Hello. Thanks for a great forum. Ive been looking around the last few days getting a lot of my questions answered, which most of them have been. I learned about a few cool features, fixed a few little minor things, and programed two new key fobs as well as a complete reset of the ECU, thanks to directions on this site.

Anyways Last weekend I picked up an 03 Sedan AT which is still under warantee for another 4 months or 8000 miles. What a wonderful car. I just drove it on some pretty nasty slipery snowy roads. This is my first rear-wheel drive car, so I was pretty worried. It wasnt 4x4 in any respects, but I had no problems like you typicaly hear about with rwd cars. The traction control was continuously kicking in when starting from a stop, but the back end was under control at all times. Nice

So, I have a few things going on

Rattles. I have a squeek type rattle coming from my passanger seat. It goes away any time weight is put on the seat.

Im also getting a clicking from the dash area, sounds like behind the radio. It could be on the other side of the firewall; I can't confirm. That just started today.

Also the AC Compressor seems very loud and rough.

Also the foward driver-side bolt that holds the engine cover on is not threaded down, it's just flopping around in it's hole (not the source of that clicking) I cant screw it in by hand, but I havent tried it with tools, the threads just wont catch. It looks like its really a stud with a special nut on top. It that threaded stud supposed to be captive on the engine side, and only the nut comes off, or is the nut / stud supposed to stay together and is removed from the engine when removing it?

The leather is in tough shape. Theres one rough spot on the drivers seat that the green is showing through, it looks like something rough was dragged accross it, and there's 'cracks' alll over the two front seats.

When I activate the rear defroster, some of my FM stations go to complete static, and the other stronger ones from the city I'm near loose about 50% of the reception. The same is true if i use my Motorola made-charger for my Razr in the console.

The lighter plug near my right leg won't retain a charger, they push themselves out. This is true for either an XM power plug or my phone charger. Is this recepticle ONLY for a lighter, and not for power output?

The parking / emergency brake is very ineffective. I was on one slope that it wouldnt hold the vehicle, and the vehicle rolled foward until the parking pawls of the tranny locked. Also when I 'mash' it to the floor, it does not cause the rear wheels to lock up. Is this the normal or is it out of adjustment?

Other than that, no complaints! I love the car, i test-drove a few before I finaly gave up on my mission to get a Honda Accord. I really appreciate anyone's input on this.

 

Wow, did you notice all this stuff before or after you bought the car? Just curious.

I can't help other than to say if you are still under warranty take it in and have a dealer check everything out for you. Hopefully they can take care of some of your issues.

Congratulations on the G.

EDIT - on the engine cover mount stud, you can use a 4mm socket on the top of the stud and back it out a bit to give you a little more clearance before you screw the nut back on with a 10mm socket. The stud is just screwed in, you could take it out with a 4mm socket if you wanted to.

 

The parking brake should be strong enough to hold the vehicle on a slope of 30 degrees.

 

Well, I just droped her off for surgury...

• New Key cut and program
• A/C making noise (TSB)
• A/C Fan vibrating
• Rattle from base of windshield (TSB)
• Rattle from center console (TSB)
• Rattle from passanger seat
• Poor radio quality with rear defroster on
• checking wear on leather
• Clock not readable at nigh (TSB)
• Fuel hose recall
• Engine cover stud
• Verify all other recalls completed

They gave me a nice 05 sedan x, I like it, but I think i perfer the regular rear wheel drive...

I'll miss her, but with snow coming, I am very interested to see how the X is in the snow compared to my rear drive... The traction on my rear worked wonders and I had no problems in the snow, but lets see what this little SNOW button does!

EDIT I forgot to tell them about the parking brake, SHOOT! Well, Im going to bring it to them for an oil change next time, so it can wait until then

 

Excellent. Let us know how it all turns out.

 

• New Key cut and program
  Done. Works. $167
• A/C making noise (TSB)
  Adjusted alignmane of compressor. Not as loud, still making noise. TSB states replacement of compressor needed
• A/C Fan vibrating
  Nothing done
• Rattle from base of windshield (TSB)
  They took appart the center console and reinsulated it. WRONG AREA, I said base of windshield. This is a documentd problem with the shroud under the wipers
• Rattle from center console (TSB)
  Insulated console, still creeking
• Rattle from passanger seat
  Nothing documented on invoise, but not squeaking anymore
• Poor radio quality with rear defroster on
  Replaced AMP, not resolved. Filter on order, they will call when it's in stock. They wont listen to my described symptoms, it's clearly a grounding problem with the antena, it's ONLY on radio reception, not CD!!!
• checking wear on leather
  "normal wear and tear" Thats BS
• Clock not readable at nigh (TSB)
  Replaced Lamps. NOT RESOLVED. TSB clearly states new clock design must be installed
• Fuel hose recall
  Installed
• Engine cover stud
  Reinstalled
• Verify all other recalls completed
  They state YES

They also stated they adjusted the parking brake. BS, it doesnt work.

So, lets see. They completely fixed TWO things on the list, BS'ed through a few others, some they're going in the wrong direction, and ignored some....
G35MASS is not happy with Infinity at this moment

 

Dude, not to sound harsh, but you bought an 03. Didn't you do a quality walk on the car before you bought it?

Take her out on the highway and NAIL the go pedal. That'll take away half the frustration you feel about the car and just about anything else.. LOL

Oh, and now that you own one, you should note that it's INFINITI, not INFINITY.

 

I took out all the fustration when I had the pedal mashed to the floor the entire way to work. If the trooper didnt car, why should I?

Yes, I did. I knew about the leather. Figured it would be worth a shot before I pay for it to be restored. But the rest of the things are things I didnt really notice until over a week of driving. I tested the rear defroster and everything, but didnt think of trying defroster + radio, just like I didnt test defroster + right-rear map light, or map light and left blinker, know what I mean? its an 03, I realize there will be little things.

I knew about all the TSB's and whatnot before I brought the car in. I worked technical service for 4.5 years, and there is NOTHING more insulting than a customer telling you how to do your job, whether it be pointint out TSB's, or flat out saying "i need a new...", so I'll give them another shot when I drop it off for the filter, maybe I'll ask to talk to the tech that will work on the car and describe the symptoms. Im getting sad again, time for another drive!

Im not really complaining about the car, i love it, i test drove a few others before I bought it just for fun, never thinking I'de ever really buy one... I love it, absolutetly, Im just a perfectionist... OK enough procrastinating, off to zanio's site to buy me some car-makeup!