1991 Honda Accord Front Motor Mount (idle, best, engine, replacing)

[tillman7]

1991 Honda Accord EX. 167,000 miles.


How can you tell if the front motor mount need replacing? The car jerks when I place it in reverse from park. The jerk is more noticeable was I first start the car in the morning.

[High_Plains_Retired]

Can't you look down in front of that motor and see the front mount? If so, you should be able to shake the motor and tell if the mount has separated.

I had a '91 Accord LE but I never had any trouble with the motor mounts. I wrecked my car at around 144,000 but I wonder if you're not seeing the beginnings of a transmission problem?

That Accord was one of the best cars I have ever owned and I've owned a lot of them over the past 50 years.

[ukrkoz]

Originally Posted by tillman7

1991 Honda Accord EX. 167,000 miles.


How can you tell if the front motor mount need replacing? The car jerks when I place it in reverse from park. The jerk is more noticeable was I first start the car in the morning.

It's the likely rear motor/transmission mount. Right down below the firewall, on a crossmember. Pain to get to. That one normally goes first. At that age, likely all of them need to be replaced anyway.
How to tell? Get her on stands, get under, equipped with long pry bar, get it between engine and subframe, and move engine. You will either see the crack in rubber damper, or will notice ton of looseness, or center bolt will be completely butted against the dampener outside housing.

[MckinneyOwnr]

Originally Posted by ukrkoz

It's the likely rear motor/transmission mount. Right down below the firewall, on a crossmember. Pain to get to. That one normally goes first. At that age, likely all of them need to be replaced anyway.
How to tell? Get her on stands, get under, equipped with long pry bar, get it between engine and subframe, and move engine. You will either see the crack in rubber damper, or will notice ton of looseness, or center bolt will be completely butted against the dampener outside housing.

This.

There's also a chance of your torque converter going out, but it's far easier to check motor mounts first, and hopefully that will solve the problem.

[GarageLogic]

Originally Posted by tillman7

1991 Honda Accord EX. 167,000 miles.

How can you tell if the front motor mount need replacing? The car jerks when I place it in reverse from park. The jerk is more noticeable was I first start the car in the morning.

Sounds suspect. Often a worn motor mount will also make the car vibrate loudly, at idle, when it's cold.

Unfortunately, it's going to be tough to isolate which of the mounts is the culprit. And the mounts aren't cheap. But, at 167,000 miles, you'll be doing yourself a service by replacing all of them anyway.

[tillman7]

Originally Posted by High_Plains_Retired

Can't you look down in front of that motor and see the front mount? If so, you should be able to shake the motor and tell if the mount has separated.

I had a '91 Accord LE but I never had any trouble with the motor mounts. I wrecked my car at around 144,000 but I wonder if you're not seeing the beginnings of a transmission problem?

That Accord was one of the best cars I have ever owned and I've owned a lot of them over the past 50 years.

I'm not a mechanic, I couldn't tell the different between a motor mount or a hole in the ground!

[hitman619]

When's the last time you changed your transmission fluid?

[ryuns]

At 167k, you probably have a trusted mechanic. Ask them for their opinion and the simple questions: is it going to get significantly worse? Is it a safety issue? I drove an '86 Accord from about 160k to 265k and there were an awful lot of things I started to "let go" after that. I believe a lot of my engine mounts were deteriorated and I experienced a pretty rough idle, that would go away as soon as it got any gas, or by shifting into neutral. But I'd definitely take it in to ensure it's not a safety issue.

[tillman7]

Originally Posted by hitman619

When's the last time you changed your transmission fluid?

I was told never change the transmission fluid. Don't remember when I had it changed.

Originally Posted by ryuns

At 167k, you probably have a trusted mechanic. Ask them for their opinion and the simple questions: is it going to get significantly worse? Is it a safety issue? I drove an '86 Accord from about 160k to 265k and there were an awful lot of things I started to "let go" after that. I believe a lot of my engine mounts were deteriorated and I experienced a pretty rough idle, that would go away as soon as it got any gas, or by shifting into neutral. But I'd definitely take it in to ensure it's not a safety issue.

The car has been serviced mostly by the dealer. It's a good running car. The mechanic I talk to at the dealer is on vacation.

[MckinneyOwnr]

Originally Posted by tillman7

I was told never change the transmission fluid. Don't remember when I had it changed.

The car has been serviced mostly by the dealer. It's a good running car. The mechanic I talk to at the dealer is on vacation.

If the dealer told you never to change the transmission fluid, I'd find a new dealer if I were you. There's almost always a service interval for tranny fluid changes. On some cars, it can be as low as 60k miles. The average is probably about 120k. At any rate, look in your owners manual or ask for the maintenance schedule at your dealer and they can print it off for you.