JT20's running Infiniti J30 condition assessment and maintenance thread

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The old stuff came out looking like carrot juice. I didn't want to do disconnecting things not knowing what was what.. I want to do as little monkeying around with this one as I can..

Okay it would have been easier to do it how people do an ATF fluid flush.

I was going to ask, if the head gasket is good, I can start the car cold, taken off the radiator cap and I should see NO bubbles? And I shut it off when it starts gushing out of where the cap sits?
 
I don’t have an issue with the turkey baster, per se. The issue is that you did it in some way that allowed air to get into the fluid. And then the pics look like you had a PSF explosion out of the reservoir!

Ive done this before, where I pull the fluid from the reservoir, put in fresh, then fully move the rack, and replace the fluid while it’s pumping through. Ive on occasion let it get low enough that the reservoir was filled with tiny bubbles. It doesn’t take much for the ps pump to do that. But really the intent of the turkey baster method is to do it on a static system. Pull it, drive some or turn the wheels some, maybe repeat.
 
If you feel bored and want to chase down a hunting idle for some pocket change, clean the MAF with electronics cleaner or MAF cleaner, and clean the throttle body out well with some throttle body cleaner, a rag, and a toothbrush. Get a new air filter if it's trash. I've done this with all my cars. One symptom of a dirty (non-drive by wire) throttle body is the throttle feels more "jumpy" from idle to hitting the gas, because it's sticking when it's closed.

Also get a new air filter if it's dirty, too.

BTW, the J30 I was looking at was white. Sad to see it go, I did want... eventually. But I sat on it a year. There's another little known RWD Infiniti gem on FB Market in NJ, btw.
 
JT20 said:
The old stuff came out looking like carrot juice. I didn't want to do disconnecting things not knowing what was what.. I want to do as little monkeying around with this one as I can..

Okay it would have been easier to do it how people do an ATF fluid flush.

I was going to ask, if the head gasket is good, I can start the car cold, taken off the radiator cap and I should see NO bubbles? And I shut it off when it starts gushing out of where the cap sits?
Click to expand...
Leave the rad cap on, make sure the level in the overflow tank is where it should be. Unless the engines are notorious for head gasket issues, don't get sidetracked by stuff that's not relevant.
 
JT20 said:
Ahhh, and then letting the pump pump it out?
Click to expand...

Yes, that's the flush method, gets out all the old fluid, a good idea if it is REALLY bad. If it's not, then with the car off, sucking it out, then filling with fresh, starting it, going lock to lock a few times, shutting it off, sucking it out, putting in fresh a couple times is more than sufficient.
 
OVERKILL said:
Yes, that's the flush method, gets out all the old fluid, a good idea if it is REALLY bad. If it's not, then with the car off, sucking it out, then filling with fresh, starting it, going lock to lock a few times, shutting it off, sucking it out, putting in fresh a couple times is more than sufficient.
Click to expand...

I didn't trust myself to go removing lines, so I did do that, only I did it while the car was running, I thought that would help it circulate.

Photo update is below
 
Hmmmm.

Good morning everyone.

Okay so. While I was cleaning up the mess on the garage floor from "spilled and filled" Power Steering fluid.. I noticed this. I wonder what it used to be for? (I did pull the belt out a little so it could be seen. I'm not quite sure what that could be from.)

20210113_102244.jpg


Here is a shot of that side of the engine, just because.

20210113_102251.jpg


And here is the present state of the PSF reservoir, took while its running and I used flash 📸 to try to better show the level, which is at the bottom of the strainer. No more bubbles or airration.

20210113_102312.jpg
20210113_102316.jpg


This is the PSF presently in there after me getting most/all (I did it about 3-4 times the messy way) out.

20210113_103004.jpg

20210113_103018.jpg


I also bought this, had a little bit less of an impulse buy today so I do feel accomplished.

20210113_103053.jpg


Idled car for 5 minutes, something seems to rattle a little for about 30 seconds (loose piece of plastic? Doesn't sound like knock or ping though I don't know what those sound like as I've never had an engine do so) and now it is time to continue with my day.

I idle the engine because I want everything to be nice and circulated.

The exhaust smells very strong..
 
JT20 said:
Hmmmm.

Good morning everyone.

Okay so. While I was cleaning up the mess on the garage floor from "spilled and filled" Power Steering fluid.. I noticed this. I wonder what it used to be for? (I did pull the belt out a little so it could be seen. I'm not quite sure what that could be from.)

View attachment 40444

Here is a shot of that side of the engine, just because.

View attachment 40445

And here is the present state of the PSF reservoir, took while its running and I used flash 📸 to try to better show the level, which is at the bottom of the strainer. No more bubbles or airration.

View attachment 40446View attachment 40447

This is the PSF presently in there after me getting most/all (I did it about 3-4 times the messy way) out.

View attachment 40448
View attachment 40449

I also bought this, had a little bit less of an impulse buy today so I do feel accomplished.

View attachment 40450

Idled car for 5 minutes, something seems to rattle a little for about 30 seconds (loose piece of plastic? Doesn't sound like knock or ping though I don't know what those sound like as I've never had an engine do so) and now it is time to continue with my day.

I idle the engine because I want everything to be nice and circulated.

The exhaust smells very strong..
Click to expand...

Your first picture looks like a broken belt hanging down?!

Also, don't start getting sidetracked with spending money on wizards, remember what I said about attempts at being proactive not panning out? Inspect the throttle body FIRST, if it looks absolutely filthy, then buying some cleaner and carefully cleaning it may be advisable. If it is not, you are just wasting money. Same with the MAF, unless somebody ran it with an over-oiled K&N in the filter box or without a filter, it's probably pretty clean.
 
OVERKILL said:
Your first picture looks like a broken belt hanging down?!

Also, don't start getting sidetracked with spending money on wizards, remember what I said about attempts at being proactive not panning out? Inspect the throttle body FIRST, if it looks absolutely filthy, then buying some cleaner and carefully cleaning it may be advisable. If it is not, you are just wasting money. Same with the MAF, unless somebody ran it with an over-oiled K&N in the filter box or without a filter, it's probably pretty clean.
Click to expand...

I think two things, before I go out for work today..

First thing is, if hood shocks are real easy to replace.. maybe I can!

Secondly.. (and I want to say after the hood..I have hit my head several times looking at things. 🤕 Ouch) then I will look and see what screwdriver I have that will remove the air intake tube, maybe get better light sources and camera on it too. Budget phone.

I can go very, Very slowly with this one. We are talking weeks and months.and if the Subaru runs right.. double bonus! Then it will only be up to me to avoid the urge to go hot-doggin' in the RWD car..


I do wonder what that belt is. I was thinking of putting the car up on the ramps "at some point," though you all aren't the only ones frustrated with my sub-par phone camera.

Oh,... You just reminded me. I've entered into a negotiation on my debts, of sorts.. that in and of itself has NOTHING to do with the J30.. but I DID avoid impulsively buying and wasting money on a can of WD-40 Specialist Silicone.

That broken belt.. yeah I wonder what's up with that?!?!
 
On the broken belt, you should see if you can find out if it's just a fragment of a belt already replaced or whether the car has a broken belt, which needs to be replaced.
 
Look for a pulley that doesn't have a belt on it. Most likely its the A/C compressor since everything else seems to work. Should be able to see that from the top.

Of course someone could have replaced a belt without bothering to retrieve the broken one.
 
mk378 said:
Look for a pulley that doesn't have a belt on it. Most likely its the A/C compressor since everything else seems to work. Should be able to see that from the top.

Of course someone could have replaced a belt without bothering to retrieve the broken one.
Click to expand...
That was my thought too.

OP, does AC work? If not, suspect that. But don’t spend money or time on it.

The owners manual or an user hood diagram might have belt routing.

Not to be bossy, but recommend you don’t buy anything relative to this car until you get info from us.
 
Everything all good.

I like this car. I think we discussed that "If the Subaru works then I don't need it" but I'm almost afraid to drive the Subie until it shows itself good (short drives, to longer drives, to longer drives, to being let run longer and longer just to see that it can.. to drive to work.. and from there? The world.) Car in sig.

Just discovered it doesn't seem to want to go on these ramps. FWD/AWD cars do easy. This one RWD.

Let's go see if the AC works. Everyone says it won't work if the temperature is too cold. Well let's go see.

That idle isn't bad and seems to be getting better, too.
20210113_124138.jpg
20210113_124151.jpg
 
JT20 said:
Everything all good.

I like this car. I think we discussed that "If the Subaru works then I don't need it" but I'm almost afraid to drive the Subie until it shows itself good (short drives, to longer drives, to longer drives, to being let run longer and longer just to see that it can.. to drive to work.. and from there? The world.) Car in sig.

Just discovered it doesn't seem to want to go on these ramps. FWD/AWD cars do easy. This one RWD.

Let's go see if the AC works. Everyone says it won't work if the temperature is too cold. Well let's go see.

That idle isn't bad and seems to be getting better, too.View attachment 40460View attachment 40461
Click to expand...

We know you like the car. SLOW DOWN. You are getting excited, and when you get excited, you get scattered. Are you trying to get the car on ramps to look at the belt issue? You should be able to see from the top, no ramps required.

And why are you continuously wasting gas by running it in the garage? The money you are spending on cleaners, fluids and gas could probably pay for the hood struts that you actually need.
 
okay so there are two things we KNOW don't work right on this car:

1. The hood shocks. Sick of hitting my head from the snow brush not holding it high enough.

2. The AC ? (which felt nice and cool, but it was cold outside.. don't think it can engage without a belt. Or can it...)
 
JT20 said:
okay so there are two things we KNOW don't work right on this car:

1. The hood shocks. Sick of hitting my head from the snow brush not holding it high enough.

2. The AC ? (which felt nice and cool, but it was cold outside.. don't think it can engage without a belt. Or can it...)
Click to expand...
No, it doesn't work without the compressor.
 
OVERKILL said:
Yes. If you can reach down, see if you can spin the compressor as well as how freely the pulley on the clutch spins. If the compressor is seized, that explains the broken belt.
Click to expand...

You're saying I should be able to turn the pulley, if I read this right.

A seized compressor sure would snap a belt. BTDT..

Let's go see.
 
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