Failed Engine Mounts & Engine Carrier

 

Engine Carrier

Symptoms of a failed engine mount or bent engine carrier:

• A sudden change or degrading of shifting feel
• One or both of the exhaust tips appear to be sitting low in the rear bumper cutouts

Engine Mount

Failed Engine mounts:

There are two engine mounts in the 993/964 that can be seen

in the rearmost left and right sections of the engine compartment. The engine hangs below them held in place by the mount's threaded rod and nut that holds the engine up by the engine carrier. The original ones are fluid-filled with the intent to isolate a good bit of engine vibration from the body of the car and so reduce noise and body boom. When they fail the fluid leaks out and the engine drops slightly from its correct position. 

Installed mount
attached to carrier. 

If one suspects they have a failed mount it can be tested by sliding a floor jack under the center of the engine, just forward of the oil drain plug to the reinforced section of the center spine of the engine case, and using a hockey puck as a cushion lift the engine an inch or two and no more. If more than a tiny amount of vertical travel of the tailpipe tips is observed one or both mounts have failed. In either case, the mounts

should be replaced in pairs as both are probably of similar age and use.

The engine mount can be replaced with an original or

Non-fluid filled
Aftermarket Mounts

 aftermarket fluid-filled designs or there are several offerings of aftermarket mounts that do not feature the fluid-filled vibration isolation catering to those who like the idea of a stiffer mount or wish to save a little money as the fluid-filled OE mounts are expensive. Be aware these stiffer mounts may increase vibration and noises heard in the cabin that may be objectionable to some. 

If one notices one or both tailpipe tips are higher than normal the cause may be due to the tips grounding on a parking block, speed bump, or a steep driveway apron. In this case, the clamps that hold the tips can be easily loosened using a pair of box wrenches, and the tip(s) repositioned in their proper orientation.

Failed engine carrier:

If the motor mounts prove to be good from the above test and

OE carrier with right-hand side bent upward

one of the tailpipe tips seems to hang lower than normal the root cause may be a bent engine carrier. The engine carrier is the steel cross member the engine mounts are attached to that holds the rear of the engine. It can be observed to see if one side of the carrier is bent upward. It can be repaired and reinforced by a welding fabricator or it can be replaced with an original OE part or a more durable aftermarket replacement.

Here is a page that discusses the clutch and its role in shifting issues.

The Rennline brand
Reinforced Engine Carrier

Here is a page that discusses related transmission issues.

Here is a page that discussed related flywheel issues.

Here is a page that discusses servicing the shift linkage.

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motor mounts

#motor mount

motor carrier

#motor carrier