts in the future, but I'm positive those aren't a problem now.

I don't have the underside totally committed to memory, but could it be a hose of some sort touching a hot spot?

[Rex]

What wheels/tires are on the car now? (may relate to the rub)

Also, could be a bad tensions rod/worn FUCA's allowing the suspension to travel too far when at full lock.