Q45 G50 Various Issues :(

[Hogg]

Hey team,

I just bought this Q45 for $2000 and every day it seems more and more that it was not maintained properly... Unfortunately for me I love it too much.

Current Issues:-Check Engine light came on and then went off randomly it seems (When the light was on the engine lost significant power and would not want to rev up, seemed to be struggling.

-Starting the vehicle sometimes takes about 15 full seconds of the key turned in order for it to fire up

-Almost always the car starts up and then dies after about 1 second-After the Start-Death, it then starts and idles fine

-Holding the revs at a constant 1500 or 2000 or whatever RPM, they seem to fluxuate up and down by themselves enough that I can clearly see.

Please help guys, I really want to restore my Q to quality health!Any input is greatly appreciated!

Thankyou,Spence

[qship96]

Why not spend the $100 or so and take to dealer for a professional diagnosis of the problem, and a comprehensive check on the entire car?

[96Qowner]

Do the cheap stuff first, and at the same time, get to know your car better - get some appropriate tools (sharp penknife/emery board/cleaning pad/dielectric grease) and start carefully pulling connectors, cleaning them up, and coating 'em with some dielectric grease. Your problems sound like they could easily be caused by bad connectors. Known issues include the MAF connector and the CAS (CMPS) connector. Also get a good digital multimeter and check your injectors and knock sensors.

Tons of useful information at Q45.org:

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

With that out of the way, it'll be easier to nail down any problems.

[Q45tech]

Paying $2,000 for an old $50k car means you or someone OWE the car $48,000 less dealer, factory mark up and what was spent by previous owners.

We rarely quote even $12,000* in needed repairs on Q prebuys. Most only need half that amount immediately. A small minority need only $3k immediately.

My point is do you want to speed the money to make up for previous owners cheapness or ignorance running car into ground then selling it.

Many times it is better to search the US for the best maintained and pay $4,000-$6,000 vs $2k...............and still expect to spend another $3,000.

* These are shop prices at $85 per hour and parts and labor are ~~ equal.

By all means get an expert to go over car and list the dozens of defects he finds that way you can rationally attack the repairs.

Only a few dozen people in US specialize in and deal with old Q every single day!......................don't expect every dealer in US to have competent techs on old Q!

I'm not sure you will find competent Q techs [anywhere] in Canada due to low unit volume...................just low and infrequent experience.

Good Luck once you have a detailed ACCURATE list of problems we can help you train a technican.

[Hogg]

If I cant diagnose the problems myself by this weekend, I guess Ill have to drop it off at the Inifiniti dealer. However I am afraid that they might not let me have my car back or say its a "Danger to human life" and rack up thousands of dollars in repairs like some other local mechanics.

Hopefully its some simple stuff, MAF, fuel pump, dirty connector or emissions or something.

ThanksSpence

[Q45tech]

"afraid that they might not let me have my car back or say its a "Danger to human life" and rack up thousands of dollars in repairs"

Why you pay them a few hours to diagnose and don't authorize any repairs.

They will be happy to list all they find then you can decide.

We have never confiscated a car nor have we ever called the State DOT. or Highway Patrol....................many we should have but we just make the customer sign a release that we didn't do any repairs and are not liable for anything since it was just an inspection.

I cannot understand how anyone would buy a USED car without a prebuy inspection?

[Hogg]

I really hope so, like Ive said before - things keep changing and sometimes it behaves, sometimes not. I just dont want to break anything on this car as its really nice and probably far harder to find clean parts for rather than my other Nissans.

Depending on how things look on Saturday, Ill probably just send it into Infiniti like you guys suggest and have them make a list of codes and anomolies and possible repairs for what the car needs.

-Spence

[Denver90Q]

You may be sending it to an early grave if you contiure to drive it in its present condition.

[Hogg]

Well they returned my call after I dropped it off... It seems that a few pieces of my Transmission harness were not there, neither were a few hose clamps on my fuel lines... And to top it off they found tin foil in my TPS :/

Hopefully thats it and my car is healthy now haha.

[maxnix]

Hopefully thats it and my car is healthy now haha.

Do the words 'crack pipe" mean anything to you?

Better have a plan to go through your car. Start with all fluids and filters.

[Hogg]

Yes I did that already :/ and now its having starting issues it seems so whatever I just hope infiniti can get it running well

[Hogg]

Alright so the car came back from Infiniti today after its diagnoses.

Starting problem looks like it is a combination of the Fuel Pump not priming enough, and there being "Unmetered air entering the system".

This Unmetered air also is predicted to be the cause of my idling and running rough problems, so apparently I've got some vacuum leaks and broken connectors on the main engine harness.

Time to go parts shopping.-Spence

[maxnix]

Get your pump, fuel filters and O ring from

http://www.infiinitiparts.com

Be prepared to remove the tank if you see anything (even just a film) on the bottom. Have it steam cleaned. Good idea to blow out fuel lines too is tank is gunked. Joe at the above website has Nissan fuel hose in bulk (I posted the part number in another thread) if you need to replace the fuel line.
Modified by maxnix at 8:13 AM 3/1/2008

[Hogg]

InfinitiPartsUSA?, is there a possibility of getting a Walbro? If not, will it be cheaper to pay for shipping, duty, and taxes and buying from that site than going through my local dealership or parts store?

Looks like I gotta replace everything under the plenum as well, kits for that are expensive arent they? can I not just get vacuum lines from an autoparts store?

Thanks!Spence

[Denver90Q]

InfinitiPartsUSA?, is there a possibility of getting a Walbro? If not, will it be cheaper to pay for shipping, duty, and taxes and buying from that site than going through my local dealership or parts store?

Looks like I gotta replace everything under the plenum as well, kits for that are expensive arent they? can I not just get vacuum lines from an autoparts store?

Thanks!Spence

IOS gives about a 25% discount plus no taxes. Some of the guys on the VH forum use Walbro. I've used a Carter pump for the past few years. IOS sells a plenum kit as well. Vacuum lines usually don't fail but if you get at parts store make sure they have right type.

[maxnix]

The OEM pump is a 3 stage unit. For the street, there is no replacement that functions better.

Some members down under use them, so up north chouldn't be too bad. Call them and know your VIN.

[Hogg]

So, I changed my spark plugs the other night on my 1991 Q45.

I didnt gap them and put in Bosche plugs. Turned it over and it started and seemed to run healthy.

Left over night, I went to the autoparts store and got the replacement hose for my PCV that was leaky... Went to start the vehicle, and it cranked, started, coughed and died, Second try it did the same thing. Third - crank but no start, tried long enough that my battery is now dead.

Please help guys I want to drive my Q

[Denver90Q]

Sounds like your in over your head. I'd replace the fuel pump as recommended. however don't do it before you've read the tips on this forum.

[maxnix]

Remove the Bosch plugs immediately and get the OEM recommend NGK in heat range 5.

You will learn much and save yourself a lot of time and money if you will read the previouis posts here. You are way behind the curve and acting a little frantically. Not a good approach.
Modified by maxnix at 10:53 AM 3/1/2008

[Q45tech]

If the seller was knowledgable and truthful and told you the $2,000 Q needed $6,000 and would need $3,000 per year after that to restore and maintain would you have purchased the car is the question I have to ask WEEKLY.

I always think of the $2,000 deals as just buying the opportunity to spend that much -------$10,000.

So many Q are purchased then quickly dumped when the reality of the financial commitment is learned!

[96Qowner]

Remove the Bosch plugs immediately and get the OEM recommend NGK in heat range 5.

You will learn much and same your self a lot of time and money if you will read the previouis posts here. You are way behind the curve and acting a little frantically. Not a good approach.

Here are some of those threads about Bosch plugs:

zerothread?id=35940

zerothread?id=171036

zerothread?id=34823

zerothread?id=19007

[Hogg]

I have been reading like crazy still trying to diagnose - Even flipping through the FSM like a madman trying to learn anything more about the troubleshooting involved, Ive tried to clean all my sensors and connectors. Still nothing

[Hogg]

UPDATE:

Jumped it, and it started.

Basically just cranking it for about a minute while its hooked up to the jumper cables. And eventually it coughed to life - kept wanting to die, shaking really violently but I gave it some throttle and it stayed alive and eventually hummed into idle.

Opened the hood, and theres fuel dripping off of the fuel rails and it reeks. Mainly it was dripping rapidly off of the tiny piece of hose connecting the two fuel rails in the middle of the engine banks.

Im really hoping to take the plenum off and replace all the hose - and make sure everythings tight and not leaking in any way.

Any more advice or tips on having similar situations would be great.

*Possibly figured out, touch wood*

[tmorgan4]

A leaking gas issue is a big one, especially when it's dripping onto hot engine parts. Get that fixed immediately!

[Hogg]

I am about to go replace the fuel lines under my plenum, while Im under there any thing else I should take a look at?

Is it possible that dripping fuel lines would reduce the fuel pressure enough to make it hard to start unless cranking it for almost 1minute?

Thanks,Spence

[Kiven422]

Depends how the leak is... if its big then yes. Does the car seem to take more gas than it should? (less than 10MPG?)

I replaced that stupid little fuel hose 5 times (I can do a plenum job in less than 5 hours now). I recommend getting a special hose that can handle extremely high pressures for just that fuel line. Tried a few different type of hoses - mine would pop/crack/bust if i punched the gas (hence why I replaced it so many times). One day I spent $30 trying to make it home on a really leaky hose, and didnt make it.

You also may want to replace ALL the hoses you disconnect while there. Some may crack since they are getting old. Cheap and easy while the plenum is off.