Edmunds.com | Inside Line | Auto Observer Your Account | Help | Directory
You are here:
![[F]](http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com/media/townhall/webxicons/site.gif){kind=small}
Forums
Maintenance & Repair Maintenance & Repair - Archived Discussions Q45 Troubles 
135 messages, Last post on Jul 28, 2001 at 10:10 AM
You are in the Maintenance & Repair - Archived Discussions Forum. Your Host is mr_shiftright
This discussion is ARCHIVED. To reactivate the discussion, post a request in the Lost? Ask the M&R Host for directions! discussion.
|
|
|---|---|
| I am thinking of buying a 95 Q45. I hear to stay away from the models with traction control. I believe it is the Q45A. Any advice on this, for a Q45 buyer.... | |
|
I have a 91 Q45 and I had the same problem where the engine was running hotter than normal especially on a warm day, and the air conditioner did not seem as cold. I didn't have any puddles or other indications except for some residue under the hood. Took it to dealer and they gave me some lame excuse about a hose clamp needed to be replaced to the tune of $135. Took it to my mechanic, he told me to have the radiator bored out. I had never had that done before so I bored it out and it made a HUGE difference. Everything is back to normal on the heating end. Several years ago I had the water pump replace on this vehicle but this problem was obvious when you shut the engine off you get a leak big enough to puddle under the car. Dealers are rip offs I have all my work done by local mechanic. He charges less than half than the dealer and does a much better job. My problem now is that my rack is leaking so I have to replace the entire rack. Dealer charge 1700, my mechanic wants $800. I'm worried other things might go like fuel injectors, tranny etc. Thinking about getting rid of it. How many miles do have on your Q and have you had any other problems? |
|
|
|
|
The Q 45s are great cars, I love 'em, but they do have their quirks. The engines are difficult to work on and consequently expense to fix and that's just the way it is,so you have to live with it...you've got a very powerful and hi-tech V-8 under the hood. The timing belt replacement is the real killer. I don't think it's the traction control that you need fret over, but rather there was a special suspension option..some kind of adjustable setup that is quite troublesome. Last of all, the transmissions were weak, but apparently none of you have had problems, which is great...maybe these were corrected earlier. |
|
| I own a 1991 Infiniti Q45, can anyone suggest a good mechanic in San Jose, CA. who specializes in fixing Infiniti cars. Thanks | |
|
Dyan.... I hope you did not buy that Q45a which has the fully active suspension (FAS). I took my Q in to the dealer at 32,000 miles which was after the warrantee period and was told the FAS needed repair to the tune of $10,000. I was told to call Infiniti Corp in CA. They initially offered to pay half but withdrew the offer WITHIN minutes because I told them that a major failure to a first of its kind system, at 32,000 miles, should be fully paid for by Infiniti....Partically since the $10,000 repair would only be guarenteed for one year. $10,000 EVERY 32,000 MILES is TOO high a price to expect a customer to pay. As you can see these great cars are backed by a company that drops their customers after the pampered 4 year warrentee period is over. I would expect that from GM or Ford, but not a so called Japanese luxury car maker. |
|
|
I have always liked the Q45, especially the 94 - 96 models and am looking to buy a used model. But, while reliability in general looks good, the costs of repairs when they do come up look shocking. $900 driveshafts? Yikes! Just how reliable is the car or am I seeing exceptional stories here, and many others are having little trouble? While the Q45 is not perfect for me (rather larger and opulent), I am continually attracted to the potent V-8, rear wheel drive (tired of front drive), appearance, and better than expected handling for a two ton car. Factor in the super low used car prices, and the thing is hard to ignore. Lastly, in mixed highway/city driving, what kind of mileage. I know premium is required. - Phil |
|
| The best used buy in this class is the Lexus LS400; while not all Qs are that trouble-some, they have had lots of suspension problems, brake problems, and electical glitches. I know the LS and the Q appeal to different tastes, but...there is a very good reason while the resale value of a Q45 looks like the side of a cliff. And yes, none of the cars in this class are inexpensive to repair. (Probably best overall from a reliability and low mtc standpoint is the Acura RL, but it doesn't get the respect it deserves in the enthusiast community because of front drive and alleged "lack of character"...uh...OK...whatever...) | |
|
Depreciation of the luxury car like Q-45 or Continental is not because of the reach people that dumping them for pennies in volume, but because of expecting repairs whether real or very probable |
|
|
I have a 1997.5 Q45. At 48,000 miles I noticed a slight hesitancy in the transmission shifting into over drive when cold. The dealer said he would check it out. When I called back that afternoon to check out the progress, the dealer had already remove the entire transmission at the factory reps request and had ordered a new transmission. Sounds good, but after owning 23 cars in my lifetime, this is the first time I even needed transmission repair. This car has had so many parts replaced in the first 48,000 miles of use that I don't think I can afford to keep it after the warranty expires. Window regulators, seat motors(2X), lumbar adjuster,and the list goes on. This air filter replacement that it seems to need every other service interval ($150) is ridiculous. I think the only way to own this car is to experience the excellent service while in warranty and then dump the car and take a beating on the horrible resale. |
|
|
It was a love hate affair. I really loved my Q. I pampered it like no other car. Bought it with 51K miles on it and immediately, under warranty, replaced the sun roof switch, side seat molding, ashtray, cruise control, a 1k miles later water pump went out, then as time went on multiple problems continued. Luckily I bought an extended warranty for 7 years 100k miles. The next 40k miles saw them replace window regulators, power steering hoses (5). Injector went out with the coil. Then the entire Air conditioning compressor blew. The suspension needed replacing and of course the brakes were replaced about every 12-15k miles. Freeze plugs were replaced, radiator started overheating (cored it out)The list goes on and on. All said and done between warranty repairs and my out of pocket repairs, more than 12k was spent. But the worse part was with only 114K miles on it, the rack needed replacing to the tune of 1.2k, another power steering hose started leaking, and the transmission was going quick. Transmission according to Infiniti should never be rebuilt because not reliable, so the cost on tranny 5k. I finally traded it for an Audi a6. I only got 6k for it in perfect body condition. I considered myself lucky. Unfortunately I loved the handling and quickness of the Q. That is why I kept repairing it hoping that the problems would eventually go away. But it just got worse. Anyone else have a similar experience with their Q45. |
|
You are here:
Forums
Maintenance & Repair Maintenance & Repair - Archived Discussions Q45 Troubles
New? Join Now!
Forum Tools
Search Forums
Browse by Vehicle
Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
Today's Chats
