own a 92 Q45. Since I imagine some parts on Q45 will probably be the same as J30, I thought I may try to find the solution to my problem here. The one problem I'm trying to fix myself now is the trunk release. I read the repair manual but so far hasn't figured out what is wrong. When the trunk release switch is activated, I do hear a clicking noise from the release mechanism but the trunk does not open. I know it's not the fuses what can it be?
Do you have the part number for the relay? The numbers that is stamped on the part is 25230-10Y00 But I took the part into the dealership and the parts guy is telling me it should be 25230-10Y60 I also called another dealership with the same question and got the same numbers. The parts guy informed me that there is no refund for eletrical parts so I want to make sure which number is right. Also I got a quote of $44 from the first dealership and $40 from the second dealership. The price seems high compare to what's mentioned on this board. ($25~$30) Just for reference in case anybody else needs to replace these parts. 25540-10Y00 (turn signal switch with the stalk, $47) 25980-10Y01 (Dimmer switch for instrument panel and console, $66.73)
The prices for switches seem normally high, I found that out when I paid $60.00 for the seat warmer switch, the only thing wrong was the light blew out. But that bugged me so it was worth it.
If you get your parts straight from the dealer, any dealer, you're more than likely going to pay as much as they feel they can reasonably siphon off of you.
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.
Howdy All!! I have just over 74K on my 96 J and the tranny did some "strange shifting" two days this week (it's fine now). I checked the fluid (which is ok) and the AT light on the dash never flickered. Have any of you had the same situation? Should I have it serviced more often than every 30K? Thanks for you help.
The numbers that the parts guys told you are correct. The new relay ends in 60 because it is not mechanical, it is solid state (no moving parts to wear out). Click on my name and give me an email so that I can give you the discounted dealership's phone number (25% off of list and free shipping on smaller parts, edmunds.com won't let me post it)
I was going to follow your advice, but I bought her a used Mark VIII instead (which she already "crunched"). So I'm happy and she's GONE. I'm thinking of selling my Catera as well. How's your J doing? What have you "bolted on?" I'm adding a cd changer and a K&N filter soon.
Good for you, Tex! I'm glad everything worked out. I don't, however, feel very good about the Mark VIII; they're fine automobiles and don't deserve nearly such a fate! LOL
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?
Is chroming a word? Anyway Blue I was thinking of chroming my stock wheels. I've seen a black J with them and it looks very nice. My J is dark enough I think to pull it off. Did you change your wheels?
I have always assumed that the little "t" on the J30's was for touring. Besides the little spoiler, what else is different? Suspension? Horsepower? Thanks.
The "T" has stiffer suspension, sportier alloy wheels, and in the 1993 and 1994 has super hicas steering. This is 4 wheel steering. It was discontinued after 1994. I think these are the only differences.
I brought a 93 J-30 for $6800 with 100,000 miles. The car had been well-cared for and I read the posts here before test-driving the car. Yes, the doors do lock and yes I will replace that relay, thanks. But now, after about 400 miles there is an intermittent clunking fromthe front-end. This past weekend I had it up and replaced on of the boots that had torn on the rack/pinion unit (it was recent thankfully) and while I was under it I could not see any obvious worn areas and the steering is very tight. I suspect perhaps a bushing on the shock but there is no noticeable play. Any thoughts. 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
Last sat. I smacked into the back of a Chevy Caviler doing about 20mph, I got out and the only damage I saw was a slight bulge on the bumper under the side marker light. I got home and pushed it back in and all is good.
I've read practically all ya'lls posts (yes I from the south) and picked up alot of informative information! I am the proud parent of a 94 J30t with 132K on it. I've had no REAL problems at all. I've done the basic preventive maintenance and the car is like the energizer bunny (going going)!
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!
Thanks for the congrats blue, I'm looking forward to the wedding and even more to the honeymoon (St. Thomas). Yesterday I happened to have to run by the mall and I saw an I30 with chrome wheels. I couldn't tell for sure cause I just caught a quick glimpse, but I swear I saw the Mercedes star in the center hub? They looked good regardless if they were Merc or not but to me I would NEVER put a German part on a Japanese Lux!! Nothing against the German cars but thats as bad as putting those fake HID lights on your car, it just ain't right!
I'm looking for a first car. I have about $3-$4k to put down. I'm 21, and I have so-so credit. Do you think I could get a solid 93 J30 for $6-$8k (some sort of loan?), or is that not realistic? Would it make a good starting car?
Some things to consider: 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've had fuel injector problems on my 93 J30t and that's not what you want to have on your first car. Also, you have to consider what jpalm2001 said...you may have to do a lot of maintenance work...and it's very costly on a luxury make, even Infinti - the Nissan dealers won't touch it.
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.
JPalm, you stated that you'd read most all the posts in here, right . . . Well, maybe you skipped a few. I myself have some very realistic-looking faux HID lights on my J. Uh huh. They look great! So there! LOL One guy on here retro-fitted real HID lights on the J, but that's about $6-800--on the cheap end!
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 have a '94 J30 w/ the Bose audio system. I am looking to pull the head unit and replace w/ a standard Kenwood head unit. I had intended to do the job myself, however the more people I talk to the problems that seem to arise. 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????
My check engine light is on. My dealer says the code says the speedometer head is bad. It will cost about $500 to fix it. Well, the speedometer works just fine. Has anybody had any luck at disconnecting the check engine light? I find it very distracting to see it on.
Mine is also on, I need an induction service. Anyway, you can pull the fuse out to turn the light off. The fuse box is located on the left side of where the drivers legs are (by the parking break). There is a guide on the inside to show which to pull.
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!
From what I've heard the spoiler on a J30 is useless. Its more for looks. Due to the sloping rear end the aerodynamics of this car is not very good. Its a nice touch though. I have one on my 94t.
bscblue, you are correct I didn't read ALL, I read most. I like the HID lights but I wouldn't mess with mine. From what I've been told some of those faux bulbs out there either:
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!
Howdy All!! I have a brake noise problem and need your help. I have 60% front and 70% rear brake pad left and they've started squealing recently. Any suggestions?
No answers here, but I'd love to know what you find out. I have the same problem on my 1994 J30t. The brakes "sing" about every third time the pedal is pressed. I have new brake pads and the rotors have been turned, edges beveled, etc. I've had it checked out twice by two brake shops and both times the answer was "your brakes are fine, they are new and don't need work--that just the way these new brakes are".
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.
actually the drag coefficient is reduced by .01 with the spoiler so it is functional.
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.
I've had a strange brake problem with my 93' J-30. 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.
What area of the country are you in? It isn't the "thump" of the ABS doing a self-test after you start the car is it? You will fell a "thump/thunk" in the brake pedal just after starting the car.
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!
I'm in the midwest. The thump is only when I apply the brakes, not when I start up. I'll try the yahoo site, and see if I can get some opinions. Thanks.
You don't get rid of a car just because you start to have problems. The whole idea is to keep the car properly maintained and have it serviced at regularly scheduled intervals. 9 times out of 10 if you take care of your car it will take care of you!! Of course there also are those few lemons that fall thru the cracks. I assure you that the J30 IS a VERY reliable car if it is properly maintained. For the difference in payments between a used car and a new car you should be able to do ALL the necessary things to keep the car good as new and not approach the cost of a new car.
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.
I have a chance to get a '93 J30 with 60k miles for $6,000. The price seems right, but I have read many of the posts here and wonder if the electrical problems seriously impact the value of this car? Also, I am not sure if the timing belt has been replaced (will find out), and since this is a '93, it seems that it is time for that, another large expense. I would appreciate comments on any other items that I should pay particular attention to.
I have a 93' J30t with 112K miles that runs very well. Lately I have had this problem.... my Stereo's display has started to black out on me. It still works fine but I cannot see the track number for the CD or the channel numbers when using the radio. The problem was first intermittent but now I have not seen any display lights on the unit for days. Any help on this will be greatly appreciated. MJ
I have a 93 that I have been planning to change the belts on. I found a mechanic who has good experience with Infinitis and was highly recommended who is willing to change the timing belt for $250.00. The price the Infiniti dealership quoted me for the same work ( 60 K service ) is around $800. Whatever additional work they do is mostly check up and can be done by anyone for about $100 ( plugs, filter etc. ) 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!
I have a 93' J-30, and it's been my favorite car, and I've owned many cars. I just like the way it rides and handles, and acceleration is good. It is just a comfortable "feel good" car that's fun to drive. 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.
I recently bought a '94 J30. I have a few problems I'd like some suggestions on.
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
Can someone give me an idea of the kind of mileage they get on a tank of gas on a '94 J30 in mixed driving. I've been getting about 230. I'm running 93 octane, I've tried running STP through the fuel injector, all with out results. Any suggestions?
1. I would have the code checked out by the dealer or a shop you trust. The brakes are one of the most important components on a car so I wouldn't mess with "I'm guessing", find out!
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.
I've had problem also with my stereo. I just stopped working all together. Took it in and it was a loose wire that wasn't soddered correctly. Now I'm also getting Err message with CD's. Luckily I don't care too much cause I usually just listen to the radio and the traffic report/news so..... I just turned 30 so I don't listen to the bass thumping stuff like I used to, I guess I'm closer to a grumpy old man than a teenager any more!
Once again I would like to invite all you Infiniti owners (especially J owners) to the "Infiniti Owners Group" on Yahoo! I'm getting a little tired of listening to the Q45 owners brag about how great their car is and would like to see more J owners!!!
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!
Clarion, who manufactures the head unit for the Bose audio system does in-shop repairs of the unit at a base price of $105 + shipping one way, for anything short of abuse. If you can stand being w/o a radio for the duration of the repairs.
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).
I envy you!!! I love the looks and especially the powerplant of that car!
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!
Comments
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!