Engine mount diagnosis please... - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Surfslinger · 11-25-2011, 03:36 PM

1994 Camry 4 cyl, Parking brake on, brakes engaged by assistant, engine running at slightly higher than normal idle rpm's, shifting from Park-Reverse-Neutral-Drive and back, the engine definitely shows a lot more movement when shifted into reverse (rear of engine lifts higher, and more abruptly than when in drive), accompanied by a mild "clunk" shifting into reverse. There is no clunk/noise driving, or shifting into drive when stopped. The torque strut has some mild rubber tearing, but in no way is ripped to pieces, even under load.

From what I am observing, I believe this would lead me to a bad/failing front mount? This front mount has no evidence of hydraulic leakage, and it and the torque strut rod were replaced at the same time with genuine Toyota parts, and have about 105k miles on them. Rear mount is original, with 167k miles, and about all I could do concerning it, was from above raise the rubber cover, and feel for cracks (solid rubber I believe for the rear mount). No cracks were felt.

From what and how I describe the situation, would you suspect a defective front or rear mount? I have not checked the auto trans mount yet FWIW, and it is original. Thanks for the help.

bigbird · 11-25-2011, 09:48 PM

a bad mount somewhere else can cause the newer mounts to fail faster. If the rear mount is original then i'd guess its that but take a look at the dog bone mount too (top left of engine bay, attached to passenger strut tower if facing front of car).

Surfslinger · 11-26-2011, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigbird

a bad mount somewhere else can cause the newer mounts to fail faster. If the rear mount is original then i'd guess its that but take a look at the dog bone mount too (top left of engine bay, attached to passenger strut tower if facing front of car).

Yeah, I try to keep up on what mounts are going bad to protect the others, and it seems to me one (at least) may be going bad; but which one?... Always pretty easy when they are actually broken, but getting a bit weak is not so easy, and I don't want to throw $$$ at a non existent problem.

I called the dog bone "torque strut rod", and as mentioned it has mild cracking, which could be it's just going bad itself, or others are going, and taking it with them.