Motor Mount Failure? - The Ford Focus Forum

**sbrooks** · 10-26-2009, 02:28 PM

My girlfriend has a 2000 focus, ZX3 with 165,000 miles. A friend and I were replacing brake pad over the weekend and may have damaged the motor mount?

He accidentally jacked the car up by what looked like the transmission right below the motor (lowest point of the motor). He didn't look close enough and thought it was a main spar of the frame. After the car was up for about fifteen minutes we noticed about a cup of oil came out from the underside of the motor mount on the passenger side below the washer fluid. after dropping the car again we took the plastic cap off and looked at the rubber diaphragm on the top of the motor mount and it felt like there was still oil in it.

After the tires were back on the car we took the car for a drive and everything seemed normal. No new vibrations that we noticed. No oil has leaked out since.

Do I need to replace that motor mount or is it alright if there are no new vibrations?

Thanks for the help.

**ian rawles** · 10-26-2009, 04:13 PM

aight. first thing first. dont jack up the car by the engine or tranny. do it on the side frame rails and put stands under it. and if your not getting any vibrations then you should be good. but to double check oen the hood and have someone shift the transmition into gear while the car is runnig. if the entire engine moves then you might have messed one up. bout the oil idk wat to tell you

**GapBoyPCS** · 10-26-2009, 07:28 PM

There are three mounts:
1. Transmission to engine (underside of car)
2. Driver's side mount
3. Passenger side mount.

The washer fluid resevoir is on the DRIVER's side inside the front fender. The radiator fluid resevoir is on the passenger side of the engine bay. I'm not sure what you're really calling the washer fluid...

If that oil was from that mount, you've basically reduced that mount's life. Although you may not feel it now, it could manifest into a vibration as you go. I say it's your call.

I know hindsight is 20/20, but I really don't understand why you guys didn't crack open the owner's manual to see where the jacking points are for the Focus. There are also plenty of Focus resources here, including www.focushacks.com that point out where they are.

**leptoid** · 11-09-2009, 11:12 AM

my wife's focus needed new motor mounts... you'll definately know when you need to replace those. The noise and vibration is unignorable.

10-26-2009, 02:28 PM	#1 (permalink)
sbrooks Newbie Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 1	Motor Mount Failure? My girlfriend has a 2000 focus, ZX3 with 165,000 miles. A friend and I were replacing brake pad over the weekend and may have damaged the motor mount? He accidentally jacked the car up by what looked like the transmission right below the motor (lowest point of the motor). He didn't look close enough and thought it was a main spar of the frame. After the car was up for about fifteen minutes we noticed about a cup of oil came out from the underside of the motor mount on the passenger side below the washer fluid. after dropping the car again we took the plastic cap off and looked at the rubber diaphragm on the top of the motor mount and it felt like there was still oil in it. After the tires were back on the car we took the car for a drive and everything seemed normal. No new vibrations that we noticed. No oil has leaked out since. Do I need to replace that motor mount or is it alright if there are no new vibrations? Thanks for the help. Last edited by sbrooks; 10-26-2009 at 02:34 PM.

10-26-2009, 04:13 PM	#2 (permalink)
ian rawles Rookie Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: jacksonville FL Posts: 15	Re: Motor Mount Failure? aight. first thing first. dont jack up the car by the engine or tranny. do it on the side frame rails and put stands under it. and if your not getting any vibrations then you should be good. but to double check oen the hood and have someone shift the transmition into gear while the car is runnig. if the entire engine moves then you might have messed one up. bout the oil idk wat to tell you

10-26-2009, 07:28 PM	#3 (permalink)
GapBoyPCS Moderator Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Waterloo/Toronto/GTA, Ontario, Canada Posts: 10,220	Re: Motor Mount Failure? There are three mounts: 1. Transmission to engine (underside of car) 2. Driver's side mount 3. Passenger side mount. The washer fluid resevoir is on the DRIVER's side inside the front fender. The radiator fluid resevoir is on the passenger side of the engine bay. I'm not sure what you're really calling the washer fluid... If that oil was from that mount, you've basically reduced that mount's life. Although you may not feel it now, it could manifest into a vibration as you go. I say it's your call. I know hindsight is 20/20, but I really don't understand why you guys didn't crack open the owner's manual to see where the jacking points are for the Focus. There are also plenty of Focus resources here, including www.focushacks.com that point out where they are. __________________ Richard - 2002 ZTS \| Sangria Red \| 433,000+ km...Be Bold, Stay Focused 24-7 Redline Rendezvous \| OFOC - Ontario Focus Owners Club \| SVTOA-Toronto [FJ] focaljet - Forum Guidelines - Welcome to the Jet - Team Canada - FJ Store - Sponsors - SEARCH

11-09-2009, 11:12 AM	#4 (permalink)
leptoid Newbie Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 2	Re: Motor Mount Failure? my wife's focus needed new motor mounts... you'll definately know when you need to replace those. The noise and vibration is unignorable.

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