1990 Geo Prizm motor mounts

CARPETMAN1759

MEMBER
1990 GEO PRIZM
1.6L
4 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
125,000 MILES

All five of my mounts were bad so I got new ones. Changed the two easy ones first. The right side is at the timing belt area on top and the other one is on the left side top next to the transmission. Drove around for a couple days with no problems. Then I wanted to replace my bad "A" arm bushings so I dropped the cross frame, A arms and the other three mounts. There was a rear and front center mount and a mount under the bell housing. Now I get a "clunking" noise right when it starts. I get the same noise when I stick it in gear. It makes the same sound when you are coasting down the road and hit the gas a little bit. It also idles a little rough. Almost like I have solid motor mounts in it. I have raised the car up three times now and all the bolts are tight. Does anyone out there have an idea what I can check now? Ball joints are new also and the CV joints are OK.I have been under this car for days with a wrench but I can't find anything loose. HELP!

5 Replies

HMAC300

MECHANIC
48,601 POSTS

If you dropped the subframe with out holding engine you may have broken one of the new mounts recheck all of them.

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Wednesday, February 12th, 2014 AT 6:27 AM

CARPETMAN1759

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81 POSTS

Can these mounts brake inside? The engine hangs on the two upper mounts so when the bottom frame was out the engine just hung. The engine sits on the three other mounts so they kind of carry the weight of the motor. The old mounts had the rubber separating in them so I knew they were broken. Does these mounts have something in the rubber that I mite have broke when the engine was hanging? The mounts have a small metal tube in the middle which the bolt goes thru then molded rubber to an outer metal ring. I have checked all the rubber in all the mounts and they look brand new with no marks at all. None of the rubber parts are cut or cracked. But I don't know if there is anything inside the rubber that could brake.

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Wednesday, February 12th, 2014 AT 7:46 AM

HMAC300

MECHANIC
48,601 POSTS

They are rubber between steel or aluminum and yes they can break especially when the engine is just hanging with no support to hold it other than them. They either broke or cracked i'd bet so recheck them even if they are new. They are only made to stop vibration not hold weight.

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Wednesday, February 12th, 2014 AT 8:04 AM

CARPETMAN1759

MEMBER
81 POSTS

That is what I figured but was not sure. The rubber is not cracked away from the metal in anyway I can see. But if I take them out can I tell if they are broke by trying to move the center tube in the middle of the mount. They are not to bad to get to. Right side is on top but the left you need to remove the air box with filter. The only way it looks to me that it can go bad is if the rubber pulls away from the metal but I don't know I am just a back yard tool pusher. Once I get these two mounts out what should I be looking for? Don't know when I'll get to it because I am in Annapolis Maryland and I am getting ready for this big snow storm! Thanks for your time in this matter!

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Wednesday, February 12th, 2014 AT 10:10 AM

HMAC300

MECHANIC
48,601 POSTS

Ya just look at them after you get them out or have an assistant watch engine an dbrake torque in drive an dreverse see if they move then or maybe they can locate the click better.