Does anyone have any experience with the Infiniti FX45?

"nj959" (nj959) 11/30/2018 at 15:56 • Filed to: None

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but crossover bad

Specifically the post refresh first gens from ‘06-’08. The main worry with these fro m what I can figure out from trawling through forums seems to be the oil consumption issues. However, it seems that those mostly affected the v6s and early v8s, and that the later v8s were mostly spared. Is this mostly accurate or am I talking nonsense?

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > nj959 11/30/2018 at 16:13

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#Justbuythedamnminivan!

;)

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > nj959 11/30/2018 at 16:19

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V8 is not as good reliability wise as the V6. My MIL has a FX35 and it just works all the time and is pretty fun to drive.

nj959 > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars 11/30/2018 at 16:21

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Interesting. What issues do the v8s have that the 6s don’t?

Ash78, voting early and often > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 11/30/2018 at 16:28

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Normally I’d say yes, but this thing is just a two-row vehicle. A hatchback on lots and lots of steroids.

The vehicle that the Ford Edge kind of looks at in the gym mirrors, but quickly averts its eyes lest any gay rumors get started. Because that kind of stuff matters to the Edge, he has a wife (Flex) and kids (Escape and EcoSport) .

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > nj959 11/30/2018 at 16:28

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I can’t remember exactly because I it’s been awhile, but the 3.5 VQ is just dead reliable. If it has the same transmission as the V8 Pathfinder though, its $5k to replace it and no one rebuilds it. It doesn’t get repaired because the computer is in the pan and if any water gets in it’s fried.

PartyPooper2012 > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 11/30/2018 at 16:28

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LOL

https://oppositelock.kinja.com/broke-1830585273#smj8foley

just a tiniest of trolls ;-)

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > nj959 11/30/2018 at 16:33

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How about an Ex35? th e V6 is very reliable, Is it beyond your budget?

Rico > nj959 11/30/2018 at 16:34

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All I know is these things suck down gas like it’s going out of style. 

nj959 > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars 11/30/2018 at 16:40

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Looks like it uses the JATCO RE5R05A, which they used in pretty much every longitudinal application until they moved to the 7 speed. It sounds like a reasonably durable trans, and neither the 3.5 nor the 4.5 make an obscene amount of torque. It’s something to keep in mind though.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > PartyPooper2012 11/30/2018 at 16:43

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Mechanical issues are easily fixed. She got me to work today.

Even when she was leaking she still ran. ;)

Also gotta remember, that’s a 24 yo fuel rail leaking, not a less than 5yo vehicle....

nj959 > Rico 11/30/2018 at 16:43

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If I bought one I’d be coming from a 5.7 Grand Cherokee so just about anything else on the road would be an improvement.

Besides, it’s cold where I live right now so I’m happy to do my part to warm things up a bit.

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > nj959 11/30/2018 at 16:44

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It’s usually not that the transmission borq ues itself, it’ s just that it was terribly designed and will fry itself.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > Ash78, voting early and often 11/30/2018 at 16:44

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Early Caravans only had 2 rows, they were still minivans....

nj959 > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time 11/30/2018 at 16:47

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Hmm. I’ve always though they looked a little frumpy and I’ve never really understood why they exist (the FX wasn’t enough?) but now that you’ve reminded me of them I’ll look into it. Thanks.

Textured Soy Protein > nj959 11/30/2018 at 16:51

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It’s a lot smaller than the FX. Think of it as an Outbacktified G35/37 hatchback. And it’s fugly.

Textured Soy Protein > Rico 11/30/2018 at 16:51

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Not as bad as the FX50 though!

GoodIdeaAtTheTime > nj959 11/30/2018 at 17:03

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Your GC gets better real world gas mileage than the FX. Even the V6, which, by the by, is faster than the V8. The 4.5 and 5.0 V8 did not make much power, the 5.0 was rated the same as the 3.7. The 4.5 had a bit more torque than the 3.5 but in the long run the 3.5 out runs it. Make sure the air bag recall has been done. The sun does funny things to the dash board. Front seats tend to wear pretty quick. They are a bit claustrophobic in the interior, not much space. They go through wheel bearings and tie rod ends (I suspect the wheels/tires are a bit too big and heavy for G sedan parts) Overall they are pretty solid, just keep after the maintenance and oil leaks. Use the correct oil (big issue) and consumption isn’t much of an issue on the V8. V6's will drink no matter what, stick to a 3500 mile service schedule and it shouldn’t be a concern. Don’t worry to much about electrics, they are fairly robust. I’ve been working on the brand the last few years, so I know what I am mumbling about.

Oh yeah. Brakes are proprietary to the FX.  E specially the sport brakes. Nothing else uses the same parts, they can be pricey to replace.

GoodIdeaAtTheTime > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars 11/30/2018 at 17:05

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Clientele satisfaction and turn around time. Infinti does not rebuild components at the dealer like Nissan. Or so I was told at my last training class. I would love to tear into the CVT’s, transmissions, and engines, but alas, it is remove and replace.

lone_liberal > nj959 11/30/2018 at 17:16

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I’m not sure about the FX but my wife’s EX35 is acceptable. She previously had a G37 that was totaled which is what required the purchase of the EX. The VQ could stand to have more torque but otherwise seems solid. 

Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks > nj959 11/30/2018 at 17:38

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What GoodIdea said - e ven the non-MDS 5.7 actually gets reasonable mileage compared to the FX. The Nissan engine is a torqueless wonder by comparison that I’m pretty sure just uses oil and gasoline interchangeably. In that it can use  both in absolutely terrifying amounts.

Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars 11/30/2018 at 17:41

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... uh, wait, what?

Oh. My. God. Run away. RUN. AWAY.

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks 11/30/2018 at 17:47

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hAHAHAH That’s the one!

Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars 11/30/2018 at 17:49

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For fuck’s sake, I used to wrench for Dumber-Chrysler and that is the single most terrifying tech tip I have ever seen.

edit: HOLY FUCK IT GETS WORSE? IT GETS WORSE. My god, it’s the second fucking coming of the 41AE AND THE 42RLE! BURN IT ALL .

nj959 > Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks 11/30/2018 at 18:32

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I was able to get around 19 out of the Jeep on the highway as long as I kept it below 80, but around town I’d get low teens if I drove reasonably, and like 11 if I didn’t. Unless the FXs are doing single digits in the real world, I don’t think they’re worse.

Regarding the oil consumption, most of the late 4.5s seem to be ok. The VK45DE in the FX was only tuned to 320hp, rather than 340+ in some of the other applications so they weren’t pushed as hard. I’ll have to do some research on it though and a PPI is definitely a must.

Researching the trans seems like a black hole. When I do google searches for issues with the RE5R05A, most of the results are about the issue the xterras had with mixing ATF and coolant in the coolers. However, when I specifically search for FX35 or FX45 trans issues I can’t find anything and most people on the Infiniti forums seem pretty confident about them. The G35, M35, M45, Q45, FX35, and FX45 all used it and from looking at carfaxes, I’ve seen a bunch of 200k+ examples that all look like they’re on the original trans. Of course, they could all be for sale because of fucked gearboxes but who knows.

I think I’ll add the post refresh FX to the proverbial list, but only if I can find a really nice one. Maybe I’ll come up with something better.

ArmadaExpress drives a turbo outback > nj959 12/03/2018 at 10:24

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EX is really small relative to the FX. Owned a 2009 FX50 and it was a magn ificent beast. Super reliable but terrible in the snow, unless you used snow tires. I miss that car all the time.