Novice DIY injector replacement

[96Qowner]

Nothing wrong with this car at all. This car is well built, especially the 90-93 model. Perfect maintenance Q vs Perfect maintenance 90-93 Honda, sorry the Honda will outlast the Q. These motors can get 300k easily, I've seen quite a few myself.

392,000 and counting. Bought mine new with 42 miles on it - an absolutely amazing machine.

[paranoidjack]

After reading this thread it scares me. I just helped my daughter pick out a 2000 Infiniti Q45T with 49,884 miles on it. She paid $8900 for it last month. Everything worked on it and the body looked in near perfect condition. The interior was also in excellent condition. We decided on it based upon reliability reports. I figured with the low mileage the car should go at least 50,000 miles more with little or no repairs. The previous owner had the car inspected at an Infiniti dealer (cost $157) just before he sold it and the only issues they found were the tension rods needed replacing, and one rear strut had a very small amount of leakage, and one drive belt needed replacing. I verified the inspection by calling Infiniti. If the car went 50,000 miles more before needing any major repair and then blew up I would figure we got our money's worth out of it. Does it seem reasonable to expect no major problems up to 100.000 miles on the odometer?As to the topic of this thread, if I were the young man I would stop right now before I sunk any more money into the car. I am assuming he bought the car for under $2000, at least thats what a 1990 would go for here in southern California with no rust on it.. If the car drives drive it into the ground while saving for something better. If not part it out or try to sell it as is. Looks like just replacing all the injectors will turn your $2000 car into one that cost you over $3000, and who knows what will go out on it next. BTW, how many miles does the car have on it?I have a 94 J30T with 191,500 miles on it which I bought used 4 years ago and have spend less than $150 on repairs and maintenance on it during that time, but only put 14,200 miles on it as I have other vehicles. Everything works on it but I know I should replace the shocks, and in another 18,000 miles I have to replace the timing belt. In another couple of months I should put two new front tires on, and there is a very slow leak out of one end of the power steering rack. But at this car's age if I should get some major problem that would cost over $1500 to fix I would just part it out or sell it as is, wouldn't even consider putting that much into the car.

Victor-it's not as bad as people make it sound. Remember the Q45tech and echo maxnix saying "Members standards vary."

I'm sure neither you nor your daughter expect this car to perform as if it had 0 miles on the odometer, which unfortunately I think many of the posters on this forum always assume.

I bought my '00q with 72k on it, replaced all shocks and bushings. I now have 145k on it and not a problem whatsoever, short of the very rare hiccup at idle.

Just keep on the fluids, replace shocks, replace bushings when needed (bushings not replaced will incur damage beyond their cost), and you should be good for well through 100k.

[qship96]

392,000 and counting. Bought mine new with 42 miles on it - an absolutely amazing machine.

Maybe amazing as far as longevity, but thats about it. The 90-93 Accord is certainly no Q in terms of refinement, quality of materials, or driving experience.The doors feel thin and cheap when closing, the amount of road, engine, and transmission noise infiltrating cabin is great, and just sitting at idle in gear and turning on the A/C brings noise and vibration like a cheap economy car.Lets not even discuss the automatic seatbelts. My inlaws still have a 90 Accord- seems to eat exterior lightbulbs monthly, especially brake and tail lamps. The newer Accords {last 5-7 years or so are soo much more refined than the earlier ones, almost like a different class of car...only the name is the same

[Q45tech]

If you are a bulb manufacturer and have no specifications to maintain don't you design and manufacture to the fastest wear out possible.

Then you come out with a long life version at triple the price.

OEM suppliers are punished since the factory actually tests life of their product.

Most bulbs companies have 2-3 quality grades and oem is the winner.

[96Qowner]

No argument, qship - NOT a Q45.

But my doors close with a nice solid chunk, while my Q doors bam shut. And, heheh, I love my automatic seat belts in town. No problems at all with bulbs - still have some originals in it, including every interior bulb.

It's a noisy rustbucket at 392,000 miles, sure, but it runs like a sewing machine and costs less than 10 cents per mile to maintain. And I MUCH prefer the driving experience over the Q45 in town under 40 mph. The Q is just no fun at that speed.

[maxnix]

And, heheh, I love my automatic seat belts in town.

Those mouse belts alone drove me to the Acura. Hate them with a passion, even more than Wal Mart.

[paranoidjack]

even more than Wal Mart.

Why doesn't that surprise me? Hehe..

[qship96]

Walmart,Target,Bestbuy,Circuitcity, they all suck in service,quality,and the entire shopping experience. Would rather shop at an independantly owned specialty shop, or online

[Haitian_King]

There is no difference between spending $3,000 per year and owing $3,000...............which by the way is a dealer pricing figure. Obviously any discounts from do it your self or discount labor providers have to be taken from this figure.

People's standards vary and very few 90-93 Q are kept even as near new.

If a transmission fails in 10 years and it costs $3500 to replace does that not cost $350 per year?If a $2600 differential fails in 13 years does that not cost $200 per year.If a $5,000 engine fails in 18 years does that not cost $275 per year.

If a HVAC system needs a compressor, dryer, evap, fan every 10 years does the $2,000 not cost $200 per year.

Do 4 - $125 tires which last 30k not consume $250 per year plus balancing and every 6 months alignments.

Does a new sunroof assembly not cost $1,000Do new oem shocks every 4 years not cost $250 per year.Do 8 x $170 oem fuel injectors not cost $1400

Everyone's standards are different and what they will tolerate vs the money it costs. Just as everyone's skill set for do it your self vary.

Lots of difference between a Q that cranks and a near new performing one.

Unlike most where I save money is letting the paint/exterior go to hell and not worrying about the look of wheels or fancy gadgets and stereo.

When you talk about the difference in standards amongst Q owners, it seems as if you're implying anyone not obsessive-compulsive about the mechanical aspects of their Q is a cheap slacker.

Personally, I don't know anyone on the board who fits that description.

Socio-economic status can also vary and can throw a monkey wrench in Q affairs. I'm pretty sure the power company could care less about injectors or chain guides when that due date comes. Unless the Q makes a fantastic living space, I think bills and such would take priority.

Being fanatical about shift times and nanometer variances while having an aesthetically unappealing Q is the sign of a "great" owner? I for one would rather have an immaculate Q inside and out with an occasional rough idle than a Q with horrible paint, dings, and piepans. Sure, it could be running perfectly, but I'm shallow as hell.

God forbid an owner decides that cassette tapes just aren't cutting it anymore and opts for a new head unit in their Q.

Now, if an owner has a Q in dire need of work, i.e., chain guides, and takes the $1200 or so it costs and blows it on rims, then that's deserving of chastisement.

Everyone has a different situation and if they had their druthers, they would all have OEM new Q's. I doubt anyone here on the board has a deep seated desire to keep their Q in the worst shape possible. We get to what we can, when we can.

[rhinoone]

pouncer11

If you are in both HS and taking college classes, you are an above average student. So, forget about cars for a few more years.

Get that education NOW!!

With your abilities, you should win scholarships and all kinds of help getting thru college.

The Q and all other cars will still be here and still running in a few more years when you graduate. Do not mess up your education by wrenching on cars.

Seriously, sell the Q today, buy a dependable Honda and that will last the thru college with not much more than oil changes and new wiper blades. Then when you land that first high paying job out of school, you can buy all the low mileage first generation Q45s you desire.

[morton27]

Well put Haitian King. We fix what we can when we can.