Timing chain questions

[bmwkiller]

What are the early indications of a timing chain guide problem? I've found lots of info on how & why to change them, but didn't see anything on symptoms.I'm asking because my '93 is making a little ticking noise, and I'm a little nervous. My '91 definitely has bad guides, so I know what they sound like when they're gone, but I got it that way so I don't know what they sound like in the beginning stages of failure. I'm clinging to hope based on a recent thread regarding metal backed guides stamped with the date '8-92'.

zerothread?id=96820

My build date is 9-92. Do we know, definitively, that the factory installed the newer style guides starting on or before 8-92? This noise I'm hearing is just a little ticking sound, and it seems to be coming from the right side of the motor in the front. Any suggestions on other things I should check before I tear down the front of the motor?Thanks

[PopPop]

Bad chains don't usually make a ticking sound. The sound you are hearing is most likely a hydraulic lifter noise or associated with your valve train components. You said the ticking was coming from the right side of the motor so, I'm guessing your talking about the drivers side. Have you had a recent oil change or have you recently switched oils? Also check your oil level because low oil levels will starve a high compression engine of lubrication which cause lifters to stick.

[nuQ]

someone will write in a definitely tell you the build date for the new guides,,,i cant remember. don't be fooled by people telling you that you can "hear" bad guides,,,sometimes you might be able to and sometimes you can't! DON'T ASSUME!!!!! when i bought my 90Q from a member here, the guides were not done. i told him i was getting them done as soon as i bought it (which i did). i know for a fact that he had just taken the Q to an infiniti dealership to have a tech, literally, put a stethiscope on the engine to listen to hear if the guides were ok. the tech said the engine sounded fine and the guides were definitely fine (the guy i bought it from was on the up-an-up!) anyway, i drove from his house directly to my mechanic to change the guides. the drivers side guide was in pieces resting in the oil pan (NOT JAMMED IN ANYTHING IMPORTANT THANK GOD). moral of the story,,,you can't tell, without looking, if the guides are intact and if you plan on having any history with your Q,,,,CHANGE THEM!!!

[bmwkiller]

You said the ticking was coming from the right side of the motor so, I'm guessing your talking about the drivers side.

Right side, as you sit in it....passenger side. It's due for an oil change pretty soon, so maybe that will help. Last I checked the level was fine. I guess I'll see if that solves anything.Thanks

[Q451990]

The only guide noise I've heard of is a sort of "fluttering" especially at start-up - but I don't think it's a reliable indicator. My Q1 had a "listen test" a few days before it cratered. The only reliable test is a visual inspection. To my knowledge the actual build date was never determined... only that the change-over probably took place in the 1993 model year.

Heath

[Rex]

An 07/92 build date has been tossed around, but I have seen nothing to validate it. I would say if yours is a 93 and you wish to know, there's 2 ways to know for sure. Look or wait and see if they waste your motor. Neither sounds fun .

[bmwkiller]

An 07/92 build date has been tossed around, but I have seen nothing to validate it.

I'll call the dealer, and maybe send an e'mail to Infiniti. Doesn't sound good for me though. Thanks for all the input everybody.

[bmwkiller]

I called my local dealer today (Infiniti of Fife, WA) and the guy I talked to said "I don't know, but hang on." He put me on hold for about 5 minutes, then comes back and says he talked to one of the service technicians who has been with Infiniti since the inception of the Infiniti brand. According to this tech, the timing chain guides were a problem up to the end of the '92 model year, but all '93 and later Q's were fitted with the metal guides.Getting very close to a definitive answer, though I'd really like to hear it direct from Infiniti to be sure. I sent a letter to their contact address on the web site, but who knows if I'll get anything back. So I guess the question now is, has anybody opened up their '93 and found the plastic guides?

[gniknave]

That's false. I remember when I worked at an Infiniti dealer we had a few 93's in for chain jobs after failure of plastic guides. Maybe he means towards the end of the 93 year build dates.

[Rex]

That's false. I remember when I worked at an Infiniti dealer we had a few 93's in for chain jobs after failure of plastic guides. Maybe he means towards the end of the 93 year build dates.

After I read your (bmwkiller) posts last night, I went in search, as I recall seeing/hearing about 93's with failed guides as well. I'm glad to know someone has some first had recollection to prevent the worse case.

I think the only way to really know is to take a look , beats the hell out of waiting to find out.

[dsagers]

Okay, been searching for info on this issue.

How do you check to see if the guides were changed, or if they came from the factory with the updated parts?

[maxnix]

Usually the only symptom the driver perceives is a failed and locked engine.

Camshaft timing chain guide replacement for the pre 1994 VH45DE is the epitome of preventative maintenace.
Modified by maxnix at 8:03 PM 4/24/2006

[96Qowner]

Have you seen this thread?

zerothread?id=164335

"Light blue-gray RTV around the timing cover & oilpan is likely factory.Red RTV would most likely indicate the cover was removed at one point."

But no one has found a definitive way of finding out if they've been replaced or not without removing covers, etc.

[maxnix]

I called my local dealer today (Infiniti of Fife, WA) and the guy I talked to said ... According to this tech, the timing chain guides were a problem up to the end of the '92 model year, but all '93 and later Q's were fitted with the metal guides.Getting very close to a definitive answer, though I'd really like to hear it direct from Infiniti to be sure.....So I guess the question now is, has anybody opened up their '93 and found the plastic guides?

Man, you really need to do some reading of the previous posts.

I am not sure if even Charlie Dietrich knows the answer to this question. If you don't know who he is, you need to learn more about Infiniti of Fife.

[dsagers]

Thanks

I tried the searchfeature, but it didn't produce these kinds of results. Just read many of the threads you guys pointed out, and the info is just what I wanted.

[Jesda]

My sealant is gray and has obvious unevenness and some excess RTV. The chain guides as well as the chain itself were replaced 7 years ago.

[redmanfx]

I seem to remember Aug 93 build dates and later Q's had the metal chain guides, but I have to research that as well.

red

[3Q Jay]

I seem to remember Aug 93 build dates and later Q's had the metal chain guides, but I have to research that as well.

red

good lord, i hope you mean Aug92 &up. i have a july93 build (1994m.y.). I thought i'd heard of late 93's (is there such a thing) being okay, and all '94's.

[maxnix]

All 1994, although there was a rumour of one haveing the old guides. Never substantiated.

[redmanfx]

If you have a 94 model year Q then you are good. So I guess it's best to say if you have a 93 model Q, then have it checked.

My 92Q was built 6/92 and it IS a 92 model Q, so that would be the last month for 92 model Q's. Q's with 7/92 build dates are usually 93 model Q's. If we take that, then 7/93 build date Q's and later should all have metal guides being 94 model Q's.

red

[elwesso]

we have seen 93s on here with metal guides. There was one i remember getting an email said his car was built 10/92 and it had the new guides, guides were stamped 10/92 as well.

[redmanfx]

However; to really freak you out, I'll use Rex's new 95 Q he just acquired. It's build date was 6/94 and it IS a 95 model Q, so go figure. That Q was built at the Tochigi factory in Japan and is longing for the redman to drive it.

Decoding a VIN.

heres an example VIN:JNKNG01C8ST000001

- The first 3 letters are the manufacturer. JNK - Japan - InfinitiJNR - Something else Japanese

- The fourth letter is the Engine Type.A - VG30D (J30) VK45DE (M45)B - KA24DE; SR20DEC - SR20DE (G20), VQ35DE (I35/G35), VQ30DE (I30)D - KA24DE; QG18DE, VQ35DEE - VE30DE; GA16DE F - KA24EH - VG30E (M30)M - KA24DE; VG33ERN - VH45DE (1990-1996 Q45) R - VG30DE (QX4)S - KA24E T - VG33E

- The 5th-6th characters are the Vehicle Line.G0 - 90-96 Q45 Y3 - 97-01 Q45F0 - 02-current Q45Y2 - J30 R0 - QX4V5 - G35 Coupe/SedanA3 - 00-01 I30 / 02-current I35A2 - 96-99 I30F1 - M30 Y4 - 03-current M45P0 - 91-96 G20 P1 - 99-02 G20

- The 7th character is the body type.1 - 4-door sedan (J30, Q45, G20, M45, I30)4 - 2-door coupe (M30, G35)6 - 2-door convertible (M30)

- The 8th character stands for miscellaneous information.A - Air BagsC - Air BagsD - Driver & Front Passsenger Air Bags.E - Full SRS Air Bag SystemP - Passive Restraint SystemY - 4 Wheel Drive

- The 9th character is a check digit, which is found using a complex mathematical complex.

- The 10th character is the Model Year.L - 1990M - 1991N - 1992P - 1993R - 1994S - 1995T - 1996V - 1997W - 1998X - 1999Y - 20001 - 20012 - 20023 - 20034 - 20045 - 2005and so on.

- The 11th character is the plant code.T - Tochigi (J30, 90-93 Q45) / Oppama (M30, G20)M - Tochigi (94-96 Q45, 94-00 G35, J30, M45, I30, and some more i think.)W - Kyushyu

- The rest is the serial number.

Also, this is what engine names mean.

example: VQ30DE

The first one or two letters are for naming. (VQ, VH, VG, etc.)

The number is the displacement in Liters. (30, 45, etc.)

The next letter is the valve train. D= DOHCIf there isnt a letter before the next set, its SOHCV = VVL + DOHC

The next, and in most cases, final, is the fuel delivery type. E - Multiport Fuel InjectionI - Throttle Body Fuel InjectionD - Direct Injection

The final letter is used for forced induction.T - Single TurboTT - Twin TurboTR - Oversized TurboTTR - Oversized Twin TurboR - Supercharger

Peace, love and hairgrease!red

[dsagers]

Where do ya find the Q45 cars with the TTR or R options!!

[maxnix]

However; to really freak you out, I'll use Rex's new 95 Q he just acquired. It's build date was 6/94 and it IS a 95 model Q, so go figure. That Q was built at the Tochigi factory in Japan and is longing for the redman to drive it.

I am not freaked out. Did I miss your point?

[redmanfx]

No. I'm just playing around being stupid because I'm bored.

red