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By RAV4EVR, December 19, 2008 in Pre-1997 Toyota Corolla and Geo Prizm

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I HAVE, IN THE PAST, POSTED ABOUT THIS ASKING FOR HELP. 12 MONTHS LATER. 30,000 MILES LATER............ HERE WE GO ............

I had a lot of vibration in my Corolla since I bought the car a few years ago.

Today the vibration is fixed.

I can hear myself breathe.

Here is the story... If it can help you. Great !!!

If not, good luck !!

The vibration was mostly from 1000-1200 RPMS and on speeds above 75mph (not sure of RPMs.. may be 3100 plus)

When I bought the car from Florida (drove it back 800 miles to KY). It was extremely loud due to vibration.

My initial guess was a MOTOR MOUNT.

Got car checked (December 2007). Not a single mechanic thought that the MOTOR MOUNTS were bad. DEALER said..... that is how COROLLAS drive and the car is what the car is. It can not be made any better. ??????/ huh???????

(January 2008), One guy replaced my clutch plate and charged me 500 some dollars. The vibration was much better.

I drove another 30k miles miles and a few months ago, I noticed the vibration increasing due to COLD. I saw something that I had never seen before. The guy who APPARENTLY replaced my clutch plate had stuck a rubber piece in between my passenger side top motor mount.

I took it to the dealer. They took the rubber piece out and guess what.. the vibration was the same as it was a year ago. The a** h*** mechanice never needed to replace my clutch plate.

Anyhow, I had them put the rubber piece back in there.

I did some research on the net.

Some places (if u search a lot) people were talking about the passenger side motor mount, above the passenger side wheel well. People were talking about how the best money they spent in their life by replacing that motor mount.

I talked to the dealer. Dealer said that they doubt it would fix problem and I would just waste my money.

I thought about it. $200 part. $80 labor.

Decided to go for it. Original part at dealer.

Ordered it a few weeks ago. Part came in a few days.

Continued to debate.

Last night, I decided to go for it.

I replaced the part today.

Just got my car.

I am in HEAVEN. It is a 15 year old car. Because of that stupid motor mount it was loud.

I cannot hear the car drive now as it is so QUIETTTTT..............................

YEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I feel good and bad.

I feel good that the car is not SUFFERING ANYMORE.

I feel sad that I drove my car like that for 30,000 miles.

Somebody SHOOT me.... I have said sorry to my car and I am hoping that it has forgiven me............

Looking forward to the oil change and further pampering of my car this weekend. Hopefully I can make peace with it.

I have paid $203 for the part.

$80 for labor.

Had a $125 gift card.

The best $158 I ever spent. The car not only looks new, it drives like new. Have 97k miles on it right now.

Here is my beauty........................ default_smile

http://www.freewebs.com/toyotasrock/DSC00849.JPG

http://www.freewebs.com/toyotasrock/DSC00852.JPG

Good to hear that you finally can put this to rest. Funny that you posted this - a recent addition to the forums, poster JMC has the exact same problem. No one figured that it could be the mounts at first - later determined that the upper passenger side one was bad.

Pretty tough to diagnose visually - all you needed to have was one guy twith a prybar and jam it in the mounts - that probably would have avoided all that headache. Same with my 2003 Matrix and 2002 Corolla - I've added urethane inserts to the existing motor mounts to make them rigid. Even though they looked OK and the engine didn't seem to shift around that much - after adding them, the cars completely changed their character. Especially the Matrix - it occasionally made a weird clunking noise, that sounded like a bad CV joint - that dissappeared as soon as I installed the inserts. Also made clutch engagement butter smooth and with positive shift feel - none of the loosey goosey stuff anymore.

Good to hear that you finally can put this to rest. Funny that you posted this - a recent addition to the forums, poster JMC has the exact same problem. No one figured that it could be the mounts at first - later determined that the upper passenger side one was bad.

Pretty tough to diagnose visually - all you needed to have was one guy twith a prybar and jam it in the mounts - that probably would have avoided all that headache. Same with my 2003 Matrix and 2002 Corolla - I've added urethane inserts to the existing motor mounts to make them rigid. Even though they looked OK and the engine didn't seem to shift around that much - after adding them, the cars completely changed their character. Especially the Matrix - it occasionally made a weird clunking noise, that sounded like a bad CV joint - that dissappeared as soon as I installed the inserts. Also made clutch engagement butter smooth and with positive shift feel - none of the loosey goosey stuff anymore.

 

It makes me sick to think that a simple thing like that was not resolved easily.

What are these mechanics good for?

Not one shop but multiple shops including the dealer who's guys get special trained by Toyota for Toyota cars. Where is common sense?

I specifically used to tell everybody that right when I go over the edge of the hill, the vibration goes away... Hello??? was that a clue?

03 Matrix and 02 Corolla had that problem?

... but these cars are fairly new.

I am trying to figure out if the car exists in a certain kind of conditions that causes the motor mounts to go hard prematurely.... What do you think?

I'm pretty sure that the environment has a big influence on rubber deterioration. Lots of heat and ozone under there - just a matter of time before these mounts start to go bad. They have also done away with balance shafts (usually needed on larger 4-cylinders) in the engine design - plus space/packaging is important design aspect. I wasn't too shocked about the soft mounts - I started noticing around 40K miles on the Matrix - the Corolla didn't start showing signs until a little over 100K - but I had already added inserts at 50K on that car.

Your Corolla is a real beauty! Congratulations on fixing the vibration -- I know something like that would have driven me crazy! I hope you and your Corolla enjoy many safe and quiet miles together!

i probably need to replace my side mount, my cars vibrations are getting a little worse. thanks for the reminder guys! i'll probably do the side mount in the gf's escort as well, shes getting some vibration as well that feels more than normal.

Hmm. this sounds familiar! I have a vibration that starts at around 60mph....I had thought bad tires, so replaced them, no luck. had my rims checked, no luck, they were fine (well, i guess that's lucky!) I was going to look into the suspension next, but a bigger problem came up recently. if that gets fixed, perhaps I'll look into the motor mount issue.

What would I be looking into getting? just some rubber or urethane inserts? where would I get them from?

Bikeman982

Looks like one of my cars!!

I have changed a few of those motor mounts (as well as some motors).

Is yours the 4A-FE 1.6L or the 7A-FE 1.8L engine??

Looks like one of my cars!!I have changed a few of those motor mounts (as well as some motors).

 

Is yours the 4A-FE 1.6L or the 7A-FE 1.8L engine??

7A-FE 1.8L

Do you experience any unusual vibrations?

Hmm. this sounds familiar! I have a vibration that starts at around 60mph....I had thought bad tires, so replaced them, no luck. had my rims checked, no luck, they were fine (well, i guess that's lucky!) I was going to look into the suspension next, but a bigger problem came up recently. if that gets fixed, perhaps I'll look into the motor mount issue.

What would I be looking into getting? just some rubber or urethane inserts? where would I get them from?

 

The vibration was kind of like this...

Put ur cellphone on vibrate and stick it on ur head. Let it vibrate and that is how i felt with the car. Felt like the engine was sitting on my head without any rubber in the middle.

Rpms 900-1300 were very bad.

Speeds 50-65 were not very smooth.

 

65-75 it got ok.

 

I could not drive above 75mph because it was like riding a loud small plane..

My right side bumper and the indicator assembly vibrated very bad at start ups and while driving on the road.

Your Corolla is a real beauty! Congratulations on fixing the vibration -- I know something like that would have driven me crazy! I hope you and your Corolla enjoy many safe and quiet miles together!

Well thank you !!

I drove my wife crazy last weekend.

Everytime I started the car I looked her and said, "See... Very nice and quiet."

RAV4EVR....I really appreciate the fact that you took the time to author this thread. I have a '95 Corolla, 1.8 Liter, 5 Speed, which I bought about 11 months ago. (BTW, my car looks exactly like yours....perfect paint, same color, same stock hubcaps, etc). The only thing I really didn't like about the car was the vibrations which were EXACTLY as you described. Also, the colder out it got, the worse the vibrations became. I really couldn't find anything that looked or tested out as needing replacing. I did the pry bar near the mounts test and they all seemed OK. None of the mounts were torn, and none allowed excessive engine movement. After reading your thread, I figured, what the heck, I'll replace the mount and see what happens. I found an upper right mount on ebay for around $47 including shipping, and I just got done installing it tonight. Just like in your situation, it is now LIKE A DIFFERENT CAR! The vibrations aren't just a little better, THEY ARE COMPLETELY GONE!! I've been wrenching on cars for more than 35 years, and there's not too much that surprises me anymore. But the fact that this one new mount has completely cured the vibration issue, truly amazes me! So, I'll end by saying THANKS again for sharing your exprience and my wife extends her thanks to you as well. RAV4EVR is the man!!!

Ahhhhh, now you're making me feel lazy. I need to do this. I've had them for over a year. default_biggrin

Jay in MA

Your Corolla is a real beauty! Congratulations on fixing the vibration -- I know something like that would have driven me crazy! I hope you and your Corolla enjoy many safe and quiet miles together!

Well thank you !!

I drove my wife crazy last weekend.

Everytime I started the car I looked her and said, "See... Very nice and quiet."

I'm about to change my right side passenger mount as well. I'm just trying to figure out how I'm going to hold the engine.

I'm about to change my right side passenger mount as well. I'm just trying to figure out how I'm going to hold the engine.

 

Raise the front of the vehicle on jack stands or ramps. Before unbolting the mount, use the jack that came with your car and put it on top of a cinder block or substitute. Then put a block of wood between the top of the jack and the oil pan and raise the jack slightly. That's all there is to it. BTW, I would never suggest using a cinder block to hold up the weight of the car, but it will be just fine to hold the engine up temporarily with the other three mounts still attached.

I'm about to change my right side passenger mount as well. I'm just trying to figure out how I'm going to hold the engine.

 

Raise the front of the vehicle on jack stands or ramps. Before unbolting the mount, use the jack that came with your car and put it on top of a cinder block or substitute. Then put a block of wood between the top of the jack and the oil pan and raise the jack slightly. That's all there is to it. BTW, I would never suggest using a cinder block to hold up the weight of the car, but it will be just fine to hold the engine up temporarily with the other three mounts still attached.

Thank you

Bikeman982

My car vibrates like crazy - gives me a false sense of power.

I kind of like it.

I'm about to change my right side passenger mount as well. I'm just trying to figure out how I'm going to hold the engine.

 

Raise the front of the vehicle on jack stands or ramps. Before unbolting the mount, use the jack that came with your car and put it on top of a cinder block or substitute. Then put a block of wood between the top of the jack and the oil pan and raise the jack slightly. That's all there is to it. BTW, I would never suggest using a cinder block to hold up the weight of the car, but it will be just fine to hold the engine up temporarily with the other three mounts still attached.

Thank you

What else needs to be removed in order to undo the mount? I read somewhere that you have to remove part of the A/C and or cruise control?? Is this difficult?

What else needs to be removed in order to undo the mount? I read somewhere that you have to remove part of the A/C and or cruise control?? Is this difficult?

 

My car doesn't have cruise control so I didn't have an issue with that. As far as the A/C lines are concerned, yes, the mount is located partially underneath the lines and there is a bracket on top of the mount that holds the lines. All I did was remove the bolt that holds the A/C bracket to the top of the mount and I removed another A/C line bracket that is located on, or near, the radiator support to allow the lines to move enough so you can slip the old mount from underneath the lines. Obviously, you want to try to minimize any movement of the lines as much as possible.

What else needs to be removed in order to undo the mount? I read somewhere that you have to remove part of the A/C and or cruise control?? Is this difficult?

 

My car doesn't have cruise control so I didn't have an issue with that. As far as the A/C lines are concerned, yes, the mount is located partially underneath the lines and there is a bracket on top of the mount that holds the lines. All I did was remove the bolt that holds the A/C bracket to the top of the mount and I removed another A/C line bracket that is located on, or near, the radiator support to allow the lines to move enough so you can slip the old mount from underneath the lines. Obviously, you want to try to minimize any movement of the lines as much as possible.

Thanks for that info!!! Do the bolts on the mount have a specific torque requirement?

What else needs to be removed in order to undo the mount? I read somewhere that you have to remove part of the A/C and or cruise control?? Is this difficult?

 

My car doesn't have cruise control so I didn't have an issue with that. As far as the A/C lines are concerned, yes, the mount is located partially underneath the lines and there is a bracket on top of the mount that holds the lines. All I did was remove the bolt that holds the A/C bracket to the top of the mount and I removed another A/C line bracket that is located on, or near, the radiator support to allow the lines to move enough so you can slip the old mount from underneath the lines. Obviously, you want to try to minimize any movement of the lines as much as possible.

Thanks for that info!!! Do the bolts on the mount have a specific torque requirement?

I'm sure a torque specification is available in the factory service manual, but I just used my own judgemet based on 35 years of turning wrenches. The torque on the motor mount bolts really is not that critical as long they are good and tight.

Just replaced the passenger side mount to my 95 this weekend. Like all the others have said, my car runs like new again - smooth as butter - no vibrations!

For those of you that are having major vibrations and are on the fence about replacing this mount, JUST DO IT!!! I am kicking myslef in the but for driving my car like that for 2-3 years - god knows the damage I have done to the rest of the car from all those vibrations!

RAV4EVR....I really appreciate the fact that you took the time to author this thread. I have a '95 Corolla, 1.8 Liter, 5 Speed, which I bought about 11 months ago. (BTW, my car looks exactly like yours....perfect paint, same color, same stock hubcaps, etc). The only thing I really didn't like about the car was the vibrations which were EXACTLY as you described. Also, the colder out it got, the worse the vibrations became. I really couldn't find anything that looked or tested out as needing replacing. I did the pry bar near the mounts test and they all seemed OK. None of the mounts were torn, and none allowed excessive engine movement. After reading your thread, I figured, what the heck, I'll replace the mount and see what happens. I found an upper right mount on ebay for around $47 including shipping, and I just got done installing it tonight. Just like in your situation, it is now LIKE A DIFFERENT CAR! The vibrations aren't just a little better, THEY ARE COMPLETELY GONE!! I've been wrenching on cars for more than 35 years, and there's not too much that surprises me anymore. But the fact that this one new mount has completely cured the vibration issue, truly amazes me! So, I'll end by saying THANKS again for sharing your exprience and my wife extends her thanks to you as well. RAV4EVR is the man!!!

Very Glad to have helped.. default_smile.. [sorry about the late response. I have been so busy last few months without much internet]

Bad_dude

I'm pretty sure that the environment has a big influence on rubber deterioration. Lots of heat and ozone under there - just a matter of time before these mounts start to go bad. They have also done away with balance shafts (usually needed on larger 4-cylinders) in the engine design - plus space/packaging is important design aspect. I wasn't too shocked about the soft mounts - I started noticing around 40K miles on the Matrix - the Corolla didn't start showing signs until a little over 100K - but I had already added inserts at 50K on that car.

Hey Fishexpo101,

Could you do a DIY on the motor mount inserts? Where did you get your inserts from?

Thanks.

^^^^

Mine were from Energy Suspension - but I believe they were custom ones, as they don't make them (no SKU #) for the 8th generation Corolla. They only stock the 9th gen Corolla/Matrix mounts. Unfortunantely, the two are not interchangeable - but for those 9th gen Corolla/Matrix/Vibe models - the ES mounts will fit both manual and automatic transaxles (they list them for manual fitment only).

I'll try to scrounge up those pics when I did them some years ago - if not, I'll try and see if I can show the ones on the Matrix - installation will be identical. Also, I haven't forgotten the TB cleaning DIY - the pics were pretty poor, so I need redo them. Probably won't be for two or three weeks, as I'll be out of town the next two weeks.



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