The engine is the heart of a car, which means without it a car is completely useless. To hold the heart of the car in place you need strong links that don’t let the engine fall on the ground. These links are called engine mounts and they are responsible for keeping the engine tightly in one place.
Engine mounts can be found in every shape and size but they all do the same job and that is to discourage engine vibrations from spreading out to the rest of the car. That’s why engine mounts are made with a combination of both metal and rubber. The metal is responsible for withstanding the weight of the engine and securing it in place even when extreme torque is applied by the engine.
The rubber part, on the other hand, is responsible for reducing vibrations from reaching elsewhere. After understanding the functions of an engine mount, it should be clear that some symptoms might arise as a result of engine mount failure. We have created a list of symptoms which are most commonly found with such failure.
Engine Mount Symptoms
The symptoms are a clear-cut warning for you to get your car fixed before further problems start to arise.
Too Much Noise from Under the Hood
The engine mounts are in place to reduce the amount of noise the engine makes, so if there is any unnecessary noise reaching you, there has to be something wrong with the engine mounts. This is especially true when you hit a bump or pothole hard and there is loud clattering in the engine bay. You should contact the mechanic as soon as possible if you hear something like this as a failing engine mount can create lots of damage if not repaired on time.
Violent Vibrations
The engine mount is supposed to dampen and reduce the vibrations of an ignited engine. So, if you are feeling more vibrations inside the car than usual, there is probably something wrong with the rubber in your engine mounts. Rubber is a component that can wear out due to friction and extreme stress. The engine exerts both on the engine mounts so it is natural for the rubber to wear out and fail to cause its vital functions to deteriorate.
Unnecessary Engine Movement
This symptom will not be easily noticeable. You might come upon it by chance when you have the hood popped open to fill coolant in the radiator or you could notice this after experiencing the other two symptoms. When the tightness in the engine mounts loosens up, the engine will start shaking and vibrating violently. This movement can become even more violent when you press on the gas and try to accelerate. The torque produced by the engine will further destroy the engine mounts and compel you to g for repairs as soon as possible
Solutions to fix it
Solving engine mount failure is not easily accomplished. Most times you cannot even see the mounts from the top, so you can’t tell just by looking if something has gone wrong. Therefore, making a visit to the mechanic can be your only retreat.
Get The Engine mount replaced
The rubber in the engine mount is responsible for reducing vibrations and absorbing the torque created by the engine. Usually, it is not the entire engine mount that is failing, it can only be the rubber bushings that have gone bad, so replacing them can solve your issue for the time being. However, to get the rubber replaced you need to visit the mechanic as you cannot do it yourself at home. If it’s not possible, you have to replace the whole engine mount. You can find Engine mounts for your engine at Amazon: Engine Mounts
Install a Strut Bar
The strut bar or a towering strut brace is usually used to ameliorate handling and reduce the play in the chassis while making sharp turns, but this bar can be used ingeniously to act as a last resort keeping the engine from moving too much. The strut bar incidentally comes over the top of the engine and is very close to its head so if there is any movement in the engine the strut bar will restrict it and stop any further damage from happening. However, leaving your engine to the mercy of the strut bar will create even more noise than usual, so it would be a better idea to have the engine mounts fixed and let the strut bar do its actual job
Engine Mount Replacement Cost
Repairing or replacing the engine mounts is the last resort. When you have tried everything else and all have failed to give you the desired result, it is time to think about a serious repair. The first thing to notice here is that engine mounts are made of a mixture of two components metal and rubber. If there is a crack in the metal part from the constant torque exerted by the engine, you have to look at a possible replacement. And the thing about replacements is that they cost a lot. That is not because the engine mounts are very rare and difficult to find but because the labor work required to replace the mounts is very strenuous.
Your mechanic will have to lift up the engine via a pulley and chain and hold it afloat while he inspects and changes the engine mount. Even a small thing such as an inspection will require your mechanic to lift up your car and look underneath. Seeing the nature of this operation, the mechanic will ask you for a lot of money.
For a typical engine mount replacement, the mechanic will bill you around $200 – $500 in labor costs and then you have to add in the cost of the engine mount itself. Fortunately, the part itself costs around $100 to $300, so you are looking at a total cost of around $300 – $800. Keep in mind that the cost of repairs is directly proportional to the make and model of your car and the part’s availability.
Magnus Sellén
Hello I'm Magnus, the owner and the writer of this website. I have been working with cars since I was 16 and I'm specialized with in-depth Automotive diagnostics. Also been driving drifting for the last 6 years. I'm here to give you answers to all your automotive questions and I hope that you enjoy our content.