Some surely repeated questions from the new guy

[bmwkiller]

I'm sure this has all been covered before, so I'll apologize in advance, but I didn't see any means of doing a forum search. Scrolling through all the old topics has already kept me occupied for hours, much to my girlfriends dismay.I recently picked up a '93 Q, and I've been reading everything I can about it, but I still have questions. Here goes...

Re: Timing chain guides -- What are the symptoms of a bad timing chain guide? Noise? When did the factory start installing the updated ones? Was it only on the '94's and later, or did maybe some late '93's get them? How tough a job is it? I've got the skills & tools, but no specific Infiniti experience? The only info I've found so far at the local library says "1. Disconnect negative battery cable. 2. Remove engine and transmission assembly". They're kidding, right?

Re: Anti-sway bars -- I saw some guys web page and he says he has a Q45a front bar and a Q45t rear bar. Somebody else has mentioned that the 'a' and the 't' have a rear bar that helps on the standard Q, but they don't differentiate between them or mention the front bar. Are the front bars actually different diameter, or should I not worry about the front and just look for a rear bar? Do the 'a' and the 't' use the same rear bar?

Re: Suspension noise -- My cars front end is squeaking pretty bad. It didn't do it when I got it 3 weeks ago, but it had just had an oil change so I'm guessing they greased the bushings at the time and it just needs to be done again. Is this a common problem? It's only got 130k on it.

Re: Stereo noise -- All my speakers seem to be working fine, as does the head unit and the antenna. However, the reception is crap, and I get static when I turn on my rear defroster or my mirror defroster. Common problem?

Re: Springs -- I've tried to locate a set of Eibach's, but the places I've checked so far tell me they're discontinued no longer in stock. Any idea where they can still be found?

Re: Shocks -- I've seen reference to Tokico 'blues' and 'blacks', and in one case 'blues' on the front and 'blacks' on the rear. Is there a difference? If so, why would you want to mix them on the same car?

I'm sure I'll come up with some more questions later, but the girlfriend is getting vocal. Thanks a bunch.

[elwesso]

Search buttom is at the very top rihgt hand side of yuor screen...

1. When was your 93 made??? Look at the build date on the sticker inside the drivers side door frame... You dont have to remove the enigne to do theguides.. Look at http://www.q45.org for more information regarding that... Theres no symptoms.... until the engine destroys itself..

I think that one could remove one of the upper timing covers and you cna tell if the guides have been replaced... not much labor involved.....

2. The standard Q came with a 29mm front bar... The touring and active models came with a 28mm front and a 16mm and 20mm rear bar respectively... Just get the rear sway bar from an active Q and youll be fine...

3. Most likely the upper links need replaced..... $100 each and easy labor (30 mins for both sides)

4. Interesting there is a TSB about that. see attached.

5. Eibachs springs have been discontinued.. however ive htought about doing another group by of california custom 2in drop springs like I have on my Q.

6. The "blacks" were what the car came with form the factory. The "blues" are about 15% stiffer.. Get the blues all around, youll love em.

[bmwkiller]

Yikes!!! That was fast. Thanks a bunch. Sorry about overlooking the 'search' button. Sensory overload ya know....too much new stuff to look at. Thanks again.

[elwesso]

Just out of curiousity, what BMW did you have before or have in conjunction with your Q?

[bmwkiller]

None, actually. It's my eBay user ID, and I just keep using the same ID for auto forums so I don't have to remember a bunch of different ones. Way back when I first got on eBay I had a 3 liter Alfa Romeo Milano, and my brother had a BMW pos. I signed up as BMWKiller and he signed up as ALFAKiller. It was a sibling rivalry thing.

[elwesso]

OH ok.. Well BMW killer is certainly an apporpriate thing to have on an infiniti board.....

I thought maybe you violated BMWs or something..... which woudl be much fun!

[maxnix]

Way back when I first got on eBay I had a 3 liter Alfa Romeo Milano.

Milanos were cool cars, and better than the 3 series of the same vintage. Especially the Green Quadrifoglios.

[ceningolmo]

1. When was your 93 made??? Look at the build date on the sticker inside the drivers side door frame... You dont have to remove the enigne to do theguides..

In fact, Wes, based on our experience, you don't even have to remove the radiator. Get the fan, fan shroud, belts and pulleys off and you are ready to go. There was plenty of room to work on the cover while the radiator was still in.

[Rex]

There's a thread somewhere that discusses using a "scope" of some sort to see down inside the front of the engine without clearing a line of sight.

Also, some investigation with your local Infiniti dealer may turn up some news, but if the records are old enough, you'd have to find out what dealer serviced it last to see if they have the records.

[RobertsnewQ]

7/92 according to Joe.

[Rex]

7/92 according to Joe.

Very good information, but if I had a 93, I'd still be nervous .

[bmwkiller]

So was there ever a point when the dealers realized this timing chain guide problem and started pushing replacement, or was it just up to the owners to ask for the work to be done? I ask because the previous owner of my car had it maintained at the dealer, and even followed the schedule for 'severe duty' (or whatever its called). Very anal. If the dealer ever told him it had to be done, he would have done it. My nearest dealer is about 40 min. away, and I work weird hours, so running over to see if they can pull up a service history is kind of a pain.Thanks

[Raxephon]

My nearest dealer is about 40 min. away, and I work weird hours, so running over to see if they can pull up a service history is kind of a pain.Thanks

Call 'em.

Thats what I did.

It took the service manager about 5 minutes to get the information.