Thinking of a 1999 Q45t????

[oif3bill]

ALOHA ALL!!

I have fallen in love with a black beauty. She is a 1999 Q45t in immaculant condition. Her ownder is a well to do business man and hardly ever drives her. She only has 40,000 miles and is always in the garage. She gets a bath once a week by hand and is pampered (as luxury cars owners are apt to do).

Heres my problem. I am somewhat of a mechanic, but mostly on American rides. I have no loyalty to American cars (except my 1961 T-Bird). My buddy at the Infiniti Dealership here...who is a mechanic, detests these cars. He says they ALL get engine problems and since mine is about 7 years old, it is due for its share of the problems. He is urging me (very strongly) not to buy the car.

Before I make a decision, I want to talk with people who have owned the car for a while and hear (see) what they have to say. Thanks for your time.

Cheers.

[maxnix]

How long has he been working on VH41DE?

A very reliable engine.

I wonder about him, not the engine.

[Falkdesigns]

Yeah really. Apparently he's the only person who sees "all" these problems with them. He probably detests them because they have so few problems, he's got nothing to do with his time.

Just buy the car, you wont' regret it.

[elwesso]

I agree... He always sees problems with them because it is his job to work on them.....

The VH nissan engine is very reliable, either in its 4.5L or 4.1L form... 40k is just barely broken in, trust us!!!

[duck3986]

I bought a '98Q four years ago and it had 62k miles and I can tell you my car was not well taken care of by the previous owner, but I got such a good deal on it that I bought it anyway.

I now have 107k on it and the only trouble I've had with the engine has been the knock sensors. It never burns any oil.

Make sure the transmission shifts well. I think the transmission is more of a concern than the engine in this car.

Good luck. I love mine!

[goblue1954]

Coincidentally, I just bought a 99 Q-45 T in Florida off E-bay today. A white beauty with 83,000 miles. Since I got it for $8,900 I did not get to test drive it first.

I owned a Q-45 2000 (essentially the same model) with 113,000 miles when purchased and could not recommend any used car more highly. It flies like a Mig fighter, and is incredibly comfortable. Buy your car if it costs under $17,000 at that low milege rate.

Consumer Reports gives the 99 Q-45 high marks across the board in all categories.

Now, I have a problem- I've just driven it home from the dealer, one hour away in Fort Lauderdale, and the transmission is sluggish at higher highway speeds. It takes about one-two seconds say at higher speeds to move, and the SLIP indicator comes in indicating traction problems (which are probably a result of lack of speed after shifting).

This could be a matter of cheap gas (the dealer probably did not use 93 octane which is essential), transmission fluid, the computer program, torque, anything. But if I need a new transmssion my great deal has gone away, as this can run $3,000 and up.

Anyone out there- can you offer any help? The car goes in the shop next week.
Modified by goblue1954 at 3:18 PM 2/3/2006

[elwesso]

Welcome to NICO Blue... I dont think that means your a colts fan, are you???

At any rate, there was a post sabout this in the past, i think by user tgvince or something like that..... I cant remember what it was, but i remember it was on like a 98 or 99 Q, which would be the same as yours.....

Check out the previous posts, or just start a new thread, and I/we will guide you thorugh it... provide us with maintenance history, fluid conditions, and so on.

[johngalt]

Welcome to the forum, and nice car. I wonder if it is the same one I was considering before I bought one locally - at any rate, I love mine, and and yours looks like mine - with the exception that you have the sunroof deflector already there! GL with the transmission diagnosis, and keep us posted! (Esp me as I don't seem to have significant transmission problems at this time, but I am going to post about something that I thought was simply a normal thing and might not be, but knowledge is power!)

[maxnix]

The first thing one does with a good car is change all fluids and add an ATF cooler.

[johngalt]

Well, I guess better late than never. I plan on doing jsut that within a couple of weeks as it is almost tmie for antoher oil change.

[maxnix]

Well, I guess better late than never. I plan on doing jsut that within a couple of weeks as it is almost tmie for antoher oil change.

Get the gasket, one time use screws, and screen filter from Joe now. B&M is available from Summit Racing. I used the 70264 model. Look in member's rides for pictures of it.