How do you change the motor mounts?

moparman00 · Post by **moparman00** » Tue Sep 30, 2008 3:22 pm

hey, I searched around a bit and I can't seem to find any tutorial on how to change the motor mounts....could any one point me in the direction of a decent tutorial on this? Thanks

Danteneon · Post by **Danteneon** » Tue Sep 30, 2008 3:29 pm

First step...post this in the engine section

It is really very easy if you are talking about the torque struts which most people call the engine mounts. If so, simply start with the top, unbolt the two 18mm bolts that hold it in place, remove mount and reverse the process. Pay attention to the position of the old mount where it mounts to the body and place the new mount at the same point.

The lower is the same procedure as well, just with some more stuff in the way.

Now, if you are talking about the mounts in the frame rails...thats a whole different ball game.

moparman00 · Post by **moparman00** » Tue Sep 30, 2008 4:07 pm

thanks for the quick reply dante, and as for moving it to the engine section, thank you also, but i looked around for like 5 minutes, wondering, "did i click the post button?" "i though i read my post once...

thanks though, i actually though after i posted it, i have a haynes manual, so i browsed through that and found the same stuff.....but my question is, umm, where are the motor mounts? the pictures in the haynes manual show no reference to location.......

OB · Post by OB » Tue Sep 30, 2008 4:13 pm

Both mounts that you're talking about are on the right side of the engine (left side when looking under the hood). One is in plain sight and secures the top of the engine to the strut tower. The other is directly below that, hidden in the belt cover, and is accessed from the wheel well. Be sure to support the engine with a jack when messing with these, just to be safe.

Danteneon · Post by **Danteneon** » Tue Sep 30, 2008 4:25 pm

Here is a photo reference for ya...

Upper (at the bottom of the picture)

Lower

And thanks Derek, I completly forgot about the safety of the jack

moparman00 · Post by **moparman00** » Tue Sep 30, 2008 4:41 pm

thanks for the clarification pics.....heres the deal, i was and am having issues with 'loose play' in the motor to the tranny, basically, when im in gear, if i let the car pull the motor, coating with it in gear, i feel a jolt, a little hitch, and then again when i give it gas, even if i just slightly give it the throttle, it will do this....so i took my car, parked on a level surface, and i put it in first, popped the hood, went out in front of the car, and when moving the car back and forth, i could see the motor it self moving... so if i buy no motor mounts or motor mount inserts, the prothane ones or whatever, will i be changing what you described? and how come in my haynes manual, under engine mounts, or motor mounts, it referenced to the left mount and the right mount?

Danteneon · Post by **Danteneon** » Tue Sep 30, 2008 5:04 pm

You have run into yet another reason I hate Haynes manuals

I'm not sure why they would unless they are referring to the side engine mounts. The simply support the weight of the engine though. Don't worry about changing them right now.

And yes, if you get either new mounts or inserts they go where the pic indicate. The pics I posted have the Prothane insets in them btw.

Donkeypuncher · Post by **Donkeypuncher** » Tue Sep 30, 2008 7:34 pm

Just be aware that you will feel more vibration inside the car, but only at idle. At idle with the a/c is the worst it gets. Most recommend getting the trans mount done at the same time.

Danteneon · Post by **Danteneon** » Wed Oct 01, 2008 11:06 am

I found that the vibration with just the Prothane inserts wasn't much different from stock, but Donkeypuncher is right that you will notice it more at idle with the A/C on.

The BWoody mounts on the other hand...

moparman00 · Post by **moparman00** » Wed Oct 01, 2008 2:21 pm

so here are some pics of my top mount....

and while snapping these pics, i discovered a nifty little button under my hood (i love finding hidden treasure...)

so i pushed it to see what it would do....

BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP i thought, ill just shut the hood, thatll stop it! no go, so i reach for my keys to hit a button to make this stop, and they are no where to be found, so i run to the driver side door to get them out, and oh shit, the doors locked! so i run inside the house to find the spare key, run back out, unlock the door, hit the buttons on the fob, and it finally stops.....

so over the year or so that i have owned a neon, i have learned not to do the following.....

1. lock the doors with the fob and reach through a window and hit the manual lock lever(not the little electric switch) and open the door from the outside....

2. lock the doors with the fob before every passenger is out, and then have them get out...

3. have the hood popped while the doors are locked with the fob, and press the little switch....

as they all will result in an alarm!

Danteneon · Post by **Danteneon** » Wed Oct 01, 2008 2:31 pm

Isn't great to find out all the niffty stuff you can do with your car?

moparman00 · Post by **moparman00** » Wed Oct 01, 2008 2:42 pm

yea, its a blast! lol, neons never fail to be an amusing vehicle....

so would you say from the pictures i posted of my upper mount that that is whats causing the issue? and is it worth it to do the trans mount too?

Danteneon · Post by **Danteneon** » Wed Oct 01, 2008 3:13 pm

Really hard to tell from the pictures (for me anyway). If you remove the mount and look at the condition of the rubber insert, that will give you a better idea of how bad it is. You can remove the top one without having to support the engine, and take it to a dealer that has a new one in stock and compare the two.

The part # for the upper is 4668930AC for an auto trans, part #4668932AC for a manual. I would still just use the inserts though. The trans mount is a bit harder to change, but you may want to do that one as well.

excon · Post by **excon** » Wed Oct 01, 2008 10:48 pm

it looks like your motor mounts are fine to me... that's how mine look.

Well, i've never had bad motor mounts, so i imagine that bad mounts would look like the rubber was ripped, torn, chewed, eaten, etc. and your upper mount looks fine...

moparman00 · Post by **moparman00** » Thu Oct 02, 2008 10:09 am

ya, i didnt really 'proof view' the pics.....the rubber is fairly cracked.....those were camera phone pics...ugh

latief · Post by **latief** » Thu Oct 02, 2008 10:14 am

The movement in the drivetrain is normal for neons....if you have a broken mount you would know for sure....probably, what you are feeling is just mounts aging and becoming weaker.......don't waste your money on new mounts, it will be the same....

just get some MM inserts and you should be happy....

good luck !!!

esteinmaier · Post by **esteinmaier** » Thu Oct 02, 2008 10:14 am

Stock mounts are for grandmas. Solid FTW.