Newbie with Q45 need help!

[ViruzOne]

Hey guys, i just picked up an Infiniti Q45 anniversary ed. 2000 wit 79,600 mi. I like the car but i have a question on a issue that i have notice since driving the car.

The car seems to give a noticable jerk in between shifts. Im almost certain that the transmission fluid is just low. I was looking under the hood and couldnt find the transmission dipstick or a place where to add more fluid. Can someone help me with this?

[brymax]

Hey guys, i just picked up an Infiniti Q45 anniversary ed. 2000 wit 79,600 mi. I like the car but i have a question on a issue that i have notice since driving the car.

The car seems to give a noticable jerk in between shifts. Im almost certain that the transmission fluid is just low. I was looking under the hood and couldnt find the transmission dipstick or a place where to add more fluid. Can someone help me with this?

Oh boy, here we go!

I'm sure you're about to receive more info on this subject than you ever intended on getting, or really need.

But from a non-tech Q45 owner to another I will tell you that these cars always seem to have less than stable transmission's (Not to be confused and no pun).

Not that they breakdown so much, but they do always seem to have a general hesitation and jerkiness to them. It's a pretty common post here.

I have an 02 Q45 w/ only 34K miles on it and just yesterday when making a quick lane change on the freeway, I swerved into the left lane at the same time I punched the pedal 1/2 way to the floor, expecting to put a football field between my rear end and the rapidly approaching car behind me.

Instead I had a huge hesitation while the car I guess decided what gear to go in and then right before the car behind me crahed into me, I went from 50 to 90 in the time it took me to get my foot off the gas and apply the breaks so I did rear-end someone.

Typical Japanese cars! Great motors and everything else, but they always seem to struggle to find the right gear. That's one thing the German auto makers seem to have down, IMHO.

Now for all the techy answers.

[Q45tech]

How would a transmission get low unless a leak or misfilled. Careful as the RE4R03A is sensitive to over filling.

Download a Factory Service Manual and owners manual and spend a week learning about what you purchased.

8 year old AT start to show their age if not properly maintained by replacing ATF every few years.

Was your previous car a FWD as RWD dip sticks are almost always in the same general location -- passengerside rear of engine.

[xerexabante]

i got the same response from my f50 the TCS came on. i was expecting the instant boost from the down shift and it did, but the TCS sensed the slip and bogged down, from the TCS activating. that was a scarry sight on my side there was a car approching at about 65mph.

[ViruzOne]

Last car was a '02 G20 Sport. so fwd manual. Im at work but ill download the FSM.

I just think the transmission was neglected. I think the previous owner rarely drove this car lately since a lot of little things werent looked at. For one the car was overheating because the radiator was pretty much dry. I have since flushed and filled. Also engine oil in in the dipstick was about less than half full. I have drained n refill with Mobil1. So can I drain and refill the transmission myself or is it complicated or need special equipment?

OH yea i feel the brakes are gonna give out soon or the rotors are warped. When i brake from high speed i feel a slight tug-n-go.
Modified by ViruzOne at 1:36 PM 9/25/2007

[Q45tech]

Buying a used car always means significant sorting out expenses from the miriad of things skipped by previous owners!

Luckily an 8 year old lux car only needs a fraction of the depreciated expense say 10-20% of new MSRP for restoration, not the 70% in value it has lost

$10,000 almost always covers most everything but the most seriously abused.

Usually we just warn to have $3,000 available immediately, as the rest might be utilized over the next 3 years.

Why IT ALWAYS PAYS to have a certified independent EXPERT evaluate all the possible selections, so you can weigh the purchase price vs need rehabilitation.

Luckily 80-120k is a quiet before the storm period.

4-O2 sensors, plugs, coils, belts, leaks, idler pulley bearings, shocks, suspension bushings everything rubber.