New to the Q45 need help

[ca18tt1978]

Whats up Nico i need help making my mind up on buying a Q .Fisrt of the one i'm looking at is a 93 with lke 18**** miles and need s timing belt or chain i not to sure which on it has this is why i'm makeing this post .2Nd how hard is it to install can it be done in my drive way the price of the car is pretty unbeatalbe for the condition but then again i dont know excatly how it runs dun to not have the belt on owner says it runs "great" .So come on guys i know someone out there has done it just let know if its worth doing it . Oh and by the way the price is 850 bucks so right in my price range LOL.Any help would be great thanks again .

[Q45tech]

Buying an early Q 90-93 is just buying the opportunity to immediately spend ANOTHER $5,000 to $12,000 in deferred repairs. Depending on how close to brand new you want things to perform

About half the expenses are parts and half labor.

Don't believe for a second that I am kidding!

At $850 the car has lost $39,000 of it's MSRP new cost.

At 180k it is 120,000 miles beyond warranty.

Infiniti Techanicans buy the old Q because they can use free spare time labor and discounted and junkyard parts to rehabilitate the vehicle.

Non Infiniti techs avoid these cars because they are not expert in them and have learn [spend too much time getting up to speed] and have no ready sources of used parts.

Our shops are busy Sunday morning when the techs come in to work on their own Q. They are always disassembling one of the junkers we buy continuously for spare parts.

I like my old 90Q with 313,000 miles because I know it perfectly and can keep it on the road for less than $3,000 per year + gasoline. [another $3,000].

Chain guide parts run $400 and take an practiced expert a day [8 hours] to do correctly requires a lift and a few specialty tools + tie wraps

[Q45tech]

When buying a 180k ANYTHING always consider the cost of shocks, transmission, brake, MAF, window motors, lock and key assembly, sunroof faults, radiators and diffs, water pumps, alternators, and ac system. fuel pumps and controllers are all tired by now.

Find out what has been replaced when!

In ethanolized fuel area consider that 8 fuel injectors may eventually need replacement at $180 each + labor.

I always consider: am I willing to spend $10,000 on a $850 car to bring it back to life?

Every used car older than 6 years needs $3,000 so?

[DrewQ45]

i dont know excatly how it runs dun to not have the belt on owner says it runs "great"

To answer your original question. The Q45 using a timing chain, no belt. If the chain broke/jumped, it's probably due to chain guide failure which you can read all about on here by doing a search. The owner is either ignorant in thinking the engine is still fine or dishonest. The car most likely needs a new engine now. Personally, I'd walk away from it.

[Amesdude25]

Unless you are a competent weekend mechanic, have the space, time and $$$. I would leave it alone. Guides can be a full weekend project and the cost of replacing guides, chains, etc. could cost you more than what you would be paying for it. Not to mention the countless other problems it could have i.e. knock sensors, plenum, tune up (not easy on Q's), transmission, fluids, abs, etc... I'm not trying to discourage you but to restore a Q mechanically is not for the faint of heart. My 90 Q's was shot to hell and over the last 5 years I've must have put $2k - $3k easy into her and I had a friend at a transmission shop rebuild mine for $350. So just think if I had to have it rebuilt full price... I'd be looking at $3k - $5k easy... But she's my baby and just about EVERYTHING has been replaced now and I got tons of spare part now as well... just in case

[Jesda]

I suggest looking for a well-maintained 90-93 from a NICO member (see our classifieds section). The extra 2-3 grand you'll pay for a car owned by someone here will save you much more in the long run.

[Skibane]

Some powerful advice here!

Buying a basket case as your first Q is a recipe for disaster, unless you already have (1.) a whole butt-load of experience working on them, and (2.) a source of cheap or free parts.

Spending a few extra K on a solid vehicle can easily save you 5-10K in immediate repairs, lost time, mistakes, returned parts, towing charges and frustration.