Request for update information on replacement transmission, service records, etc.

[RBYoshioka]

Hello Again.

Robert Yoshioka here. First off, let me thank all of you who have taken the time to reply to my initial posting, and to all of you who have posted information in these forums.

I have been searching the whole NICOclub site and have come up with the following questions. If anyone out there has any SPECIFIC answers, please reply to this posting. Thank you again.

1. Is there an address (either online or over the phone) that I can use to contact someone at Nissan Infiniti to see if my car has had its timing chain guides changed at a dealer? When we used to take our car to be services in Ventura, Ca, the dealer there accessed some sort of official database and was able to "check" on the repair/service records for my Q 45. If anyone knows how to get in touch with someone who has access to this database, I would appreciate it, as this is the first step for me in terms of trying to get a complete picture of my car's repair/service record.

2. Is there a simple way for me to look under the hood and determine if the timing chains have been worked on? Someone here in the forum said something about the seals being red or blue...I was not able to understand where one would look for such a seal. If it is something that can be inspected visually, please let me know. Thanks.

3. One of the responses noted that my problem might be with the solenoids (four of them, if memory serves me), so then the question becomes: Are these solenoids available used? new? Does one do better getting OEM parts or?

4. Can anyone give me a list or names and phone numbers for shops that traffic in used/rebuilt transmissions at a fair (read here: mostly cheap) price?

5. What has been anyone's experience with having a local transmission shop do the swap-out of transmissions on their Q's? Is this such a problem that one has to resort to Nissan dealers or expensively certified independent shops?

If answers for these questions are forthcoming, I should be able to move forward with working on my car?

[Peterofdevon]

I advise only doing an OEM transmission. Search the site and you'll find lots of reasons why.

Me, I had a rebuild that ruined the transmission, six months later in multiple back and forths with the shop---I ended up having Infiniti do the OEM. Yes, it costs more but the car is now perfect.

Do not skimp here.

Peter

[Peterofdevon]

And I think it best to think of these cars as $10 to $12,000 total purchases.1/3 procurement, 2/3 mechenical refurb.

They are fantastic automobiles whne brought ot OEM condition. I prefer the car over the last series of 7 series BMWs by far. I suspect its a far better drivers car than the new S Class. And its $70,000 cheaper!

Peter

[Q451990]

Any dealership should be able to pull your service records by VIN. If the car hasn't seen a dealership service department for a long period of time - the records may have been archived - but you should still be able to call Infiniti Corporate and get a copy...

Good Luck!

Heath

[maxnix]

1.) Infiniti Customer Service after you register yourself as the new owner. Or submit to your local friendly service writer and he will produce a printed summary, providing you are on good terms with him.

2.) No.

3.) In general, never use a worn part unless you have lots of spare time for repeated labor.

4.) http://www.infinitipartsusa.com Unless you're feeling lucky.

5.) Transmission swap is not so difficult for a competent shop. I always have my laptop with the FSM and TSB and certain NICO tutorials with me. I shy away from most transmission places and towards competent shops with some experience with vehicles other than Furd and Cheby.