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There are sites online where you can get parts for way cheaper than from any dealer, maybe even a slavage yard (unless you know the owner!). AutoGator.com does nothing but sell Nissan/Infiniti parts, not to mention Datsun if you have one. They would be a good place to start. There's others, I know.
How's your J doing? What have you "bolted on?" I'm adding a cd changer and a K&N filter soon.
I actually am in the process of seeing if I can get one of those navigation/DVD-player systems installed. I want it done a certain way so I'm being very thorough about searching for a good system and a good installer. I really want it for the movie capabilities, not the map sh*t. I mean, c'mon, the only places you'll really need it won't be represented anyway. I mean like obscure county roads way out where the DVD doesn't cover. I've been to those places. I'll stick to a fold-away map until those navigation systems have reliable satellite ability.
I'm also getting a friend's machinist father to custom make a metal fitting, to be chrome-plated, to put around my shifter gate. Neat, huh?
I also had two other quirks. First, the air unit that is really cold but I think it iced-up dramatically reducing output. Problem vanished after letting the car sit a short while... has anyone had troubles with ice ort debris clogging that drain line? Second, I thought I do a Dad favor and top the car up and get it washed. Well, it cut-out in the car wash and then would restart and cutout repeadedly over about 1 hour until that vanished. I wonder if my topping the tank up messed with the management system, Anyone have a similar problem. Thanks, Al
I would also like to invite anyone that is a member in here to join my(our) group on Yahoo. Its in the club section under Infinitiownergroup. We have something like 600 members!! Most of the guys like to talk about Q45's but there is a good core of J30 people. We also have several "techs" or people that work with Infiniti's for a living. It is absolutely wonderful to be able to get guidance from these people, its like your own mechanic 24-7!
Anywho (as another member states quite often!), it is great to see so many enthusiasts of this car, it is a cult classic. I think my fiancee is already sick of me going on and on about my car and the way I wash it every week (well honey, its black and black gets dirty. Not to mention my chrome wheels!). She is just pissed I don't wash her Altima as much! I look forward to reading more and more about our great cars and hope to see you in our Yahoo! group!
Jeff
jpalm@peoplepc.com
Tex, I have the touring wheels and have also thought of chroming them. How much does something like that run?
By the way, I'm back!
While the J30 is a great car that I believe to be way UNDERrated, a 93 is now really 9 years old (came out as 93 in fall/winter of 92). Not that there isn't some good 93's out there but most you'll find have very high mileage or have been neglected somehow. Even if you find a 93 with low mileage you would need to check all rubber parts (hoses, bushing, etc) and probably need to replace them.
I don't mean to push you away but I would go for a 96 or 97 which will most likely be a little more than you might be willing to spend. I have a 94 J30t with 132K on it and I've probably put $2500 into it over the past 2 years for preventive maintenance type things (brakes, rotors, timing belt, cleanings). If you do go for the earlier J then I would DEFINATELY get the VIN# run so you can see the total service history of the car. Make sure the timing was changed (in the 93, I think it was like every 60,000). After 93 they used a Kevlar type belt that was good for every 105K. Take the car to Nissan/Infiniti master tech, not the dealer, to have the car checked thouroughly. A couple hundred bucks now could save you thousands later!
As far as price and a loan, look on ebay, carmax, edmunds, autotrader.com and compare prices; don't rush in with your heart, use your head first! If you are a member of a credit union that is usually the best place to get a good interest rate on a used car. However, a 93 is probably too old to get a loan on, you would probably have to buy the car outright.
Best of Luck to you!! They are one of the most dependable and best driving cars on the road if well maintained and cared for. I feel mine rides better than most brand new cars!
I'd suggest you don't try to overextend yourself and buy an older car that is more luxurious and go with a economical small car that is cheap to maintain..i.e Honda Civic.
Sega, it's very, very possible to get a well-maintained, low-mileage (or even high-mileage) J30 for that range. But you probably cannot get it financed due to year. I happened to see an absolute pristine, 63K 1993 on Ebay. I don't know how much it went for. I have link to that auction somewhere in this forum. I happened to buy my J30 online and saved a ton.
Like LSC said, it IS a luxury car and they have higher maintenance needs than say, a Honda Civic. But if you have that in mind before you buy, you should be fine. I, too, suggest that you go for a '95 on up, unless you want the SuperHICAS 4-wheel steering that is available on the 1993-94 models. But if you can't afford it, go for a 1994. They put 2 extra speakers in the car and added heated seats.
Does anyone know what speed you have to be going to make the spoiler actually help keep the car on the road? I am just curious. I spoke to a dealer about the spoiler on the 2002 Q45, and he said at about 135 mph you could tell the difference, which is not a speed I'll ever reach. In other words, is the spoiler just for show, or does it make a difference at ordinary highway speeds? I have a 1997 gold J30t with only 42,000 miles on it, recently purchased. I couldn't be happier with the car.
Does anyone know what speed you have to be going to make the spoiler actually help keep the car on the road? I spoke to a dealer about the new Q45, and he said about 135 mph. I have a 1997 J30t with only 42,000 miles on it, recently purchased.
I know there is an adapter, but have been told there is a tendency for distortion in using it. I was told by circuit city that they would wire around the spkr amps and use the internal amp on the unit. However I don't think it will run at the 2 ohm impedance of the speakers. Sound Advice said the could custom build a high-low that should compensate.
Any ideas on the impedance w/ a standard head unit wired around the amps?
or
the distortion on the adapter
or
a high-low..I believe running both the internal and speaker amps????
Much appreciation to anyone who might help.
Personally, I'm ready to do this to mine, it is driving me nuts cause it comes on and goes off! I'm getting married in 3 weeks and can't spend the dough to get the service done right now!
Best of luck!
1. fry your electric wiring and are a fire hazard
2. are not legal (though its never enforced so..)
3. Don't put out the right amount of light and are therefore a safety hazard.
I think the J's lights work quite well and I'm happy with what are on them. Why mess with a good thing (my philosophy). I'm not into the "Fast and the furious" scene.
One other thing, I can't beleive that someone would spend $600-$800 (I think its actually costs more than that to do it) to put real HID's in their J. What a waste of money! For headlights!
Thats just my opinion, I could be wrong!
It doesn't bother me unless I am driving with the windows down or sunroof open, and the radio off. Then my singing brakes drive me bonkers.
i just got rid of my J30 and got a new Altima 3.5SE. I still miss my J30's super comfortable leather seats (the new car has cloth) and the automatic climate control but I sure don't miss the headaches of repairs and maintenance of the car.
I like stylish cars and both the J30 and the Altima has it in spades.
The front brakes make a loud thumping sound. The car has 93K miles on it and the problem started at 14K miles. I've had it in the dealer 6 times, and they have never found a fix for it. They've turned the rotors, lubricated the rotors, and they tell me the brakes are fine. Now they've just given up, and even the Infiniti website can't help. They tell me they have to respect the dealer's technician's opinion. The bottom line is they refuse to fix it even though the problem started well under the warrantee. Except for this problem, I've always liked the car, and I was considering buying a new Q, but now I'm looking at the competition, because I don't think Infiniti will back up it's product. I think they should have replaced everything until a solution was found.
We have an "InfinitiOwnersGroup" on Yahoo.com. We have over 1500 members and there are LOTS of people in there that are very educated and knowledgeable about all Infiniti's. A guy named Dennis in our group is more less and expert on Infiniti's (screen name: q45tech). Its worth a look!
Best of Luck!
Jeff
I'll try the yahoo site, and see if I can get some opinions. Thanks.
this is the best advice possible.
For example:
New car: say $300/month plus higher insurance rates
12x300= $3600 plus insurance, tag, etc. (always more on a new car)
Used car: Payment cheaper say $250, insurance generally cheaper (depending on car), tag cheaper, etc
250x12= $3000
For that $600 plus what you save in insurance, tags, etc. you should be able to keep your car in close to new shape.
Their is always exceptions, like major repairs, but generally keep things in good order and a car should last forever.
Best of luck!
MJ
As far as reliability is concerned these cars are very well made except for some electrical bugs.
The price seems right for such low mileage.
Good luck!
It has 94000 miles on it and I had the timing belt replaced at 61,500 miles. The dealer did it for $268.72 labor, $56.23 for the belt and $15.00 for anti-freeze. I believe the timing belts on the 94'-97' are good for over 100k miles, but then my 93' has four wheel steering derived from the Infiniti race cars, which was dropped after 93' or 94.
The other major work was for an air conditioner compressor at 72,418 miles which totaled $759.52, but the dealer picked up all but $246.32 because I had complained about it before 70k miles when the warantee expired. A headlight relay was also replaced. The most irritating problem has been the thumping brakes which Infiniti has refused to fix. The car was first taken to the dealer for this problem at 14k miles, and taken back at least 6 times for the same problem. It doesn't affect performance, it's just irritating, and frustrating because Infiniti will not stand behind their product and repair it.
That problem aside, I still love the car, and can't find anything at this point I would like to replace it with. My wife is going to buy a 2002 VW Passat, which is the only other car I had an immediate attachment with. My 93' still looks like a new car, and when I recently got a parking ticket, the officer wrote "2000? Infiniti" on the ticket. I think the repair costs were worth it.
1. Intermittently the brake light indicator will come on on the dash. Im guessing a wiring issue?
2. Just today the rear drivers side window began sticking, and now there is a loud grinding sound from the door panel.
3. I have 2 lights out a front side marker and a rear side bumper light. for the rear I'm assuming to replace I have to go in under the trunk liner, and for the side marker I really haven't looked.
4.The trunk release on the keyless entry box does not work. All other buttons do. Maybe it is just the box?
5. One last issue is the wet traction. The tire tread is adequate, certainly not poor. However I lose traction very easy on wet roads accelerating and in turns. I feel very uneasy about bringing this car back to NY with me in the winter.
Any suggestions on any or all of these issues would be much appreciated
2. My window is also sticking making a drumroll type sound. I'm told it is the regulator (can get for about $80). You will need to take the door panel off and replace it or you run the risk of burning the motor out (bigger bucks!)
3. You are correct on the tail lights, the front I believe just has a screw to loosen to get in?
4. Make sure you don't have the valet lock "on" inside the glove box. Commor oversight, simple solution....turn it off!
5. What kind of tires are you running, how many miles on them, are you inflating them to the proper psi? I run on Michelin MXV Energy Plus's with about 36-38psi.
Best of luck!
We offer ALOT of advice and tips. There are many "experts" on these cars and several owners of business's that work on Infinitis, parts dealers, etc. Members get 25% off Infiniti parts from 2 different members that work for dealers in AZ and IL! Over 1600 members can't be wrong!
http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/infinitiownersclub
Sorry for the shameless advertising, I wish I were getting paid for it!
you can reach them at 800 347 8667.
another option is http://carstereohelp.com/bose.htm
I decided to make the change because the J30t was just too expensive to maintain and the fuel injector issues, headlight relay, stereo fix, new front brake rotors, b-pllar plastic trim, occasional hard starting.. was a bit much for me to handle.
Granted I could fix this and any new problems, A/C compressor for example and it would still be cheaper than what I paid for this new car.
And even though the engine on this Altima is the best engine I've ever been behind, the overall package of the J30t was better. It was more comfortable, more cozy and the interior was way higher in quality. Rear wheel drive is much easier to control than FWD.
Those of you that still drive the J30 or J30t w/ minimal problems, I envy you. I wish I could have kept my car longer, but I couldn't deal w/ the headache.
I'll be enjoying my Altima for about 3-4 years, until I get the Infiniti G35 (if the car is worth the hype).
The only thing that I would be a little leary of is that it is the first year production for that style of Altima. The 2003 or 2004 may give Nissan time to work out any bugs. The only negative I've heard so far is on the interior, that it was cheap looking. I haven't been able to look at one in person yet so I can't substantiate that claim. Anyway, I love the car!
I would be SO much fun to drive a 3.5 5-speed. Like you though I may hold out for the G35 one day also! Hopefully I'll get a raise or something by the time they come out! I don't want to part with my J though, its a cult classic, and I want to keep it even if I get a new car.
Best of Luck with the Altima, give us some feedback as you break it in!