Woohoo, Going To Nissan Dealer!!

[elwesso]

Called up the nissan dealer, and they use the bilstein flush system... :fruit They are also free all of next week so i can walk in at my convenience.... :fruit :fruit They also will hook it up to a consult for me!!

ITs gonna cost about $125 for the engine flush, not bad at all IMO considering whats happening....

Now, what I need to know is, what should I have them do on the consult while im there... I dont know how the consult works, so I assume once you plug it in and turn it on it does a quick diagnosis....

IS there any specific things I should have done... I was thinking power balance test, is there anyhting else???

[PalmerWMD]

On consult:

make sure the engine is fully warmed up when they do it.be sure to keep all the print outs.

Fred...: )

[elwesso]

Are there any specific tests taht should be done, besides power balance...

[SOCAL91Q45a]

Difference between CONSULT and a prof grade OBD I scanner? Or are they the same? Im more familiar with OBD II Stuff - forgive my ignorance

[Q451990]

Power balance is the big one. With OBDI Consult, if you have a major issue (e.g. Knock Sensors) it won't let you get past that to the next one. I'd have them check all engine parameters, O2 sensors, etc. Like Fred said - get printouts of everything! Post that information and we'll help with the interpretation.

Heath

[elwesso]

Do you think that if I took in my FSM they would let me go crazy with it, IE while they are doing the engine flush or something???? Or are dealers stingy about that kind of stuff.

[maxnix]

Can't run the engine while it is being flushed. Be sure to count your fingers and limbs after you ask a dealer or a technician to borrow some of his tools.

[AZhitman]

Has nothing to do with borrowing tools.

You can't even be in the service area. It's a liability thing. Shop foreman could lose his job.

[elwesso]

Just wanna verify.....

There is virtually no danger of me messing up my engine by doing this flush... Id really like to hear from dennis about this.......

[AZhitman]

No worse than it already is.

[elwesso]

Thats all I can ask for.... I just dont want to pull out of the garage and have it throw a rod because something bad happened.... It doesnt smoke or anyhting so its all good.....

Im gonna run durablend 5w30 for the next oil change, and then its to synpower 5w40 or M1 0w40!!!

[HeavyDuty]

A consult allows (among many other things) you to change the input to various sensors while the car is running. For instance, if you suspect an AACV/IACV problem, you can change the input voltage to that sensor through the consult as though the ECU was doing it. If neither low nor high end of the range it operates changes the way it runs, then the sensor if definately bad or is not receiving the signal from the ECU as it should.

If you suspect a gauge is not functioning (ie: temp gauge in dash reads hot but the fans aren't coming on) you can read the actual temp via the temp sensor that reports to the ecu & not the gauge. Then for an additional step, you can turn the fans on at a lower temp to verify they're working properly.

A Consult is an invaluable tool in certain instances to avoid 'throwing parts' at a problem until it goes away. A scanner is just that, it reads what the ECU has noticed is wrong, but doesn't do much in the way of assisting you rectify the problem, but rather the symptom.

[SOCAL91Q45a]

Are these CONSULT's specific to infiniti's an OBD I

Edit - OOPS ... Thanks Heavy D

[BadQ45t]

I've done the Bilstein thing to 3 cars, my wife's Galant, my Z and my old Maxima. Never a seconds problem with any of them. The Maxima and Galant ran MUCH better after the flush. The Z didn't make as much difference, but i have babied that car since I bought it in 84' so I didn't expect that it would.

In any case this is a well-tested system so there isn't any chance (that I've ever heard of) that it could screw up anything. I will not FIX anything, but it will clean out a ****load of crap.

[elwesso]

Thats all im looking for...

Have my appt scheduled for tomorrow afternoon (3)..... I still dont know if I should go for the consult, its an extra 65..... I suppose I might as well while im there...

[Q451990]

You should definately get the Consult... there's something drastically wrong with your MPG numbers.

Heath

EDIT: Fixed it... I just got electricity back after 7 hours. My house was 53*F so my fingers aren't working at full speed yet!

[Rex]

MPG, that is

[elwesso]

Thanks for clearing that up... Ill have them do the consult on it too!!!

I should have results for you by this time tomorrow!!!

[nuQ]

are the consults foolproof??????? as some of you may know, i had my Q in for a consult about a month ago, figuring something would show with my 40-60 mph "hick-up"------KS i thought!). the tech said everything looks "fine". questioned him on the readings, but he insisted everything checked out, including the power balance test. is it true that the KS'ers don't register a reading all the time??? didn't when i had mine done.planning on replacing them anyway, along with the O2 sensors and all the plenum hoses.jeff

[elwesso]

Like Ive said before, the KS can still read good enough to not throw a code but that doesnt meant their bad..

[nuQ]

i hope that's the case,,,,,i have bad mileage too in my Q! was trying to do the right the thing sat. night,,,,,filled up, drove about 60 miles to my sisters birthday party, being pretty steady on the gas. on the way home, crossed the nj/pa border when i saw tailights get right up behind me after the bridge. moved to the slow lane (2 lane highway), when a new maxima drove past. hit the gas and got right to the side and gave the driver a look and passed him. he tried to keep up but lost interest at about 120 mph!!!!! LOL tough beating a fellow brother down, but sometimes the Q has to put her foot down!!!!!! jeff

[maxnix]

Consults are always good. However, the technician interpreting the data may not be well versed in their proper use. That is why Q45tech recommends to always deal with a senior technician. A senior technician is one who participated in the original training for the G50 in 1989, and has been working on them ever since.__________________Brian1995 Q45 & Q45t & 2000 Q45

Discover the power of the button!

[elwesso]

Haha... Q ownes anything at highway speeds!!!

Jeff, just out of curiousity, what kind of driving do you do...? My driving is all city, many WOT, and some stop and go (not extreme, but somewhat..)... MIght help for comparisons sake....

[nuQ]

wes,, my Q is DEFINITLY not an everyday driver. i have a company vehicle that is used daily, and i keep my Q as my "pimp mobile"!!!LOL seriously, used for pure pleasure,,,,and impressing the ladies!!!! the CRAZY girl thought my 90Q was a 99 or 2000!!! never gets old hearing that. LOL i defintily hit the Q hard when i take it out. many WOT runs. i don't race it,,,but on sat. i REALLY was trying to keep a steady throttle,,,,,,just VERY hard with a Q!!!! sure you guys understand!!!LOL i've been trying for a while to get a baseline MPG with just highway speeds, thought it might happen sat.,,,,then that guy pushed me. LOL LOL

[elwesso]

All I can say is, I feel sorry for you for not getting to drive the Q every day.... Even at 12 mpg, nothing like driving a car that is 10+ years old and is STILL YEARS more advanced technilogically than 3/4 of cars on the road... ANd handles like a 3000lb car!!

[nuQ]

believe me wes,,,,after driving a ford turbo diesel van everyday,,,,i'm a NICO member that TRULY appreciates a Q45!!!!!

[elwesso]

Well.... My baby is gone.... At the nissan dealer.... She should be back in about 2 hours (5pm EST)... Ill post another thread about my results....

[Q45tech]

The problem with the Consult is it says ok but doesn't mean PERFECT, just ok enough to RUN with all sensors reading SOMETHING at crank and run.

A technican has to be an automotive engineer to read and interprete the sensor readings as the FSM gives very broad ok ranges. Most just say the Consult says everything is ok.

A few tenths of a volt can be disasterous in certain circumstances.

Tracking down MAF or CAS problems [not total failures] is very difficult even with the Consult.............you have to do lots of math to determine what is correct [perfect] .........with the CAS you need a digital storage scope to look at the pulses.

[elwesso]

Got her back!!!

I cant say I noticed much more cleanliness in the system, it looks a little better from what I could tell.... I am, however dissapointed that they didnt do the consult checkup like I asked..... I said to them DO THE POWER BALANCE TEST 3 times at least, and it didnt get done.... Apparently they must have thought i was an idiot (but their the idiots)... Oh well, I walked out of there only spending $87, and Ill get it checked up again on a nicer day....

The true test will be tomorrow morning to see if it helped with my oil light.....

[SOCAL91Q45a]

" I said to them DO THE POWER BALANCE TEST 3 times at least, and it didnt get done...."

Why we let service like that become expected or acceptable [your q is not still at the dealer and the mechanic is home having a cold one ..] is baffling to me. I for one am sick and tired of such nonsense. I know that in my business, Im held to a certain set of standards and if I dont perform I lose money, and or get litigated against. This sheeee it pisses me off.

BTW - never buy a whirlpool product! Just got off the phone with their warranty people - they are pathetic! 12.7 month old Duet Washing Machine [the best and most expensive one they build ...] has major driveline/belt and water sealing failure after normal usage. They provide the $120 part - I gotta pay the $250 labor to have it fixed cuz the unlimited warranty is up after 12 months.

We must quit accepting this kinda crap from Car Mfg'rs / Dealers and all mfg'rs. Does American Made stand for what Made in Japan used to in the 50s 60's 70's?????