Suspect Bad Engine Mount

[Axe Man]

Vehicle: 2004 Honda Civic 2dr, D17A1 engine, 5 speed stick, 80K miles.

Symptoms: I get one loud "click" under the following conditions..

When starting out in 1st gear or reverse.
If I let off the gas in 2nd gear.
I also hear it slightly when shutting the engine off.

I did a quick check of the CV's and no rips, tears, or leaking grease. And since it does it slightly when shutting off the engine I think I can rule out everything in the front axle area. Here is a shot of the upper engine mount...

To my untrained eye it looks OK. I haven't had a chance to get under the vehicle to check the other mounts. I'm also not ruling out that the exhaust may be hitting something so I'm going to check that too. But if I do have a bum mount how do I tell easily?

 

[Papa Bear]

With the hood open and the parking brake set, have a buddy give it the gas in 1st and reverse while you watch the engine. You may see the mount open up under load.

 

[mechtech2]

I almost fell for zeroing in on the engine mount.
Customer suggested diagnosis [apart from symptoms] is always suspect.
Get it on a rack and nose around. Start with the exhaust and heat shielding.

 

[Donald]

80K would be low mileage for an engine mount. That is not to say they cannot go bad due to a defect in 80K. As another person has mentioned, get another person to look at the engine as you rev. it up.

 

[Paul56]

Unless the mount is totally shot I doubt there will be any noise from it.

I replaced the upper torque strut (part of the motor mount system) on a Neon last fall with 160,000k (100,000 miles)that had gone bad. There was still rubber inside but the rubber had separated from the metal part and causing more stress for the other mounts.. which are still in good shape.

Keep an open mind and poke around under the hood inspecting for anything lose. If you have the facilities to get underneath do the same thing.

As others have mentioned, would help to have someone at the driver's seat causing the click while you try to zero in on the area.

 

[RH+G]

Sounds like an exhaust issue to me. Is that the one with the cat under the hood? Check the flex pipe

 

[Merkava_4]

Originally Posted By: Paul56
Unless the mount is totally shot I doubt there will be any noise from it.


No ... it's not the mount itself that makes the noise when it's worn out; it's the engine moving around in ways it shouldn't that causes the noise. I used to get a popping noise from the right front whenever I'd make a sharp left turn or go over a speed bump; replacement of the right front engine mount and the front center transmission mount eliminated the noise.

The engine mounts were found worn out by a front end shop I took the car too. One guy got in and power braked the engine while the other guy watched the movement of the engine is how they found it. I paid the shop for their time inspecting it and then went home and did the work myself.

 

[Axe Man]

Thanks for the suggestions. Tomorrow I should have the opportunity to get it on ramps and check things out. First thing I'll check is the exhaust. I'll pull it front to back and see if the noise reveals itself. If not then I'll take it off the ramps and get a helper to engage the clutch with parking brake set and watch and listen. I'll post results.

 

[Mr Nice]

I doubt its a bad engine mount with such low miles.

 

[DOHCtor]

Front motor mounts are always shot on a 1st gen Neon... that's why i use energy suspention motor mounts inserts... but i also doubt it's a bad motor mount at such a low milleage... especially if you're not giving you're civic a beating...

Marko!!