Is this a motor mount gone bad?

Car jerking aggressively mostly during stops, once would take a while to catch speed now it will not go at all. Car would not go over 40mph and still goes in reverse. Gears shift smoothly

My car has 67500 miles.

Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
What you are describing may be a result of a faulty speed sensor, potentially low transmission fluid or a even a faulty transmission control solenoid. As your vehicle travels down the road, the computer analyzes data being sent by vehicle speed sensors and engine speed sensors. Based on this information, the Engine Control Unit (ECU), or the Transmission Control Unit (TCM), executes the appropriate upshifts and downshifts by sending a signal to one of several shift solenoids. These transmission solenoids have spring-loaded plungers inside them, which are wrapped with wire. When this coil of wire receives an electrical charge from the TCM / ECU, it causes these plungers to open, allowing transmission fluid to flow into the valve body and pressurize the desired clutches and bands. When this happens, the transmission changes gears and you continue down the road. The computer controls the transmission solenoid in several ways. If the vehicle is equipped with a dedicated Transmission Control Unit, it can open or close the hydraulic circuit using a direct 12v signal. In some cases, the Engine Control Unit (ECU) can control the solenoid’s plunger by turning the ground circuit on and off. When this is not working properly, this can cause a jerking reaction, a delay in shifting or in some cases may cause the transmission to hesitate in shifting gears. I would recommend having a professional from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose and inspect your transmission.

How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?

Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :

Typically, one motor mount fails before the others. As an engine revs, it wants to rotate in the same direction as the crankshaft. That tends to stretch one motor mount and compress the others. Usually, the mount that stretches is the one that fails first, Mazor said.
A failing motor mount can lead to serious engine damage and will also greatly impact the performance of the vehicle. It is very unsafe to drive with a broken motor mount. If you feel a lot of vibration in the vehicle while you are driving, there`s a good chance it`s the motor mount.
Factory original mounts last a pretty long time, but engine oil leaks are a common cause of premature degrading. Worn mounts will allow a running engine to shift and bounce in all kinds of unpredictable, power-sapping ways.
Motor mounts keep your engine attached to the car. Weak or broken mounts can`t hold the engine tight in the engine compartment and creates a vibration at idle.
In addition to vibrations, a damaged mount also causes heavy jerks and jolts when you change gears, as the transmission too is attached to the engine unit. This jerk can be noticed at higher speeds, or simply when you change gears.
Over time and use, hydraulic engine mounts can start to fail and “pancake.” This can directly affect the height and position of the engine, which not only leads to a deteriorating ride, but also has the potential to damage other components such as the cooling fan and shroud.
Most mounts are made out of a rubber material so there`s no direct metal-to-metal contact between the engine and the vehicle`s body or frame. When an engine or transmission mount fails, the result usually is harsh vibration from the movement between the body and drivetrain.
Engine mounts are made of a hard rubber material which allows them to absorb these vibrations. When a motor mount is damaged or broken, not only will you feel excess vibration in the car, other parts in the engine can get misaligned and ultimately break since the engine is not in its precise location.
Engine mounts go bad due to age and stress. The rubber casing will deteriorate after time, much like a rubber band will lose its elasticity over time, which will start to develop small cracks, which will, in turn, cause the fluid from within to leak out.
As motor mounts deteriorate and give your engine wiggle room to move, you may hear strange noises under the hood. Thumping or clunking could be impact sounds from the engine making contact with other components during acceleration.
Hard shifting is certainly a symptom of bad motor mount(s). And especially with an auto transmission. The likely suspect is the motor mount located in the rear of the engine bay; this mount takes the brunt of the force when the engine torques from accelerating and shifting.
Motor mount replacement is a big job, though, so be wary of any mechanic or dealer that is offering to do the job for a price that seems too good to be true.
In addition to vibrations, a damaged mount also causes heavy jerks and jolts when you change gears, as the transmission too is attached to the engine unit. This jerk can be noticed at higher speeds, or simply when you change gears.
As your motor mounts wear out, they can cause vibrations and engine shaking that can cause your entire vehicle to experience a decrease in ride quality.
For days, weeks, probably months. Most engine mounts have captive metal parts so the engine can`t drop out onto the road. It will just go clunk when you shift into drive or reverse. So it`s not a safety issue very much.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

Are the motor mounts touched during a tune up? When are the motor mounts touched?
ANSWER : There is nothing in a basic tune up that would require loosening or touching the motor mounts. If the motor mounts are in fact loose, they could potentially cause damage to the axles if the motor were to shift enough while driving; however, this would take time and there would have been a very distinct vibration and clunk that you would have very likely noticed while driving. I would recommend having a certified technician, such as one from YourMechanic, come take a look at the car to properly diagnose and repair your motor mount problem.

Burnt yellow and brown wires at blower motor resistor, is this indicator of bad resistor or bad motor? 2011 Chevrolet Malibu
ANSWER : Hi there – most likely, the problem is the blower motor resistor pack. A quick way to test this is if the blower fan still works in the "Max" position. If it does, that pretty-much rules out the motor as the problem. The resistor pack can get pretty hot while running the fan in lower settings, which could damage the wiring to it just from the heat. If the resistor shorts, increased electrical load could burn the wiring insulation as well. I would suggest an electrical inspection by a mobile, professional mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, who will come to your location, diagnose this problem, give you an accurate assessment of damage and cost estimate for repairs.

What is cost to neutralize motor mounts, I switched out front mount but now it vibrates off of frame
ANSWER : I believe you need to replace all of your mounts. You are saying it is touching the frame, so I would suggest the rest of them be replaced also. You may also look around and see if you have anything obstructing the fact that it isn’t sitting properly. I hope this helps with your issue.

I changed out the top motor mount twice. I still have vibration. Could it be the lower motor mounts?
ANSWER : To check for engine-mount problems, you can try shifting from "neutral" to "drive" and back, while the engine is running. If the vibrations disappear or reduce dramatically in "neutral," it’s likely that you need new engine mounts. Whenever there is excessive engine vibration, be sure to first rule out engine operating conditions. For example, rough running at idle can be caused by faults in the air induction system as well as the ignition and fuel systems. If you want the running condition of the engine evaluated by a certified Mechanic, dispatched by YourMechanic right to your location, please request a rough idle diagnostic. To evaluate the motor mounts, request an engine vibration diagnostic. If you do end up replacing additional motor mounts, genuine OEM mounts are recommended in order to maximize the chances of resolving the problem. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.

Mechanic Says its Motor Mount, but…
ANSWER : Hello. The struts have no connection whatsoever with the engine or transmission mounts. At 70,000 miles, it is not likely motor mounts will have failed UNLESS tremendous loads have been consistently put on the engine through, for example, abrupt acceleration.

Mounts usually fail due to oil/antifreeze contamination and cracks in the rubber. Hydraulic mounts can leak, too. If your mounts appear "dry" you are probably OK. Sometimes mounts can be tested just by looking for excessive engine motion.

In park, have an assistant abruptly raise engine speed to a couple thousand RPM. The engine should not "move" appreciably. You will see slight movement but should not be excessive. Do NOT stand in front of vehicle while performing this test.

Pulled motor and put in a newer motor but can’t get motor mounts to line up ?
ANSWER : The first thing to do is to compare the motor mounts on old and new motor to make sure they are the same on each motor and swap them if they are not the same.

if my motor mount is cracked can it affect my car badly ??
ANSWER : If your motor mount is just visibly cracked but shows no noticeable damages, it is very likely that the vehicle has no issue at all. It is very common for rubber to have small cracks in it that do not affect its performance. If a motor mount has a major defect it will be very noticeable inside the vehicle in the form of a vibration. The worst the motor mount is the worst the vibration will get. I would recommend enlisting in the assistance of a qualified professional to inspect your motor mounts. If it is determined that your motor mounts require replacement you should have it done at that time.

I have a 04 Passat V6 and I was told I need a motor mount because the motor is leaning on one side bad. How much and is it safe to
ANSWER : Hi there. In most cases, when a motor mount fails, it will exhibit a few warning signs beyond physical looks of how the engine "appears" to be leaning. An engine mount, made of rubber and steel, has two purposes. One, it secures the engine and transmission to the frame of the car, and two, it absorbs the road shocks and engine vibrations so that the driver does not feel any engine movement. If one of the mounts breaks, you will feel significant engine movement (vibrations and/or shaking).It is possible that the motor mount is a cause of acceleration problems you are experiencing, but it is likely that it’s fuel system related. It might be a good idea to have a professional mobile mechanic come to your location and complete a car is slow to accelerate inspection, so they can inspect the engine fuel and ignition components as well as your transmission fluid and motor mounts for damage. Once the inspection is complete, you’ll have a better idea as to what needs to be repaired to resolve your problems.