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Car vibrations after new motor and transmission mounts?

Tiny
MBLUNCK
  • MEMBER
  • 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 130,000 MILES
Hello,

About two months ago I took my car to a friend because I felt like the A/C wasn’t blowing cool air. Well; that issue fixed itself on the drive to the friend's house (think it might’ve just been a hotter day) but had mechanic friend look at it anyway and he noticed it needed a new motor mount. He replaced one of the mounts and I went on my way. I noticed after he replaced the mount there was a vibration at the front of the car that was noticeable while idling and especially when in reverse. This vibration had not happened before he replaced the mount. I drove like this for a couple of weeks and brought it to a mechanic with good reviews. Had him do a full diagnosis of the car, which was apparently in rough shape. Had an oil leak that was spilling into power steering and something else, replaced all that, replaced suspension, and all new motor mounts and transmission mount. Get the car back and it is still vibrating so I bring it back in a week later. They put in another set of “better” mounts. Well, I picked it up yesterday after the mechanic called and said to drive it for a week and see what I feel (after hours or I would’ve said something then) and the car is vibrating worse than ever on idle and reverse and even slightly in park now. When I press the gas it is loud and I can feel vibration in my foot on the gas pedal. Is this all motor mounts? It only started when the mount was replaced in the first place but how is it getting worse with all new?
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Thursday, March 16th, 2023 AT 6:10 AM

10 Replies

Tiny
MIKE H R
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,094 POSTS
At idle the car should not be vibrating like that. The mechanic that did the work should look at the work, there might be a wire or connection that may have come loose when he did the suspension. Does the car show any codes?
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Thursday, March 16th, 2023 AT 8:11 AM
Tiny
MBLUNCK
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
Unsure about codes, but when I asked him if it was definitely the mounts, he said yes, or check engine light would be on. Said everything else was working fine. Bringing it back in a few days, I will ask him to run codes and check wires. It only started vibrating after the friend put the one mount on, then got worse after the third set of mounts. Thanks for the response!
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Thursday, March 16th, 2023 AT 8:20 AM
Tiny
MIKE H R
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,094 POSTS
To me it sounds like a bad connection somewhere. I don't believe the bad motor mount would have the engine light come on. I may be wrong but I would check all the wiring by the motor mounts.
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Thursday, March 16th, 2023 AT 8:24 AM
Tiny
MBLUNCK
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
Yeah, he was saying if it was something other than the mounts the check engine light would come on. The first time he replaced all the mounts, it was the same vibration I was feeling after I had my friend replace one mount. The second time I brought it in and he put the “better” mounts on is when the vibration got SO much worse and now is very loud on acceleration and feels almost like I’m revving every time I accelerate before it eventually evens out.
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Thursday, March 16th, 2023 AT 8:30 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,885 POSTS
Hi,

I noticed it has been a couple of days since we heard from you. Have you been able to make any progress?

As far as the engine mounts, yep, they can set a code. The vehicle has electronically controlled motor mounts. The mounts are both electrical and vacuum operated.

Is it possible for you to ask for the code that was set? Also, keep in mind that the mounts' vacuum supply between the intake manifold and the electronically controlled engine mount may be faulty causing an engine vacuum leak and rendering the mounts inoperative.

If you can, let us know the codes. If he no longer has it or them, you really should have the can-bus scanned for codes.

CAN stands for controller area network. Basically, the different modules on the vehicle are tied together via a few wires so they can communicate with each other. This type of scan will retrieve codes regardless of the module storing them.

Here is a link that explains how it is done:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/can-scan-controller-area-network-easy

Let us know if the issue has been resolved and if you can get the diagnostic trouble code.

Take care,

Joe
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Saturday, March 18th, 2023 AT 9:08 PM
Tiny
MBLUNCK
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
Hey, thanks for checking in. I’m going to bring the car back to the shop later this week to have them check it out again. I brought it to a friend this weekend who said it seemed like the transmission was working fine, but that it seemed like it could just be stiff mounts. I’m still skeptical though. It tends to vibrate so much more when the weather is cold, and also when the car has been sitting overnight. Still only really in reverse or idle.
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Monday, March 20th, 2023 AT 5:57 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,885 POSTS
Hi,

That makes sense. When you place the vehicle in drive, the engine torques in one direction against a specific mount. When in reverse, it goes the opposite way onto a different mount. I have a feeling that is the issue.

I don't know if you want it, but I attached the diagnostics below for this circuit.

Let me know if I can help. If you have a chance, let me know what is found.

Take care,

Joe

See pics below.
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Monday, March 20th, 2023 AT 8:45 PM
Tiny
MBLUNCK
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
Hey guys. Just dropped the car off at the shop again, the ac is now not blowing as cool and makes a rattling noise when turned on and remaining on. This didn’t happen before. The vibrating/shaking in idle and reverse is not as prominent as it was prior to the ac no longer working, but still there. When I dropped it off, the owner of the shop said to me “we didn’t realize it was a shaking in the dash, we thought it was from the engine which is why we were going crazy with motor mounts.” I’ve told him the entire time the vibration is felt from the dash and in my steering wheel and gear shift and seat, the entire front of the car. Even my passenger in the back seat felt the vibration. I’m just incredibly frustrated and losing faith in them. If the problem is not resolved this time, I’ll be taking it elsewhere. I told them to run codes and check everything. My A/C compressor is only 1.5 years old, so hopefully not that. I attached video of the vibration prior to the ac not working as well and the weird rattling sound I can now hear when ac is on.
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Thursday, March 23rd, 2023 AT 2:09 PM
Tiny
MBLUNCK
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
You can also hear that weird rumble when you turn the A/C off now. I have no idea.
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Thursday, March 23rd, 2023 AT 2:12 PM
Tiny
MIKE H R
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,094 POSTS
The way you says it sounds I would guess the heater fan motor check our repair guide. you will have to take out your glove box 9 screws then you can get to the heater motor and see if that is where the noise is coming from,

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/blower-fan-motor-works-on-high-speed-only

2Carpros
Mike
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Thursday, March 23rd, 2023 AT 3:36 PM

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