On the subject of motor mounts

I have a 97 SL1 and was wondering how you know if your motor mounts
need replacing. The car idles kinda rough and has more vibration in
drive now compared to what it used to a few years back.
Thanks,
MR

 

1) If you haven't changed them before, then they probably need to be
replaced.
2) From your description, the upper motor mount (actually called the
torque axis mount or TAM) would be the first thing I'd check.
3) If there's more than about 1/4" gap between the metal and rubber
parts of your TAM, it's bad.

 

Are the mounts available from a parts dealer or only from Saturn?
Thanks.

 

Don't know. I bought mine from Saturn. It's actually just one mount,
and I paid $94.75 for it with tax and new, longer studs. They told me
it had been redesigned, and the studs had to be changed. Hopefully that
means it will last longer.

 

I had to change mine on the 98 SL at about 100,000 miles. Didn't notice a
lot of vibration, but my mechanic suggested the replacement due to age &
miles.

 

got mine from advance auto it was $56 dollars.. There is also a lower
transmission mount on the oppisite side that I would change also.

 

You probably do need an upper motor mount especially if it's never been
changed out. In my experience it's an every 3-to-5 years thing.

Vibration is probably the upper motor mount. You can probably see a gap
in the top as it has collapsed.

Clunking on acceleration is one or more of the lower motor dogbone
mounts or the transaxle mount. Here what I saw was swollen rubber parts
from previous oil leaks on my wife's 92 SL1. You can see these mounts
by taking off the wheel well cover.

Tim.