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New to the forum after several weeks of lurking/learning. Having owned 2 1972 (still have one), 2 1977, and 1 1984 Monte Carlo I finally stepped into the next decade a couple months ago and bought a 1996 Z34 with 59,000 miles and the 3.4L DOHC. Initially felt like I got a good deal for $4500, the car had fresh paint, clean interior, and ran very well, or so I thought . . .
After driving it a couple weeks and being a person who believes in preventative maintenance I took it to have the timing belt and intake gaskets replaced as that seems to be the common issues with the LQ1. The word I got back was not good: apparently the timing belt had been replaced before and the pullies that maintain tension had not, so the belt was rubbing and fraying the edge of it. While the inspection cover was off the mechanic also noted moisture coming from the head gasket on the rear. He put dye in the coolant and found that the head gasket was, indeed, leaking. Also, at some point someone had the intake off of the engine, possibly to change the gaskets, and had torqued the lower intake down too hard and cracked it around two of the bolts. Yeah, great news.
So, the research I had done on this car/engine combo was accurate. Have your wallet ready whenever you need any work done. I'm hoping this will end up being less than $2,000 to rememdy it all. New head gaskets, replace the oil O ring while he's in there, new lower intake and gaskets, timing belt and pullies. If that is all I will still feel like I got a pretty good deal on the car as long as it lasts me 10-15 years! I do really enjoy driving it and again, hope that these repairs will go smoothly with no surprises. And I'll be really surprised if the dealership I purchased the car from will honor their 1 month/1000 mile drivetrain warranty. So far they have indicated they won't so I'm going back and forth with them via the Better Business Bureau. If they end up covering half the cost I'll be even happier.
Not a very up-beat first post, but hoping that will change.
david
After driving it a couple weeks and being a person who believes in preventative maintenance I took it to have the timing belt and intake gaskets replaced as that seems to be the common issues with the LQ1. The word I got back was not good: apparently the timing belt had been replaced before and the pullies that maintain tension had not, so the belt was rubbing and fraying the edge of it. While the inspection cover was off the mechanic also noted moisture coming from the head gasket on the rear. He put dye in the coolant and found that the head gasket was, indeed, leaking. Also, at some point someone had the intake off of the engine, possibly to change the gaskets, and had torqued the lower intake down too hard and cracked it around two of the bolts. Yeah, great news.
So, the research I had done on this car/engine combo was accurate. Have your wallet ready whenever you need any work done. I'm hoping this will end up being less than $2,000 to rememdy it all. New head gaskets, replace the oil O ring while he's in there, new lower intake and gaskets, timing belt and pullies. If that is all I will still feel like I got a pretty good deal on the car as long as it lasts me 10-15 years! I do really enjoy driving it and again, hope that these repairs will go smoothly with no surprises. And I'll be really surprised if the dealership I purchased the car from will honor their 1 month/1000 mile drivetrain warranty. So far they have indicated they won't so I'm going back and forth with them via the Better Business Bureau. If they end up covering half the cost I'll be even happier.
Not a very up-beat first post, but hoping that will change.
david
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