Very Very Loud Squeeking Noise

[slybydesignq45t]

Good day.

Since I have purchased my Q I have noticed a series of things I'd like to address. One of which does not effect the drive ability of the car but is extremely annoying.

When the car is driving I can hear a very very loud squeaking noise coming from the Struts of the passenger side of the car. I took it to a Tech who advised me to buy WD40 and spray my bushings with it. I did, but nothing. I put a good amount on both Top and lower bushings. Heres what confuses me, the noise if coming more from the upper part of the struts in the hood and not from the lower part where bushings would be. The bushings do need replacing, but the tech said this would not cause the noise.

The car handles almost great. No major bounce which was tested, everything seems fine except for noise. It only happens when entering or execting the car and when I drive over bumps and such. It does not happen when I am parked and just turn left or right. Any advice would be great.

Heres the other thing. I have a series of repairs in order of drive ability so I did not want to put this first, but the noise is so loud people turn around and look and then they see a clean *** nice car. ......LOLOLOLOL

[maxnix]

You need to complete your profile!

We have no idea what model or year you have.

You also need to post a maintenance history when you ask about malfunctions

Although the moderators are very lax now about forum post topic discipline, please read the sticky in IOM on how to post these types of questions.

[sdkhalsa]

I would check to make sure that what you are hearing is not one of the belt pulleys which are located not too far from the front suspension. These start to go at about 100K or so. Also, you might want to look at the bushings on the front radial arms, and upper links.

[slybydesignq45t]

Thanks max about the profile. If you can point me in the right direction on profile up date.

Its a 1994 Q45T - 162,000 - Purchased 3 weeks ago -

Things I've done so far all belts and tensioner pully changed. New Air Filter and MAF and connectors Cleaned.

The squeaking noise is coming specifically from the wheel base it self. Specifically from the upper area where the strut bolt to car.

[qship96]

Could be upper links, upper shock mounts and insulator/bushing

[maxnix]

Yes, you still have a way to go. Get all fluids to new, preferably synthetic, but at least fresh.

Your suspension will be next to address.
Modified by maxnix at 4:51 PM 6/16/2008

[slybydesignq45t]

Ok so I did some work myself this weekend and found out the dangerous problem. It was a loose bolt at the bottom of the car. After turning the wheel towards the curve to spray WD40 of the bushings, I took a flash light and studied the set up. I don't know how this happen, and I know it was like this when I purchased it, but a bolt was loose and was making that nasty squeaking noise. I took my time and some tools and fixed it.

It must have been a very important bolt, because the car drives and handles 40% better. I also changed to the Syliva Bright Whites in the front, looks nice. Next on my list is the fuel pump. The engine oil was changed about a week before I purchased but I will do it after fuel pump and smog. Reg is up next month and will be spending the $575 my tech is charging me to do the Fuel Pump and Fuel Filter.

I'm sure I will be back with questions and thanks for the help guys.

[maxnix]

Do the fuel pump and filter yourself. Plenty of good posts in IOM.

[slybydesignq45t]

Thanks, I was wondering if I could do it myself, but I don't have a way to test pressure or anything. But I will do the search, it be nice to purchase fuel pump for $230 shipped instead of the quote I'm getting.

[maxnix]

Dont 'forget the O ring also and don't mix them up when you are doing the job.

The mother link to the fuel pump post was posted recently.

[slybydesignq45t]

Sweet, this is something I will be doing next week. I made this priority because of needing to get her smogged. I don't know if a faulty Fuel Pump will fail smog but I do hear the bee sound in the trunk when I turn off the car. I also have ruff idle when the light takes longer then 20 seconds to change. I also need to change the bushings so I figured and am praying I can get my tech to do all three at once seeing as I don't have the tools to do the bushings my self.

[maxnix]

Don't forget you have

http://www.jerrytucker.net

[slybydesignq45t]

i

Don't forget you have

http://www.jerrytucker.net

Thanks he's here in San Diego, if his price beats my tech then I may go with him.

[maxnix]

I imagine he will beat your tech's knowledge by a large degree.

Lowest price is not always best.

[slybydesignq45t]

Ok, thanks for the lead, I actually just called them and spoke to Brian. He said gave me a slightly higher quote then my tech, but it may be worth paying extra because he specializes in Imports. I will schedule a visit first thing next week Monday for Friday service. I hope this car and fuel pump will last till then.

He said he has a tool to test each injector which I may have them do, even though I don't think I am getting a misfire. I am really concerned about the bushings and the Fuel pump for now. But if there is a misfire I will address it after I smog and reg the car.

[maxnix]

It's more than that. Jerry was a Senior Infiniti Technician.

[slybydesignq45t]

Even better. I learned with cars not to cut corners. I will keep ya'll posted.

[maxnix]

You can read testimonials here. For your work, you may not need that level of expertise. But if something else is going because of your problem, you will appreciate it.

[ddrumman]

You're so lucky to be so close to Jerry's. I wish I were that close. Brian has taken over and he knows those cars.

[StarPD]

Note:While you're at Jerry Tucker's, have them inspect the entire vehicle, and spend the extra money and have ALL fluids FLUSHED: trans, cooling system, brake system, steering system, change differential lube to a GOOD synthetic. Change oil to a premium synthetic like Mobil 1 Extended Performance and premium oil filter. Have Brian check ALL hoses, replace any suspect ones. Have entire fuel system cleaned completely. Have wheel alignment checked and wheels balanced, set tire pressures around 3-4 lbs over sticker. Have brakes checked. This is NOT going to be cheap, but will extend the life of your car immensely, and will save you BIG bucks on future repairs. My guess for all this, not including any repairs, is around $1,000, a good investment.

Good luck. You bought one of the best cars in the business. Now take good care of it and enjoy it for many years.

[Q45tech]

Remember for the past 5 years all 90-96 Q we've examined as prebuys needed at least $3,000 to get back near as new functioning.

Every car needed shocks and suspension components, valve cover reseals, plugs, and under plenum hoses, 70% needed knock sensors, 80% had weak AC and transmissions showing their age.

[slybydesignq45t]

QTech, its funny your mentioning this.

Besides the work I have performed so far. I am notice more things. I realized that the buzzing sound in trunk was not my fuel pump but it was my Antenna not contracting. I got out the car this morning and felt and listened and its the antenna.

This is actually not a good thing, because what I suspect to be the cause of the intermittent shake on long idles is the transmission. It could be mounts, but I am not sure. The car has plenty of power and moves fine, but I have notice that in reverse I feel a slight clunk coming from the front. Its happened twice. This is the same clunk I feel when in idle. As stated if I put it in park the clunk wont happen.

I originally and was hoping it was the fuel pump but that buzzing noise was actually the antenna not contracting, as I never use the radio and never thought to look this morning. I will start another post about the transmission.

[unknown007]

Brakes?

[maxnix]

Antenna should not activate unless radio is on.

[slybydesignq45t]

Antenna should not activate unless radio is on.

Correct, when my CD player went, (the day i got the car) all I was using was the radio, so when ever I entered or exited the car I'd hear the buzzing noise. At some point I noticed the antenna wasn't moving down, so I manually pushed it down. Once I hooked up an MP3-tape player I realized that that sound was coming from the antenna because the sound went away once I used the MP3-Tape player. It happened when I switched back to radio then the buzzing noise came back, I quickly got out the car and felt it was the antenna, trust me it was a relief. I am still taking the car to Brian for the front bushings, which now the front noise is back do to the fact that WD-40 spraying helps but only for a day or to and the bushings really needs attention. I am I will have him run pressure test on the fuel pump, and then on my injectors. Seeing as I just had the belts changed I will have them make sure they where done right and are at its correct tightening level as well. So next week Friday will be some what of a learning lesson.

[slybydesignq45t]

Ok, I couldn't take the loud noise anymore. I took my car to my mechanic because it was on my way and he looked at it with me. The noise turned out to be a very dry upper strut area. He took some stuff and in two sprays the noise is 100% gone. He said there was no need to change the the cracked bushing, because it was still in use and not totally gone, and he said it wasn't the thing making the noise. He also informed me that they don't just sell the control arm bushing, but I needed to purchase the entire are, he gave me an estimate of about $250 this includes labor.

I've been working with this guy for over 5 years and threw 4 cars, this being my 4th. 2 of which I sold, one I got into an accident and the 4th being the Q45T.

[maxnix]

So I take it your shock gaiters and bump stops are shot? Whatever it is, I guarantee any spray can only treat the symptoms and not the cause.

Is the "control arm" the upper lilnks? If so, and the bushings are shot, or even just worn enough to fail the FSM test, they need to be replaced. Rapid tire wear is only one result.

Best get to Jerry and get an overall assessment so you really know where you are with the car from someone who knows it.

You can do upperlinks yourself. Just need to be able to torque to 100 ft. lbs.

[slybydesignq45t]

Thanks Max. I do look forward to taking the car to Jerry's. I have resolved a decent amount of issues by coming here. I have only owned this car for a month and appreciate what Infiniti has designed in the Q45. I have always been a fan of big smooth cars, but oddly enough not Cadillacs so much. This car has made me some what interested in other foreign car's besides Mercedes.

I will say this, I really do like the quality and design that goes into a Mercedes, but its sad that certain parts fail faster then normal and for some reason these parts are of a safety concern. I don't think all cars are build the same. Some times you may find a lemon, (which I went through in my first dealer purchased car) to finding a gem (my first privately purchased car, $500 bucks and lasted 1.5 years with 0 issues.)

The Q45T hands down has been the one car that is as closest to my personality then any other car I've owned. The Mercedes E320 was a great car, and I enjoyed every little driving moment in her, but I never felt like the car said ME. Sadly she is the one I crashed or I might have kept her.

I know this Q45T will not be my last car purchase and I will enjoy her as long as she is in my possession. I wash her once a week and have clayed bar her, and put a two stage wax job on her. (I detail high end cars on the weekends so its minimal cost to me).

Unfortunately I have never taken a liken to the newer 03-06 Q45's. Its just me. They are sweet, but looks way to close to a Nissan Altima (no disrespect). So if I was to stick with the Infiniti brand in the future I would look more towards the M45 which is more in place with who I am. Sorry that was long, but as a car guy, I always look forward to the Car Experience.

[maxnix]

I have 3 Q45 to detail and Zaino. Might even be worth a trip to SD.

[slybydesignq45t]

Well, if you did make you'd enjoy being out here, its really nice weather. By the way, I went to get gas yesterday, something like 3 hours after I posted this. As I was filling up a business man walked up to me and asked, "What year is this". I said, "Its a 1994" His eyes opened really wide, and he said "Wow, it looks like you just got it off the show room floor, he complimented me on its condition. Only if he saw here the day of purchase.

I have never used Zaino, I tend to stick with Maguires products, because they are not harsh on aged material and tends to do a great job if you have time to do a 2 or 4 stage detailing. I tend to clay bar, wax, polish, wax and if needed as as my last car did, I would do wet sanding as well.