New Q45 owner

[SeattleQ45]

Hi all,

I hope this is the right place for this as I didn't see a Q45 forum.

I just bought a '94 Q45 and am looking for some general advice. My vehicle has 100,000 miles and looks and runs great.

The dealer has records for services up to 70,000 miles, and none after that, so I am assuming the worst, that the 90,000 mile service hasn't been done, rather than done somewhere else.

The head Master Tech at the dealer (Infiniti of Kirkland) says that after his safety check he felt this car was in "Platinum" condition, so I feel good about that. I have been really pleased with the service department here as I'm a former I30 owner...they do a great job (but aren't inexpensive)!

I purchased a 2yr/24K mi warranty from Reliant (I think that's the company) that has pretty comprehensive coverage. Although it doesn't cover the stereo and I'm having trouble with my SONY CD changer.

What are the things I should look out for with the vehicle considering the model year and mileage? I have noticed a few little things like a vibration in the steering at certain hwy speeds (I suspect a balance will do the job as wheels don't appear damaged, and the tires are newer Yokohama AVID Touring ones), the rear-view mirror doesn't hold position, and the brakes vibrate when applied (I had this problem with my I30, I suspect the rotors need turning).

Are there general things I should keep an eye on for this car? Any ideas what to do about my CD changer (I get an CD Err message on the stereo display when I press the CD button)? Is the warrany a good idea (it covers quite a lot and has a $100 deductable)? Any ideas about the drooping mirror?

Thanks for your advice,

SeattleQ45

[Rex]

Congrats on the Q and welcome to NICO.

Not sure what to say about your warrantee, some have had good luck others bad. If you're lucky you'll never need it .

What to look for/look out for (Check the records for):

• transmission flush
• transmission cooler
• Knock Sensors, o2 sensors, plugs ONLY the OEM NGK
• Hummmmmm from rear deck (fuel pump), if so change it - DIY
• Coolant system flush
• Change ALL fluids
• Tires (load rating of 95 or higher)
• Rotors may warp (could be your vibration)
• Upper links, Tension rods

Do some searches on all the topics above, and do some heavy duty reading. Sounds like you may have found a lower mile dealer maintained Q. This may save you some bucks, but as one of our guru's says "all the cheap miles are gone" .

Got no help for you on the mirror?? And there are a few guys who've recently had CD changers repaired, hopefully they can shed some light, I never had any luck finding one to fit the 94, so I "adapted" a later model Bose in-dash CD player.

Post some pics in the Member's Rides section.

Enjoy

[Jeff Williams]

Seattle, congrats on the Q.

Warranty will be a good thing.

The brake rotors might be causing the vibration, at speed.

I have the same problem with the CD Changer. I am currently bidding on a replacement, on eBay (ts12c53 is my eBay ID). The repair runs around $150, and I understand it is direct from Sony, or Bose.

I bought mine, at 105,000 miles, and I have put 80,000 miles on it, in the last 20 months. It is a great car.

I just put new struts, upper links, and tension rods on the car. It rides amazingly, now!

[qship96]

remove rubber plug on backside of mirror,tighten with stubby phillips screwdriver,done!

[Q45tech]

Time to replace shocks and sway bar bushings, transmission mount , engine mounts soon.

[SeattleQ45]

Rex and Jeff,

Thanks for the advice!

As for my SONY CD Changer problem, it is fixed now.

I guess this unit needs a power cycle occationally (got that from another web site). I'm told disconnecting the cable on the back side of the changer will do the trick, but it appeared a bit difficult to remove, so I just disconnected the battery for 30 seconds then connected it back up and it worked.

[SeattleQ45]

qship96,

The Infiniti Master Tech I spoke with suggested it required a replacement and that I wouldn't like the cost. I specifically asked him about an adjustment too.

The only thing I can see on the back of the mirror is a small plastic circle that looks like it might be a cover for an adjustment. Is this what you are talking about?

[SeattleQ45]

Thanks Q45tech. I'll have them checked at my next service.

[qship96]

qship96,

The Infiniti Master Tech I spoke with suggested it required a replacement and that I wouldn't like the cost. I specifically asked him about an adjustment too.

The only thing I can see on the back of the mirror is a small plastic circle that looks like it might be a cover for an adjustment. Is this what you are talking about?

YES!pry it out with a small knive or other small object,it will reveal the screw that needs tightening!your master tech will have some explaining to do after you fix this!I have done this twice on my 96q in the last several years,same mirror as yours!

[SeattleQ45]

YES!pry it out with a small knive or other small object,it will reveal the screw that needs tightening!your master tech will have some explaining to do after you fix this!I have done this twice on my 96q in the last several years,same mirror as yours!

You are right qship96 (but you already knew that!). The plug looked plastic, but it is rubber. Thanks for the help, my mirror works fine now. I will have a talk with my tech, as I would expect him to know this (maybe once he became a service manager he forget all he knew?).

[qship96]

glad to help!

[mumbles]

seattle q45 (hubcaps) thx for the tip on the cd chnger works great now

[SeattleQ45]

Seattle, congrats on the Q.

Warranty will be a good thing.

The brake rotors might be causing the vibration, at speed.

I have the same problem with the CD Changer. I am currently bidding on a replacement, on eBay (ts12c53 is my eBay ID). The repair runs around $150, and I understand it is direct from Sony, or Bose.

I bought mine, at 105,000 miles, and I have put 80,000 miles on it, in the last 20 months. It is a great car.

I just put new struts, upper links, and tension rods on the car. It rides amazingly, now!

Jeff, were your new struts, upper links, and tension rods Infiniti original parts or another brand?

[SeattleQ45]

seattle q45 (hubcaps) thx for the tip on the cd chnger works great now

You're welcome mumbles. I'm glad it worked.

Please let me know if you have any more problems with it. I have had at least one occasion where I had to reset it again after changing CDs, but it seems to work fine when fully loaded with CDs.

[Rex]

Jeff, were your new struts, upper links, and tension rods Infiniti original parts or another brand?

According to his thread, I'd guess he got the Links from Joe (Infinitipartsusa) and the Blues from SouthWest Autoworks. (Both NICO sponsors)

Q Suspension Upgrade coming soon!I just ordered my new upper links from Joe.

Here's the list so far:

Cross Drilled & Slotted RotorsNew Brake PadsFlush & Re-Fill Brake fluidFront Upper linksTokiko Blues all aroundNew Dust BootsNew Sway Bar BushingsAZhitman's old rear "t" sway bar.Steam clean suspension

Just waiting for a nice weekend, with not Honey-Do's

I would like to put stainless brake lines on the car, if I can find some relatively inexpensive.

Anybody know of some, let me know.

[Jeff Williams]

Yes, the struts were Tokiko Blues, from Southwest Autoworks.

I got the upper links, boots, and sway bar bushings from Joe.

I got the stainless steel brake lines, speed bleeders, and DOT4 brake fluid, from a non-sponsor, Raceshopper.com.

I got the cross drilled and slotted rotors from an eBay seller.

The Blues are stiff, but I like the feel. The car was desperately in need of new struts. The old ones were easy to stroke by hand, and took about 10 minutes to fully extend, once compressed!

[texasoil]

Often the brakes will 'pulsate' ar certain speeds and pressure and not others. This can be caused by : 1) Warped rotors (usually to thin to turn and remove the warp)2) Stiff/ungreased mounting bolts--the calipers have to float freely on the mounting pins or they will cause the pulsations with all but exactly perfect rotors (which do not exist--I'm talking true to within 0.002 inches)

3) Uneven deposits of brake pad material on the rotors--happens a lot more than realized--can be removed by scuffing with 200 grit silicon carbide paper followed by 'brake cleaner' and paper towel wipe, the rebedding of pads. Prober bedding takes several moderate stops from say 50 (say 5 stops in 3 min) followed by 2 hard stops from 60+ at 1 min intervals.

[Jeff Williams]

Uneven deposits of brake pad material on the rotors--happens a lot more than realized--can be removed by scuffing with 200 grit silicon carbide paper followed by 'brake cleaner' and paper towel wipe, the rebedding of pads. Prober bedding takes several moderate stops from say 50 (say 5 stops in 3 min) followed by 2 hard stops from 60+ at 1 min intervals.

This is how I break-in my pads or rotors, every time.

Be sure NOT to stop completely, between each one. Just slow down, to say 5 MPH, or so, then speed back up to 50, then back to 5. This way, you are not letting the pads re-deposit material o nthe hot rotor surface.

It is amazing! I get 5 times the miles on the rotors, before I start to feel a slight vibration, than before!

[redmanfx]

Don't you just love the response you get here? I love my 93 Q45a, even if it has 250K on it. I'm finding out so many things to look for and be alerted to that I'm quite confident problems can be assessed and solutions can be found here. With an older Q45 model with many miles I really need this stuff. Keep it up and Thanks..

Redmanfx93 Q45a

[Falkdesigns]

Congrats on the car, and I agree on the bedding pads process. The only other thing I'd say is according the Brembo guide from doing brakes on my last car, it says after the repeated 50-5 decelerations, to try and drive for about 5 minutes without braking at all, then do a few hard stops. Either way, you'll probably be fine, but it will definitley maximize the life of rotors and pads to bed them right.

[jtesensky]

Congrats & welcome!!!!