several infiniti newbe questions

[rnvateeo]

Hi all, am considering purchasing a 1998/99 q45. I live in east central IL.

One I've looked at locally has lost the key fobs and even the keys. I know it sounds kinda loco. But the little dealership was broken into, and among things taken by the apprehended burglar were the keys/remotes to the q45 on the lot.

Dealer's ordering new key from Chicago dealership. However, they (my impression anyhow) don't intend to invest in keyfob and will likely offer me "sweetheart" cash deal.

So, *if* there is no keyfob, how might I get one aside from a dealership, and also, I am supposing that since dealer bought the car at auction, there likely will be no owners manual. I can't seem to see options for getting one (either PDF or hard copy) at the infinity usa website - how might I obtain this?

Beyond that, I've never owned an infiniti of any model. However, I am certainly impressed with what I've seen.

I would appreciate helpful input. I've been perusing the FAQ sections here, and have much helpful information.

Thanks and have a great holiday weekend!

Rene VChampaign, IL

[maxnix]

Should be a 2000 Owner's manual up on the site.

Get the Infiniti dealer performed service history first. Then have a pre-buy inspection performed by an Infinti Senior Technician after you review the history with him. But you should also check our Classified Forum first for some nice examples.

Drive him hard on the keys (all 5) and the two fobs. They are not inexpensive.

Read the sticky above about how to buy a Q45. And maybe keep looking.
Modified by maxnix at 2:25 PM 8/30/2008

[Q45tech]

Every 10 year old car [regardless of brand] will have suffered from inferior mainteance EVEN those that follow specs to the letter because manufacturers have no desire for even lux cars to last much past warranty. Dealers are even worse since they make 90% of profit from selling new replacement parts.

They breakeven at best on labor due to overhead but worker bees are a necessary evil to sell parts.

The cheap miles are long gone.

Always have an INDEPENDENT EXPERT evaluate a used car especially at dealers so you can use the $3,000+ in defects found to lower price.

Shocks, suspension, brakes, ac system are things overlooked.

10-12 years is when the transmissions fail [$3500 minimum].

But if you buy a $50k car for $5k you have saved $45k and will probably have to spend less than $12,000 in the next 5 years of ownership for repairs and mainteance.

[maxnix]

BTW, many differences between 1997-1998 and 1999-2001 FGY33.

Here's the owner's manuals.

http://www.infiniti-techinfo.c...id=54

[SteveTheTech]

Truer words haven't been spoken Q45tech. Time and miles wear everything after that amount of time. If there are no keys you will have to have it towed, to a dealer. As it is you have no idea how it runs, or even if it does? Never buy a car you cannot start especially a Q or any decade old high line car.

[rnvateeo]

well, i'm sure glad i listened to your advice/s.

I've ended up with an 01 q45t, just turned 100k. I LOVE this vehicle!!

some minor concerns are thus:

1. I notice a definite "flat spot" in the power band shifting into higher gears unless I keep the accelerator feeding new and larger amounts of gas to the process.

I installed a k&n air filter, new plugs, fuel filter, had rear differential fluids replaced with synthetic, and transmission fluid/filter changed. also replaced front rotors with brembos and hawk ceramic pads.

flat spot still there, and now it shifts hard into OD while cold, not as smooth as it was. When I got the car, it was silk smooth and CLEAN. Now, I'm thinking maybe the wrong fluids were used or something.

the transmission shop (good local reputation) thinks at most *maybe* one of the techs could have "nipped or pinched" an O ring putting the filter in, but need to leave car overnight for them to drive while cold. Not a big concern.

2. the factory amp was burned/blown, according to techs. I could only get sound out of the rear spkrs, and then extremely muted, no louder. had the stereo replaced to modernize with a "media center" and was told I'd need to find a factory amp replacement to get the rear subs (factory) to work.

I think therefore I need to find a factory replacement amp. Is that seeming correct?

3. the cable that drives the outer side of the LF seat is too short and comes out, disabling the back/forth movement of the passenger seat. I need a replacement cable. Does anyone know sources/resources for such?

4. the wheels of the previous (only one) owner were removed and cheapos put on, sixteens. My understanding is the car came with 17s on it & that it'll take all the way up to 19s no prob. is that correct.

5. the in-dash nav system: joke. in the first place it only had/has the MO regional disc in the unit.

The unit seems to think the lights are always on, and therefore I can hardly see it unless it's night. The display doesn't dim or brighten with interior light dimmer switch, only the lights around the unit's controls. It seems to function okay aside from that. I also can hear no sound/s from it whether audio CD or just letting the unit do its casual nav system whatever.

I have limited time available to get online, but I'm going to check back regularly to see if any answers or substantial help await me.

If anyone cares to, my personal eeeema il is jlrincu AT hotmail DoT com. what a car though, what a car, WOW!

rene v

[JOHNQ]

i can only answer the transmission problem due to my limited knowledge of audio and nav systems. ive owned 2 99q45t and one 2000 anni edition and i can say that the 99s transmission were much smoother than the 2000. since yours is a 2001 and i think paranoidjack is a 2000 that this might be a common issue with the last 2 y33 model years. my transmission fluid looked as new and pink as can be but i still did a drain and fill with mobil1 and redlubegard with no improvement. my next step was to take advice of my mechanic and do another drain and fill with lucas trans fix and nissan matic d fluid but maxnix questioned me with no valuable info as to why NOT to try the lucas fix. i hope somebody that has used the lucas trans fix can chime in and tell us what he thinks about that lucas additive. but newayz i will try it soon and if that doesnt help i will just buy the 15/16 qts of nissan matic d fluid from the dealer and get a full transmission flush done as pnoidjack has done and said has made his transmission smoother. enjoy and good luck with it

[elwesso]

If the transmisison shifts quickly and crisply, its likely related to the engine not the transmission.. Hard shifts when cold are pretty common, its probably related to the temp sensor.

For the other stuff, I'd try and rob parts off a junk Q. Junker Y33 are getting all more common these days!

[maxnix]

I installed a k&n air filter,

Immediately take it out and install the OEM one form Joe!

The CD-ROM NAV is a detriment and was only updated once.

The interior illumination does have a full-on position for the instrument lights. Dark a little early up there. eh?

[maxnix]

1.) i can say that the 99s transmission were much smoother than the 2000.

2.) my transmission fluid looked as new and pink as can be but i still did a drain and fill with mobil1 and redlubegard with no improvement.

1.) Same transmission on all FGY33. Never any Y33 in US.

2.) No surpriese as over 60% of the fluid remaining was the old contaminated fluid and what ever detritus and varnish remained trapped therein.