Removing seats for Q45

[Mailorder]

I only use my 1994 Q45 as a daily driver. I want to remove the passenger seat and the rear seats to reduce weight. My Infiniti is getting about 10-15 miles per gallon and I'll do anything (that doesn't cost money) to improve that. I know that changing the spark plugs and cleaning the fuel injectors will improve my mileage, but my paycheck has to go to other priorities for at least the next month or two. Which is why I'm taking the weight reduction path.

I looked in my user's manual, but it doesn't explain how to remove the seats. Do you guys know any places online that can help? Or can someone here offer some tips to a complete newbie?

[xerexabante]

would not probbably get you more gas milage. i get about 17-20mpg on my f50. after they fixed my manifold (leaking, 2 broken bolts). try running higher octane gas, will get you more mpg. having your tires properly inflated would get you more mpg aswell. turning your a/c of will help but if you have your windows wide open it will not save you much, if you have your window craked a little bit and or just not turning your compressor on while windows are not open will save you more. that should get you more gas milage.

taking out 4 out of the 8 spark plugs will not save you on milage. j/k that me and my dad would always say.

[Mailorder]

I'm already on premium gas, because the little sticker by the gas cap says premium only.

Why would opening the windows just by a crack save more mileage than windows all the way down?

[elwesso]

let me ask. what is your driving cycle like??? is this highway mileage? or is this on short trips, say less than 10 miles per startup?

[Mailorder]

I take local roads for about 5 miles, then 10 miles on the highway to work. And of course, reverse when I'm coming home.

I've inherited the car from my father, and he says he's already taken it to the shop (the car shakes when it's idling at a stoplight), and they say the problem is that the fuel injectors are clogged. This is what's affecting the shaking and the poor mileage. I was thinking maybe the spark plugs needed to be changed, but they said there was nothing wrong with it. I'm always skeptical about what shops have to say, so I really don't know too much : /

[Rex]

There's a pull tab on the front of the rear bench in the middle of the foot wells. That will allow you to remove the rear bottom.

To remove the rear upper, there are about 6 scrfew/bolts across the bottom, some under tabs of fabric/leather. Then there are 2 behind the middle of the seat. You'll also have to remove the rear seat belts.

All in and all it's pretty easy, just look for all the bolts and remove them.

Search for a post by tangalora on removing the Fuel pump.

[louiegz]

If your going to pull the seats out to get better MPGs, you might as well sell the Q and get a junker. But a Geo Metro or something. You might actually make a profit. To drive a Q with no seats, you might as well drive a junker. I get about 10-11MPGs of mostly city driving. try not flooring the gas pedal too. Drive slow.

[xerexabante]

the wind drag would make your engine work harder. trust me. they did test on it at cnn, i have tried it to and it's true. try AAA have postings on it too.

[elwesso]

but its not gonna move your gas mileage that much.......... EITHER of that... chanigng the position of the windows or taking out 80lbs of weight isnt gonna improve gas mileage by that much.....

OBVIOUSLY you have a greater problem, injectors, which needs diagnosis. Under most scenarios assuming you get to full operation temp, you should see at least 12-14-16.... depending on driving cycle...

Fix the CAUSE, not the SYMPTOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Mailorder]

What if I decide to build my Q45 with performance parts? Will that improve my mileage or worsen it? I love my Q45, but maybe I really am better off selling it : (

Sorry for the newbie questions

[elwesso]

seriously dude, if you are SO desperate for gas mileage, you need to get rid of the car....

Members need to realize in order to get peak fuel economy their vehicle must be at peak operational condition....... KS, injectors, etc.

[Q45tech]

If you drive 30 x 5 days =150/10 mpg= @ $2.50-$3.00 =$37.50-$45 per week..............nothing you can do will save you even $10 per week.

Now that temps have dropped you might try 89 midgrade and save $2

Driving an old $50,000 car is not much cheaper than driving a brand new $50,000 car [with the same weight and engine size].

[xerexabante]

true on that qtech. i would go get a civic if you want good mileage. if you spend $200-$250 on gas a month. get a civic that would probably spend $10-15 a week. good luck on your quest on saving money and driving in style.

[mryzza]

Yea... I spend around 35 a week right buying mid grade gasoline.

[Mailorder]

Thanks for the replies.

My co-worker says he could take 200-300 pounds out of the car. Although I don't know if he's talking about taking the weight out for better mileage, or for performance. Can the Q45 actually be a serious performance car? I imagine it's just too heavy and I'd be better off with buying another car if I were interested in performance.

[Q45tech]

200 pounds reduction should reduce the et in a quarter mile by 0.2 seconds.

150 pound driver on empty vs a 250 pound driver on full.

[elwesso]

Thanks for the replies.

My co-worker says he could take 200-300 pounds out of the car. Although I don't know if he's talking about taking the weight out for better mileage, or for performance. Can the Q45 actually be a serious performance car? I imagine it's just too heavy and I'd be better off with buying another car if I were interested in performance.

you could drop probably 500lbs off the car if you took the entire interior out and all the body panels...

[Mailorder]

Ehh... I see.

Thanks for all the replies. I've decided to go for an old Z car. Now my dilemma is deciding between a 280zx Turbo and a 300zx (Z31) Turbo.. they're both $1500, so I can't decide! Of course, that's for another forum. Thanks again for the replies!

[Q45tech]

The inline 6 might turn out to be the more robust and easier to work on vehicle.

[elwesso]

Ehh... I see.

Thanks for all the replies. I've decided to go for an old Z car. Now my dilemma is deciding between a 280zx Turbo and a 300zx (Z31) Turbo.. they're both $1500, so I can't decide! Of course, that's for another forum. Thanks again for the replies!

I really dont think you should give up on the Q just yet. Maybe some basic diagnosis and repair is all we need!!! If it idles rough you probably have a bad injector.

Z31s are notoriously hard to work on, but theyre fairly reliable. STill, the 280ZX with the L28 (turbo?) is gonna be easier to work on and arguably a stouter motor.

[VJ1]

I agree with everyone else. Stripping down your Q in not the answer. You'll just be making a junker out of it with almost no noticeable difference to your fuel economy. If you decide to go with a Z, I would recommend the 300. I've had 6 300ZX's from 1984 to 1993. The 84 or 85 would be a much better option because of fuel economy, reliability and availability of new and used parts.Good Luck.

[xerexabante]

woild like to comment on that. i have had an 84 300z. my god, will never buy one again unless its a 90 or above. too much problems on that 84 z. from injectors leaking and rough idle, to vapor locking. other than that it was a hella fast car. took it up to 170mph. wow what a rush, would not do it agin though. i put about 190k miles on it then sold it. too much work.

[VJ1]

the 84 300zx was the first one I had, and enjoyed every bit of it. I bought it with 48K and sold it with 104K and never had a single problem. Out of the six I've had, the 84 was always the best, even over the 90 & 93.