What are the symptoms of a bad engine mount?
3 Answers
Engine mount failure primarily manifests as noise during vehicle startup. Below is a detailed introduction about automotive engine mounts: Overview: An engine mount is a cushion that connects the engine to the vehicle body. Most are made of rubber, while a few are hydraulic products. Under normal circumstances, engine mounts can last for more than 6 years without a specific replacement interval. However, when signs of cracking, aging, or corrosion appear on the engine mount, it must be replaced promptly. Function: The main function of engine mounts is to reduce the vibration transmitted from the engine to the vehicle frame. The rubber components in engine mounts can eliminate resonance generated during engine operation. Some mounts also feature hydraulic oil pressure relief functionality. When the mount is damaged, vibrations from the engine can cause the entire vehicle body to shake.
A broken engine mount is really frustrating. The most obvious symptom is severe shaking at idle—it feels like the whole car is vibrating when you're sitting inside. The steering wheel trembles, and you can even see ripples in a drink placed on it. During acceleration or deceleration, you'll hear clunking noises from the engine bay, like metal hitting metal. Especially in automatic transmission cars, gear shifts feel extremely jarring, as if the entire engine is wobbling. If you park in neutral while holding the brakes, you'll notice excessive up-and-down movement of the front end. Years ago when I drove a taxi, I encountered this issue—later inspection revealed completely deteriorated engine mounts. Once the rubber cracks from aging, all damping effect disappears, causing collateral damage to other components.
I've seen too many issues with engine mounts failing, with the main symptom being abnormally increased vibrations. After starting the engine, when you sit in the driver's seat and touch the steering wheel, the vibrations transmit directly through the vehicle body. Listen carefully - when pressing the accelerator, you can hear dull thumping sounds, indicating the engine is impacting against its mounting bracket. The easiest place to spot this during inspection is near the exhaust pipe position, because failed mounts cause the entire exhaust system to shake. The clutch pedal will also show abnormal vibration feedback, especially in manual transmission models. My recommendation is to test this at traffic lights by shifting to D gear while holding the brakes, then check if the steering wheel vibration intensity becomes abnormally strong. If left unrepaired, this problem will eventually damage the entire engine mounting system.
