Q45 Chain Guides DIY 911 HELP!

[werepe]

Hello all,I managed to convince myself to embark in doing my chain guides myself. I've done the driver side guides but I'm having trouble with the passenger side. I removed the old tension guide but having serious difficulty installing the new one. I just can't get it in there. Is there any trick in getting it into place? Also, I have a hard time getting the driver side slack side guide in once I removed the tensioner...the chain was very tight. I eventually got it in by removing the water pump. My concern is not to repeat the same for the passenger side slack guide. What are the tricks in getting these guides in?Please help!I need to know how to get the passenger side guides in. How should I go about doing it?Thanks everyone!
Modified by werepe at 8:43 PM 3/13/2007

[mxr662]

I need to know how to get the passenger side guides in. How should I go about doing it?

Make sure you have FSM and have read it.Read this http://www.q45.org/guidereplacement.htmlSearch on this forum and read the posts on chain guide replacement.Understand the part about having the engine TDC then rotating a certain amount to replace the other chain.Make sure your chains are secured so they don't slip a tooth.The passenger side tensioner has a small hook to take the tension off the chain guide.

How many miles on the car. If high consider replacing water pump, oil pump chain. I did not replace my idler pulleys for my belts and now I'm going back to do it.

Take your time with the guides and take a break when frustrated.

Andy

[maxnix]

Don't forget the extensive posts in Infiniti Online Mechanic.

[Jesda]

http://www.q45.org/chainguidehowto.html

[92Q45guy]

Mine were a real pain also.

[werepe]

Hi, I finally got the passenger side guides on there. I turned the crankshaft a little but the concern now is the driver side tension side. The chain is a little slack. It's not as tight as the others. Is this a norm or is there something I need to make sure I do before putting the cover back? Please advise. Thanks!
Modified by werepe at 2:54 PM 3/14/2007

[ScottJackson]

that should be fine. As soon as the crank turns at all it will tighten up that portion of the chain. It's probably not needed, but on the two chain guide jobs I've done I used a piece of wire to hold the slack side guide tight and rotated the motor by hand to make sure it all went smoothly and all was well. I'd then remove the wire, look it over again (make sure you have the little hook that holds the passenger side tensioner unhooked), and seal it back up. It may rattle a little when it first starts but should be fine. Oh yeah, tighten up the big crank bolt as much as possible also. On the second job (Jesda's green Q) the bolt came loose enough that the oil light started coming on so he had to have it tightened at the dealer. The bolt hasn't come loose on my Q, but I'll probably eventually get around to finding a way to tighten it more.
Modified by ScottJackson at 1:44 AM 3/15/2007

[mxr662]

I turned my motor over 10 times with the socket and ratchet while everything was apart to makes sure all was ok. Also double checked all bolts 'cause I don't want to go in there again.

[Q451990]

A suggestion to reduce the chain rattle. Try pulling the fuel pump fuse and turning it over several seconds with the starter. That should help build pressure in the tensioners and get everything lubricated. I even do this after each oil change. I hate that couple of seconds of engine noise and oil light on if I don't.

When my guides were done at T3 Byron gave the oil pump a whirl before hooking up that chain. It's amazing how much came out of the squirters (making a little bit of a mess) from just that one turn. Even that helped reduce the noise to one of the quietest "first starts" they had seen after a guide job according to Byron. Apparently it's some sort of right of passage to hear the engine sound like it's going to fly apart after a guide replacement, but I would rather skip it if possible.

Good luck!

Heath

[Haitian_King]

Wait. You drove to Georgia to do your guides?

Damn. I think I need to get them done but I'm in NJ.

[maxnix]

Wait. You drove to Georgia to do your guides?

Damn. I think I need to get them done but I'm in NJ.

No, you know you need to get them done.

Some have driven from Montana, so cowboy up!

[Haitian_King]

I'm sure that with your utra flexible schedule, you can take cross-country road tips without a blink of an eye.

Alas, that isn't the case with me.

I'm considering doing it myself (as a last resort).

If i buy the replacement kit, i wonder ow much my Mechanic will charge me for putting them in. He's quite cheap. only $26 for an oil change, including oil.

[Q451990]

The 3.5 hour drive and two night stay was worth it to have an experienced Tech. do the work. Watching Byron work was amazing... he started at 8a, and had the new guides in by 10. Spent the rest of the day working on details and resealing the Rocker covers, installing new spark plugs, etc.

We let the RTV dry overnight and then took care of a double transmission flush (once with conventional, drop pan, replace filter, then reflush with M1 ATF) and finally some Consult playtime the next day.

It looks like Keith Vanmeter is only about 30 miles from you and I've heard good things. Having someone work on your Q that has experience and factory training is always a good thing.

Vanmeter Auto Service - Located in Mantua NJ is a reputable shop for folks in the northeast. Keith Vanmeter, a former Infiniti technician now working independently, can be reached at 856-415-2022.