Hello Gentlemen:
I am the proud owner of my second Infiniti, a 1991 Q45 (1st was a 1993 J30t). I am very happy that all of you donate your time and knowledge to help fellow owners, and I hope to contribute my findings when applicable.
Now, for the facts: I purchased my Q in early 2002 from the original owner in Oceanside, CA. The guy was about 90 years old, and his daughgter was making him turn in his license and sell the car. I got the car with 95k for $4700. Never been hit, never been driven over 70mph, and the car is in flawless condition. White exterior, Tan leather. Every service down to the oil changes were done at Infiniti of Carlsbad, although I have no record of the timing change guides being done. In April I drove the car from San Diego to NY in 3 days and she purred like a kitten at 85mph the entire trip.
I have begun to customize the car to my liking and here are the changes up to date. PICS coming soon, just waiting for the freakin sun to come out here in NY.
So far, I have added 18 x 8 Enkei 5 spoke rims, 245/40/18 Pirellis, updated the Bose head unit to the CD/tape combo, rebuilt all four Bose speakers, fixed the climate control lighting issue, updated (still in the process) the factory wood trimmed interior center console (which took some creative cutting and molding on my part). Still looking on ebay for some wood grained window switches and the matching factory ash tray cover in case any of you know where to find.
SOME QUESTIONS I HAVE: Has anyone here attempted to paint the ugly brown dashboard? I was hoping to find maybe a paint for vinyl so that I can make the dash flat black instead. In addition, with respect to timing chain guides, how do you KNOW that they NEED to be done? Is it just a fate issue and when it happens, it does so with no warning? Finally, while still in CA, the car used to have a rough idle and low power ONLY when warmed up, check engine light came on, but that problem is completely gone here in NY. Thoughts?
Thanks so much for reading my post fellas, PICS coming soon. I think y'all will like the classy upgrades I have started here. People assume the car is a 99 or newer because so clean and tastefully done.
TAKE CARE!
Jamie Esq.
Now Let's Begin!
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diamondj30
- Posts: 830
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- Car: Not to low , not to high , just right .
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Try here for some leather /vinyl dye products. I have not used personally but they were recommended by a professional.
http://www.leathermotive.com/dye.html
There was no factory wood trim on your car. The design of the first Q avoided any such ornamentation. So, it may be hard to match your aftermarket trim on the doors. Make sure you ask for a sample before you buy!
BTW you get used to the brown color. And the dash itself is not black but a dark charcoal color- so you might be exchanging one mismatch for another.
http://www.leathermotive.com/dye.html
There was no factory wood trim on your car. The design of the first Q avoided any such ornamentation. So, it may be hard to match your aftermarket trim on the doors. Make sure you ask for a sample before you buy!
BTW you get used to the brown color. And the dash itself is not black but a dark charcoal color- so you might be exchanging one mismatch for another.
pop goes the weasle
I've been lead to understand that when engines fail due to the timing chain issue, there is no warning.
I've read reports of engines seizing in the middle of intersections (meaning car was moving slowly, but accelerating)
Consider this your warning.
My car sounded and drove normal. I bought off a used car lot. As part of the test drive I took it to the red line in 2nd without problems.
A week later I pulled the lower timing cover to discover the guides in itty bitty pieces.
If all the work was always done at the car at the dealship, ask there if they did it. If they don't know for sure one way or the other, I'd assume they've never been done.
Q45tech is right, if you have the cover pulled to do the guides, get the oil pump pulled and checked out while it's handy.
dan
I've read reports of engines seizing in the middle of intersections (meaning car was moving slowly, but accelerating)
Consider this your warning.
My car sounded and drove normal. I bought off a used car lot. As part of the test drive I took it to the red line in 2nd without problems.
A week later I pulled the lower timing cover to discover the guides in itty bitty pieces.
If all the work was always done at the car at the dealship, ask there if they did it. If they don't know for sure one way or the other, I'd assume they've never been done.
Q45tech is right, if you have the cover pulled to do the guides, get the oil pump pulled and checked out while it's handy.
dan
Jamie:
Welcome to our little club.:jazz:
As for headlight the Sylvania Silverstar have a good rep here especially for their slight bluish hue, but they are still non tinted and seem to work very well.
You probably gave those combustion chambers a good cleaning with your cross country trip which they probably sorely needed cuz of so much slow city driving :thumupI would hvae the dealer check for that check engine light w/ a consult (which most independents are not likely to have) as on a pre-96 few things trigger that , many of them are things that need addressing fairly soon.
As for the guides:Yours is a wonderful car, be sure to take care of this soon, chances are your guides werent done ,its enough of a hassle + expense that the seller would have remembered.
There are at least a couple of memebrs on this board that waited too long and lost their cars/engines because of it.Then we have many who did it and it was clear from inspection that they had barely staved off disaster.We have a couple of members who did the guides and they were fine, but you cant rely on being one of those guys.
Also at this age the front cover should be taken off and cleaned and things like oil pump chain tensioners inspected anyway.
There is a memebr of this club who has used a great technician in NY or NJ for a very reasonable price to have it done.The number + address of that tech are floating around here on this site and a thourough search (red button) will eventually coax it out.
As for general maintenance I would also put in new GL-5 for the rear diff (MOBIL1 GL-5 is recommended by many), new ATF (again MOBIL1 ATF) with a transmission flush which <must> be accompanied by a pan drop and filter change.
Add a transmission cooler (60 dollar part) especially as your NY driving + hot summer months can destroy your transmission's seals.flush+ replace powersteering fluid w/ MOBIL1 ATF (yes ATF).Flsuh/blee and replace brake fluid to protect your expensive ABS system.The <best> off the shelf brake fluid is ValvolineSynPower DOT3/4 costs only a buck more than the cheapo stuff and is VERY superior.
Fklsuh your cooling system and refill with 70% distilled water 1 bottle redline wetter water and rest antifreeze, preferably Nissan green, but regular ghreen will do.The Orange stuff is real good as well just be <certain> all the old green stuf is flushed out before you add orange.
Fred...
Welcome to our little club.:jazz:
As for headlight the Sylvania Silverstar have a good rep here especially for their slight bluish hue, but they are still non tinted and seem to work very well.
You probably gave those combustion chambers a good cleaning with your cross country trip which they probably sorely needed cuz of so much slow city driving :thumupI would hvae the dealer check for that check engine light w/ a consult (which most independents are not likely to have) as on a pre-96 few things trigger that , many of them are things that need addressing fairly soon.
As for the guides:Yours is a wonderful car, be sure to take care of this soon, chances are your guides werent done ,its enough of a hassle + expense that the seller would have remembered.
There are at least a couple of memebrs on this board that waited too long and lost their cars/engines because of it.Then we have many who did it and it was clear from inspection that they had barely staved off disaster.We have a couple of members who did the guides and they were fine, but you cant rely on being one of those guys.
Also at this age the front cover should be taken off and cleaned and things like oil pump chain tensioners inspected anyway.
There is a memebr of this club who has used a great technician in NY or NJ for a very reasonable price to have it done.The number + address of that tech are floating around here on this site and a thourough search (red button) will eventually coax it out.
As for general maintenance I would also put in new GL-5 for the rear diff (MOBIL1 GL-5 is recommended by many), new ATF (again MOBIL1 ATF) with a transmission flush which <must> be accompanied by a pan drop and filter change.
Add a transmission cooler (60 dollar part) especially as your NY driving + hot summer months can destroy your transmission's seals.flush+ replace powersteering fluid w/ MOBIL1 ATF (yes ATF).Flsuh/blee and replace brake fluid to protect your expensive ABS system.The <best> off the shelf brake fluid is ValvolineSynPower DOT3/4 costs only a buck more than the cheapo stuff and is VERY superior.
Fklsuh your cooling system and refill with 70% distilled water 1 bottle redline wetter water and rest antifreeze, preferably Nissan green, but regular ghreen will do.The Orange stuff is real good as well just be <certain> all the old green stuf is flushed out before you add orange.
Fred...
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maxnix
- Posts: 22627
- Joined: Mon Jul 22, 2002 8:11 pm
- Car: 1995 Infiniti Q45
1995 Infiniti Q45t
2000 Infiniti Q45
Now Let's Begin to Read the Posts!
When you have a 1990- 1993 Q45 is when you know, if you are smart. If not, it is when the engine implodes. Fred had two die under him, so heed his words well.ESQJME wrote:In addition, with respect to timing chain guides, how do you KNOW that they NEED to be done?
All your questions are answered in previous posts. Reading of them is required to maintain your beauty in its present state. Reading of Q45tech posts mandatory!
As noted before, no wood in 1990s. Board member Jason might fix you up with after market wood appliques (http://www.burtmanindustries.com) if they are availabe.
I would wait on the dash before you do something you may later regret.
Welcome to the board.
actually, I wasn't trying to say that 90-93 had wood accents. As you surely are aware, it is no easy task to take a 94-96 wood center console and simply put it on. I had to remove the black lather coated insert that runs from dash to armrest area, peel back the vinyl, leather coating, and shave back and cut around 3/4 inch to allow the factory wood piece (larger insert) to fit...
When you see pics of the car, I think it you will like what I have done. In terms of the other wood trimmed pieces, the openings on the power seat controls are different, so I anticpate some custom work will be needed.
The factory wood trim makes a world of difference, but it clashes with my nasty brown dash. I really was hoping there would be a product out there to help me out there, maybe even match the dash to the saddle door leather...
When you see pics of the car, I think it you will like what I have done. In terms of the other wood trimmed pieces, the openings on the power seat controls are different, so I anticpate some custom work will be needed.
The factory wood trim makes a world of difference, but it clashes with my nasty brown dash. I really was hoping there would be a product out there to help me out there, maybe even match the dash to the saddle door leather...
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nuQ
- Posts: 1659
- Joined: Thu Jan 23, 2003 1:39 pm
- Car: 2003 Infiniti M45
2009 Dodge Caliber SXT - Location: Bethlehem PA
jamie-welcome to our site and cograts on your Q!!! sounds like it's in great shape, looking forward to the pics.
can't emphasize enough about the guide issue. my driver side guide was toast and never knew it. an infiniti tech and the service manager even listened to the engine and prounanced "everything fine". wasn't discovered until i had the guides replaced-simply luck that the chain never jumped the guide!
if you're interested keith vanmeter in mantua nj did mine very reasonably. he is a master infiniti tech who now owns his own shop. joe at scottsdale, and even keith's old part manager at maple shade infiniti in nj can get you great prices on the parts. keith's # is 856-415-2022-let him know jeff, with the 90Q, on the nico site recommended him, i'm sure you'd get a great deal. you can also do a search on the site, just type in "vanmeter auto".
congrats and good luck with your Q. as always, feel free with any questions! jeff
can't emphasize enough about the guide issue. my driver side guide was toast and never knew it. an infiniti tech and the service manager even listened to the engine and prounanced "everything fine". wasn't discovered until i had the guides replaced-simply luck that the chain never jumped the guide!
if you're interested keith vanmeter in mantua nj did mine very reasonably. he is a master infiniti tech who now owns his own shop. joe at scottsdale, and even keith's old part manager at maple shade infiniti in nj can get you great prices on the parts. keith's # is 856-415-2022-let him know jeff, with the 90Q, on the nico site recommended him, i'm sure you'd get a great deal. you can also do a search on the site, just type in "vanmeter auto".
congrats and good luck with your Q. as always, feel free with any questions! jeff
Welcome to the club.
Again with the guides. Get them done as soon as possible. At 95k that car is a steal.....you're very lucky and I'm insanely jealous Don't let that go to waste. Make sure you get those guides done.
Take care of your car and she'll take care of you, I'm nearing 250k and couldn't be happier with my car.
Nick
Again with the guides. Get them done as soon as possible. At 95k that car is a steal.....you're very lucky and I'm insanely jealous
Don't let that go to waste. Make sure you get those guides done.Take care of your car and she'll take care of you, I'm nearing 250k and couldn't be happier with my car.
Nick
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Q45tech
- Moderator
- Posts: 14296
- Joined: Tue Apr 30, 2002 3:19 am
- Car: 1990 Q45 342,400 miles 22 years ownership with original engine
1995 G20t 5 speed 334,000 miles 16" 2002 wheels - 205/50/16 Sr20ve vvl
How'd I get ahead of you [90Q45blue] with no trips ---249,129 needs a 4,000 mile oil change at 249,500 but I'll wait till 249,999.9. That's 50,000 miles in 34 months or 250k in 13.00 years
Here's where the fun begins...........the highest running 90Q I have every seen was 278k when a rod let go. We did guides on it back in 1997 with 144,000 miles, then it was trashed you should see it now........not one useful salvage part.
Here's where the fun begins...........the highest running 90Q I have every seen was 278k when a rod let go. We did guides on it back in 1997 with 144,000 miles, then it was trashed you should see it now........not one useful salvage part.
I think I know how you got ahead of me....FINALS...I didn't drive my car for two weeks because I was too damn busy studying. Now that they're over and I'm back to my summer job (runner for a law firm) I should be racking up miles nicely again. On my way home from work in a few, have 248,883 on the odometer.
Nick
Nick
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Jeff Williams
- Posts: 3394
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- Car: 1994 Infiniti Q45t
2000 Infiniti I30t
2004 Infiniti M45
71, 72, 73, 82 & 2000 Corvettes - Contact:
Quote »And does anyone currently manufacture a clear lens replacement for the side marker lights on 1st generation Q?[/quote]
Jamie, I have seen a picture of some on a web site (I think it was Q45 performance in California, or something like that), but had no luck finding someone to answer the phone, or respond to emails.
I have a silver '94 Q, and the clear side marker lights would be extremely cool!
Congrats on the car, and good luck in the "renovation"
If you do find any clear marker lights, let us know!
Jamie, I have seen a picture of some on a web site (I think it was Q45 performance in California, or something like that), but had no luck finding someone to answer the phone, or respond to emails.
I have a silver '94 Q, and the clear side marker lights would be extremely cool!
Congrats on the car, and good luck in the "renovation"
If you do find any clear marker lights, let us know!