Do I have a busted motor mount?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,191
Likes: 1
Do I have a busted motor mount?
Friends,
I was so happy to be back on the road yesterday after my coolant system flush and switch-over to Dex-Cool, and the results so far were quite good (I'll follow-up with the particulars later). That is until I saw steam coming out from under the hood on the driver's side on the way home. Burn-outs were allowed at the cruise-in last night, so I did two short ones.
The steam, and over-heating, was the result of a breach in the upper radiator hose. The hole in the hose was consistent with the location on the alternator - as if the alternator rotated over to be a party-pooper on the hose.
So checking it out today after a temporary duct-tape fix, I held the hood open, started the car and revved the motor. There was some rotation of the motor that you would expect.
Then I put it in gear, held the brake and revved the motor as if I were going to do a burn-out. There was SIGNIFICANT movement of the motor. This explains how the alternator cut in to the upper radiator hose.
Does this mean I have a busted motor mount on the driver's side?
The motor mounts were replaced in 1997, which (I'm sorry to say) was 2,653 miles ago (yes, I keep these kinds of records). Now I do my share of hot-rodding, but jeeezzz, do I need to be replacing motor mounts every 2500 miles?
I seem to remember that when I had the motor mount changed (by the Chevy dealer) they didn't have GM mounts in stock and used something else. I suppose I might have gotten a cheap Made-in-China motor mount instead?
Is a motor mount tough to change? Is it simply 1) jack up the car, 2) support the motor to take the weight off the mount, 3) remove and replace and torque it down?
As always, the wisdom and experience of this group is second-to-none. I look forward to your comment. Thanks, GM
I was so happy to be back on the road yesterday after my coolant system flush and switch-over to Dex-Cool, and the results so far were quite good (I'll follow-up with the particulars later). That is until I saw steam coming out from under the hood on the driver's side on the way home. Burn-outs were allowed at the cruise-in last night, so I did two short ones.
The steam, and over-heating, was the result of a breach in the upper radiator hose. The hole in the hose was consistent with the location on the alternator - as if the alternator rotated over to be a party-pooper on the hose.
So checking it out today after a temporary duct-tape fix, I held the hood open, started the car and revved the motor. There was some rotation of the motor that you would expect.
Then I put it in gear, held the brake and revved the motor as if I were going to do a burn-out. There was SIGNIFICANT movement of the motor. This explains how the alternator cut in to the upper radiator hose.
Does this mean I have a busted motor mount on the driver's side?
The motor mounts were replaced in 1997, which (I'm sorry to say) was 2,653 miles ago (yes, I keep these kinds of records). Now I do my share of hot-rodding, but jeeezzz, do I need to be replacing motor mounts every 2500 miles?
I seem to remember that when I had the motor mount changed (by the Chevy dealer) they didn't have GM mounts in stock and used something else. I suppose I might have gotten a cheap Made-in-China motor mount instead?
Is a motor mount tough to change? Is it simply 1) jack up the car, 2) support the motor to take the weight off the mount, 3) remove and replace and torque it down?
As always, the wisdom and experience of this group is second-to-none. I look forward to your comment. Thanks, GM
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,175
Likes: 3,990
From: Connecticut, USA
Re: Do I have a busted motor mount? (mayberg)
sounds like it. I had that movement in my car last year,I didn't notice it until one I was driving with the shift boots out and saw the tranny pick up way too much. When i removed the engine the left mount fell to the gorund -split in two. It only had 18k miles on it but was 20 years old and GM made.
If yo support the engine by either a floor jack and wood under the oil pan or by a enigne hoist you should be able to replace the mounts. replace both sides.
Gary
If yo support the engine by either a floor jack and wood under the oil pan or by a enigne hoist you should be able to replace the mounts. replace both sides.
Gary
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 248
Likes: 1
From: Kansas City MO
Re: Do I have a busted motor mount? (Rockn-Roll)
There was a thread on this earlier but I'll repeat myself here just because I think it's a neat idea.
Go solid mount on the driver side because the elastics get weaker as the stretch and stronger as they compress. But use a rubber or poly on the passanger side to absorb some vibration so it won't rattle out your bolts and teeth and be easier on your driveline.
:thumbs:
Go solid mount on the driver side because the elastics get weaker as the stretch and stronger as they compress. But use a rubber or poly on the passanger side to absorb some vibration so it won't rattle out your bolts and teeth and be easier on your driveline.
:thumbs:
