T3 Automotive

[mjr569]

I have a 1991 Q45 with 141,000 miles on it. With the exception of specialty work (interior, sound system, tires. etc.), all the work on the car was done by two of the three Infiniti dealers in the Washington, D.C. metro area. I am not a do-it-yourself technician.

I have been a user of this and predecessor forums for a while and knew of T3. I finally took my Q45 to Smyrna, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta, for a checkup last week.

I found T3 to be a great shop. They seem to be experts on the Q45 and offer much better than dealer prices. They offer the best value I have found for Q45 work. I had all the fluids changed out, replaced the plenum hoses, knock sensor, had a valve cover resealed, added an anti-sway bar to the rear, an aftermarket external transmission cooler, an after market transmission control unit, and a few other things.

T3 found at least two parts that had been altered or improperly installed by the dealer, a value cover and an air conditioning pulley assembly.

Many thanks to Byron, who worked for more than two days on my car, Doug, the service manager, who went out of his way to make sure I got what I needed, and Dennis, who came by when he heard a NICO member was coming, tested my car, and let me test drive his special Q45.

Every Q45 deserves a trip to T3 Automotive.

Thank you.

Mitch

[Q451990]

Sounds like my visits to T3. It's a great place! I guess your timing chain guides have already been replaced, or did you have those done too?

Heath

[96Qowner]

Ditto!

I just got back from a trip to Atlanta and left my car with T3 for two days. They did a full underplenum hose job, knock sensors and harness, spark plugs, both valve cover gaskets, rail flush, flushed transmission, brakes, oil, and differential, and a few little niggly things like a couple bulbs, for $2100.

Doug was a real pleasure to deal with, Byron clearly is one of the most experienced Q techs in the business, and Dennis is of course a fountain of knowledge from all his tinkering and studying.

mrj569 forgot to mention Amber, from Enterprise, a delightful young woman who, along with Doug, made the rental car pickup and return a smooth efficient experience.

The shop specializes in Infiniti and Lexus with 250 regular customers. I couldn't have asked for a better all-around job. I can recommend them with full confidance.

[Q451990]

For the full experience you should stay at the MicroTel next door. My room came complete with some dried apricots and Lindlemans red wine (half a bottle left) in a dresser drawer for me from the previous guest. I stayed for two nights while I was there, with no rental car. I guess that makes me a car geek - a two day all expense paid (by me) car maintenence trip! Something tells me Byron was happy to see "Q2" heading out so there would be one less pair of eyes watching him work - but he and Doug were great about letting me observe as much as I wanted.

Heath

[Q45tech]

I constantly remind them that there are few shops in the US where people will drive a 15 year old car 1,000+ miles for specialty services. One year [2001] we had over 50 out of staters..........now maybe 10-12 per year.

It blows the dealers away [they hear from the parts delivery people], we rub it in every chance we get.

Wish we could get that with Lexus but different types of owners.

[Jeff Williams]

Dennis, I have a meeting in Buckhead April 12 through the 15th. I would like to drive Lola, and have T3 do a once-over, to see why she is so sluggish. I have done little to her, since I got her. Sparkplugs and TB cleaning only on the engine, and struts, boots, upper links, alignment, wheels, & tires on the suspension.

She drives fine, and gets about 19 MPG, but doesn't have much pep off the line. I found a reference to the knock sensor code in an old servcie ticket, but could not tell if they had been replaced or not.

I will be returning May 9th through the 11th, if April is not good for them.

Can you send me the phone numbers & contact information?

Thanks.

[maxnix]

T-3 Automotive Ltd.5322 S. Cobb Dr.Atlanta, GA 30080(404) 794-7700

[Q45tech]

Set something up with Doug, I have time [to visit T3] on the April 13 or 14 between 11am - 2/3pm. Tight schedules.

Start with having the initial timing advance checked 15-16 BTDC? [stretched chains lowers advance as set from factory]

[Jeff Williams]

Thanks, Dennis. I talked to Doug, and will drop the car off the morning of the 12th.

I have t obe in my meetings, starting at 12:00. I do not have an iteneary of the 3 days, but I will be finishing up about 1:00 PM, on the 14th. Depending on when I get out of the meeting, maybe I can buy you lunch.

I will probably leave the car there, until the 14th, if Doug will let me.

shoot me an email. The hotel will have high speed access, so I will be getting email while I am there.

I would love to see your Q, and get your opinion of mine.

[Q45tech]

My Q is getting long in the tooth with 280k..[idle compression].......needs a steam cleaning and a paint job. The drivers seat is about to crack........it will make it to 300k however. Been 55k since major rehab was done......other than plugs shocks, brakes, upper links and tension rods.

It is Getting stressed out now with my 3,000 miles per month.

[Q45denver]

What are you looking at to replace it? So far my 1995 Q45t with 74K miles has been problem free (except for some minor electrical issues that I haven't bothered to fix) and drives like a new car. I still have my 1990 which is probably a more fun car to drive but it spends most of the time in the shop and is on it third engine. I don't think there is a better used car value than a low mile 1994 or 1995. I know the blocks are the same but do the 1994's on up have problems with the rod bearings like the earlier ones seem to? Also is there some way to set up the TCS so that it stays off unless turned on manually?

[Q45tech]

"I know the blocks are the same but do the 1994's on up have problems with the rod bearings like the earlier ones seem to? "

Didn't know the 90-93 had rod bearing problems? Not from our 15 years of experience.........unless the oil is not changed every 90 days as required!

Maybe you unluckily go some no oil change engines?

We see [have seen multidozens [probably 40] of engine failures in the last 10 years and only 1 [a 96Q] was from main or rod bearing failures. The chain guides usually take them out FIRST or hydrolocking [gas or water].

I keep hearing stories of the rods failing but we nor any ATL dealer I spoke with has seen it.............we hear rod knock ocassionally on a few 200k+ ones but it is far from terminal.

Buying used domestics [without internal inspection] is a sure way to get a bad engine.

We are changing our first [ever] Lexus LS400 engine this week.......bad oil change habits on a 95............unlike our very frequent ES-V6, SC300 I6 replacements [which cost $1500]. We paid $500 for a low mile JDM Lexus V8 [no market for this engine]..........YET.............almost buy one get one free.

My idle oil pressure is still on ragged edge of minimum at 281k and 15 years so there is still some main bearing [had it 7200 rpm the other day and the rods didn't fly out so still some rod bearing material] left.

[elwesso]

Good to hear your still running the Q hard.....! not many cars can boast 7200 RPM on 281k!!!

When the engine goes, are you going to put a new engine in or get another infiniti

Hopefully id like to stop in during the atlanta national meet in september, nice to know the car is well known at the shop!

[Jeff Williams]

Lola is at T3. Amidst a sea of Q45's, J30's and Lexuses.

I met Doug and Byron. 2 great guys.

She is in able hands.

[elwesso]

No dennis?

[Jeff Williams]

He came by before I got there. He said he might have time tomorrow afternoon, or Thursday afternoon.

[Rex]

Ditto!

I just got back from a trip to Atlanta and left my car with T3 for two days. They did a full underplenum hose job, knock sensors and harness, spark plugs, both valve cover gaskets, rail flush, flushed transmission, brakes, oil, and differential, and a few little niggly things like a couple bulbs, for $2100.

Doug was a real pleasure to deal with, Byron clearly is one of the most experienced Q techs in the business, and Dennis is of course a fountain of knowledge from all his tinkering and studying.

mrj569 forgot to mention Amber, from Enterprise, a delightful young woman who, along with Doug, made the rental car pickup and return a smooth efficient experience.

The shop specializes in Infiniti and Lexus with 250 regular customers. I couldn't have asked for a better all-around job. I can recommend them with full confidance.

I know this is an old post but was that with you bringing your own parts?

[96Qowner]

Nope, I called them about a week in advance so they could get the parts ordered and keep the 2 days open for me.

Well worth the hassle of getting it done out of town. If anyone has any reason to go to Atlanta, consider scheduling some Q repairs at T3 while you're there.

[Jeff Williams]

He came by before I got there. He said he might have time tomorrow afternoon, or Thursday afternoon.

When I went ot pick up Lola, Dennis was making a few WOT runs in her. He printed out the results. She is running SO MUCH BETTER!

He let me take his on a run. That thing is way strong!

If you live within 1500 miles of T 3, you definitely must take your Q there for service.

[vicQ45]

If anyone has any reason to go to Atlanta, consider scheduling some Q repairs at T3 while you're there.

I have one reason and one reason alone to go to atlanta...Go to T3 and get chain guides+everything else I can't fix on my own repaired by the best in the business.. I'll be going probably in June after I get back from scuba diving in belize! I'm looking forward to meeting Dennis and these great guys(who are quickly becoming my new role models btw) Just hope the Q lasts 2 more months as it is the only form of transportation i have.