Hi, everyone. Just joined and feel welcome already just from having surfed the place.
I bought a '91 Q45 on Monday and am already falling under its spell, though I wish it had a CD player (superficial, eh?), since I own plenty of discs but no tapes.
I have a couple of questions I'm hoping someone can answer that relate to this particular Q.
It's quite high mileage (199K kilometers) but seems to be in excellent condition. It does need new shocks, though (more than a tad floaty), and tires, and a couple of little things are wrong. For instance, the display for the HVAC unit doesn't work (maybe a fuse?) though the HVAC itself works (you just can't see its settings) and the passenger side mirror doesn't adjust outward as far as I'd like (goes a certain distance and then rattles).
These seem pretty minor, and I'll head to the dealer for repairs ASAP, but I'd like to know if I'm better off going to the local Infiniti dealer for the shocks as well or can any good place do the job and maybe save me money.
Any possible diagnoses for the HVAC besides the fuse would be appreciated, too (I'm a mechanical basket case).
I'm planning to keep the Q for many years. I'm now selling my '83 Supra to make room for it in the garage.
Thanks for your help and indulgence!
Q questions from a novice
Re: Q questions from a novice
gymbeau wrote:1)I bought a '91 Q45 on Monday and am already falling under its spell, 2)though I wish it had a CD player (superficial, eh?), since I own plenty of discs but no tapes.3)It's quite high mileage (199K kilometers) but seems to be in excellent condition. 4)It does need new shocks, though (more than a tad floaty), and tires, and a couple of little things are wrong. 5)For instance, the display for the HVAC unit doesn't work (maybe a fuse?) though the HVAC itself works (you just can't see its settings) 6)and the passenger side mirror doesn't adjust outward as far as I'd like (goes a certain distance and then rattles).7)the local Infiniti dealer for the shocks as well or can any good place do the job and maybe save me money.8)Any possible diagnoses for the HVAC besides the fuse would be appreciated, too (I'm a mechanical basket case).9)I'm planning to keep the Q for many years.
1)Yaayy Congrats!!!2)get a changer installed in trunk, Q's are pre-wired for those, shouldnt be too much labor and changers are cheap.3) 120k miles isn't all that hi milage at all, as long as the oil is changed often enough and the guides to the cam chains done you will get <many> miles4)There are 2 kinds that fit: Togiko black and togiko Blue, the black are factory teh vblues are a bit sportier, better control but alightly less comfort most all here prefer the blues.5) Could be all bulbs or the display is just plain out, it happen on occasion memebrs have some of those for sale (( I will have one for sale but gottto check my list if it isn't already spoken for6)Buy a used side mirror (I will have one for sale soon, pearl color) or find a junkyard one that is right color.7)Anyone can do those order teh togoko shocks, tehre is a post here a member (greg) got a real cheap source for those8) the board itself.9)Yaaay!. BTW:Find a way to do the guides to teh cam chains (no new chains needed)
Good luck and welcome aboard!!!
Fred...
Engines have either chains or belts to control the valve timing via the cams.
Our engines have chains.Chains generally need a lot less maintenance than belts and last longer and are more reliable.But, our chains in the early Q years had plastic guides that sometimes wear out, severley damaging the engine.
Most of us here have replaced those guides with improved parts, that the factory put out, that will easily last the life of the car (94's and onward had those standard).
The parts are about $500.Plus about $600 to $900 labor (at independent,=non dealer)Some dealers dont like doing them or charge the only book job they have for that, which includes chain replacement ,greatly increasing cost.
Most members had it done at independents or did it themselves, if they couldn't find a independent that is competent and reasonable.
Fred...
Our engines have chains.Chains generally need a lot less maintenance than belts and last longer and are more reliable.But, our chains in the early Q years had plastic guides that sometimes wear out, severley damaging the engine.
Most of us here have replaced those guides with improved parts, that the factory put out, that will easily last the life of the car (94's and onward had those standard).
The parts are about $500.Plus about $600 to $900 labor (at independent,=non dealer)Some dealers dont like doing them or charge the only book job they have for that, which includes chain replacement ,greatly increasing cost.
Most members had it done at independents or did it themselves, if they couldn't find a independent that is competent and reasonable.
Fred...
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greg_atlanta
- Posts: 1111
- Joined: Tue Jul 23, 2002 4:37 pm
- Car: 2008 G35 Journey Sedan, silver/black (no sunroof), 1992 Q45 (in a past life)
Well, I have another probably dumb question.Last night I discovered I may have a coolant leak (well, the Q may, not me), thanks to a small puddle left on my friend's driveway, much to his chagrin.I know it's hard to diagnose online, but is this common? Is it probably just a hose, a seal?
Expensive to fix? and how safe is it to drive? What precautions should I be taking besides monitoring the anti freeze level in the reservoir?
Thanks, gentlemen and/or ladies!
Jim
Expensive to fix? and how safe is it to drive? What precautions should I be taking besides monitoring the anti freeze level in the reservoir?
Thanks, gentlemen and/or ladies!
Jim
Might not be too hard to trace. Likely culprits are hose ends, fill caps, and water pump. Look for coolant around any of them. If you can get a blacklight (UV), it's really easy...shine it into a dark engine bay, and the coolant will light up a bright neon green. You can get a UV LED flashlight for maybe $20-30.
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greg_atlanta
- Posts: 1111
- Joined: Tue Jul 23, 2002 4:37 pm
- Car: 2008 G35 Journey Sedan, silver/black (no sunroof), 1992 Q45 (in a past life)
Thanks.
Sorry to be such a pain, but now I've noticed a couple of other things, hopefully small:I get a "Stop Light Inoperative" message on the instrument panel, even though both outboard and the high mounted light appear to work fine.
And three times now the Q has refused to start for a couple of moments, when the engine was warm. Then it started just fine and appeared to drive normally.
Thanks again!
Jim
Sorry to be such a pain, but now I've noticed a couple of other things, hopefully small:I get a "Stop Light Inoperative" message on the instrument panel, even though both outboard and the high mounted light appear to work fine.
And three times now the Q has refused to start for a couple of moments, when the engine was warm. Then it started just fine and appeared to drive normally.
Thanks again!
Jim
Hi again!
I spent a good part of yesterday perusing the forum, especially looking at info on the timing chain guides problem and it freaked me out enough that I'll be parking the car until I can find out if they've been done or not, though I do have to drive it a little bit to get some other maintenance done in the meantime. Fortunately I'm leaving on business tomorrow so the Q would be parked for the week anyway.
Unless I missed it, I didn't notice any way of checking the guides. It was mentioned that there was a little panel one can take off to look inside, but that was also debunked and I didn't notice another method proposed.
I'd like to take the Q to an independent and I think I've found a good one, though he doesn't have Q experience (I do have the service manual that came with the car, however, and I'll copy and paste as much info from here that I can give him).
Anyway, what should I tell him to look for and where should I tell him to look - or is that basic enough that a good technician will know it already?
Also, does the timing chain guide problem apply to Canadian spec Q's in the first place? (clutching at straws, aren't I?). I know that sometimes cars are slightly different on each side of the border (besides the speedo/odo labeling of course!) and the two companies are theoretically independent. Perhaps there was a recall on this side of the border that someone might know of? I called the dealer yesterday, but they don't work Saturdays and I'm leaving first thing tomorrow (Monday) so won't have a chance to call them for a week - hence my asking here (I'll be able to access the Web and my E-mail while I'm gone).
Cheap, ain't I? Well not really, but my wife has yet to fall under the Q's spell (she hasn't driven it enough yet) and, what with shocks, tires, and guides, etc...
I'd like to reassure her as much as possible. I'm sure that once these things are out of the way I'll have many great years in the Q anyway, but she's beginning to smell "money pit" and I want to do what I can to convince her otherwise.
Thanks!
Jim
I spent a good part of yesterday perusing the forum, especially looking at info on the timing chain guides problem and it freaked me out enough that I'll be parking the car until I can find out if they've been done or not, though I do have to drive it a little bit to get some other maintenance done in the meantime. Fortunately I'm leaving on business tomorrow so the Q would be parked for the week anyway.
Unless I missed it, I didn't notice any way of checking the guides. It was mentioned that there was a little panel one can take off to look inside, but that was also debunked and I didn't notice another method proposed.
I'd like to take the Q to an independent and I think I've found a good one, though he doesn't have Q experience (I do have the service manual that came with the car, however, and I'll copy and paste as much info from here that I can give him).
Anyway, what should I tell him to look for and where should I tell him to look - or is that basic enough that a good technician will know it already?
Also, does the timing chain guide problem apply to Canadian spec Q's in the first place? (clutching at straws, aren't I?). I know that sometimes cars are slightly different on each side of the border (besides the speedo/odo labeling of course!) and the two companies are theoretically independent. Perhaps there was a recall on this side of the border that someone might know of? I called the dealer yesterday, but they don't work Saturdays and I'm leaving first thing tomorrow (Monday) so won't have a chance to call them for a week - hence my asking here (I'll be able to access the Web and my E-mail while I'm gone).
Cheap, ain't I? Well not really, but my wife has yet to fall under the Q's spell (she hasn't driven it enough yet) and, what with shocks, tires, and guides, etc...
I'd like to reassure her as much as possible. I'm sure that once these things are out of the way I'll have many great years in the Q anyway, but she's beginning to smell "money pit" and I want to do what I can to convince her otherwise.
Thanks!
Jim
Its possible to check but you have to take out off the front cover.Since this by itslef is much of the labor of the job, it doesnt help all that much.
Infinti Of Scottsdale has a kit that includes all 4 guides, the cam chain tensioners,m teh oil pump chain and the oil pump chain tensioners.
Give Joe a call, there he gets those calls all the time and gives us NICO members some hefty discounts.
Fred..
Infinti Of Scottsdale has a kit that includes all 4 guides, the cam chain tensioners,m teh oil pump chain and the oil pump chain tensioners.
Give Joe a call, there he gets those calls all the time and gives us NICO members some hefty discounts.
Fred..