Idle Quality and Updated Engine Mount Brackets
 

I many have finally found a solution to what I consider to be my rough idle/shudder vibrations that have plagued my car for quite a while. From my OBD Scan guage, I could tell the engine was operating in normal rpm parameters, so it had to be the mounts/brackets that were the issue.

While I knew Mazda had updated our engine mounts, I was not aware that Mazda has also issued updated engine mount brackets. I had these brackets installed recently and after a week of driving, I can really tell a difference.

Whether its A/C on or off, the idle is much smoother, I don't feel a shudder when the cooling fans kick in, and the shifter doesn't vibrate nearly as badly.

I wanted people to be aware of the updated engine brackets, as I'm not aware of that being a TSB.

Thanks brillo. When did the updated engine mount brackets happen? I'm curious since I have a 2006, so I don't know whether mine comes from the factory with them or not. Also, if you want the brackets, how do you get them? Just ask and tell them you have idle vibrations?

I had my engine mounts replaced and the idle got "better" but I still have a damn shudder when the ac kicks on and sometimes when i'm just sitting at lights.

What is different about them?
I wonder how they would have smoothed the idle (increased dampening) AND reduced the stick shake? (The engine/tranny should be shaking more if the vibration is transmitted less.)

But securing it more solidly will increase vibration.
If you harden the attachment points of the engine to the chassis, the noise and vibration you feel inside the cabin will go up, not down.
That is why I am wondering how they managed both with just a mount.

I have solidified the mount on the passenger side. It reduces the "stick shake" to almost nil.
However, it translates vibration to the entire car.
As stable and regular as my idle is now, I can still feel the engine in every surface of the car and when it is cold enough, some of the plastic starts to talk.

It is a bit baffling to me as well. I'd understand if we were talking about the rubber mounts themselves but the aluminum arms fixing a problem seems a bit strange. Alan is pretty anal about his car and the way it feels. He could tell if he ran over a thin piece of silk. There may actually be something to this.

I am absolutely convinced there is something to it for that very reason.
That is why I'm on the edge of my seat!

There could just be a natural harmonic (there is with anything) at noticable spots through the aluminum and the new design changes it to a less intrusive area. That's plausible.

dammit i want this 'upgraded' engine mount bracket too, even though the engine 'shake/vibration' is perfectly within my tolerance level as being 'normal', so i can't really bitch/moan to the dealer to have the mount/bracket replaced under warranty, can i?

You can always bitch and moan. Whether or not it gets you anything is another story but you definitely won't get them if you don't try!

They also may have changed the mounting points relative to the CG of the motor and each other, interrupting the fundamental of the vibration.

Wow, RG and MM calling me anal.....thats a little like the pot calling the kettle black eh? :D:

I wanted to wait a few days to post this to make sure it wasn't just in my head, but I really think it made a difference. My service manager told me they briefed him on the new brackets back about a year ago, so there must be something to them.

The only other thing I could think of is that they lied before when they said they changed out the mounts, I did notice that the mounts looked nice and clean when I was removing my HF cat earlier, but that could just be that the removed then to inspect them and the cleaned them before they were reinstalled. This is highly unlikely IMO, as my dealer has always been good to me and I've known them for 10 years.

Hmmm, I thought I looked through all of the TSBs at the Finish Line Performance website and I was specifically looking for one related to motor mounts. My 2004 does have a bit more shudder at idle sometimes so I wanted to see if I fell in a VIN range to get checked. Guess I'll look again. Anyone happen to have the number handy?

We do so in only the most admirable terms!

I just noticed on that TSB, that they appear to mention a new Right Engine Mount bracket, something I hadn't noticed before. I need to check my receipt and see if that is the same part number they replaced.

What is the scope of work involved with a dealer replacing an engine mount? Do they have to pull the engine out? I've lost some trust in my dealer and I am thinking about getting the TSB b/c it applies to me.

It can be done in 15 minutes with a floor jack, a jackstand and 12mm & 14mm sockets.
Maybe 20 minutes if you don't have an air ratchet to pull off the front right wheel.

I just had my mount replaced in my 05 AT. I have a thread in the Issue and Problems forum. My car had a terriable shake that was getting worse as time went on. After the recall it was really bad, bad to the point that my rear view mirror would shake to the point that I could not see out of it...

Took it to the dealer and mentioned the vibration along with an oil change. After 7 hours they called to tell me that they could not duplicate it! After a talk with the dealerships manager and handing him the TSB, as well as a call to Mazda NA I was given new mounts.

The car now feels as if it is brand new. No shaking, other then you would expect from a car in gear at rest. Actually accelerates smoother although this damn AT does not know when to shift. It shifts all over the place. It tries it's best to get me into 4th gear. I am going 20mph in 4th gear and it is bouncing the car like it is about to stall then it jumps down to 2nd, over and over. This all started with the recall flash. Once again, dealership can not reproduce it.... Boy they must hate warrenty work!

I honestly feel the dealerships get the junior tech (who's someone fresh out of mechanic school) to verify warranty problems. Said tech then goes and drives the car by banging it off the redline and blasting the stereo. Afterwards he claims he could not duplicate the noise you were complaining about, since of course he didn't hear it. Just my hypothesis.

That's just silly. You're implying that the techs know at least something. We know that's not the case. They draw numbers from a bowl to see which adopted zoo monkey gets to push the shiny buttons on their little electronic devices until a code pops up. Then they draw again during the slow period in between shots of Jagermeister and bong hits to see who gets to try to make up an excuse as to how they supposedly fixed it. We all know it works this way. Of course that could also potentially be a hypothesis as well but it sure seems plausible. I'll need to send that one into Myth Busters.

As long as Kari does the busting, I'm fine with that.

Amen to that. I'll hit up one of our local service mngrs and see what is said about the Rt motor Mnt bracket.

The TSB notes that the new bracket has an "insulator". I seem to recall that its purpose was to shield the rubber mount from radiant engine/exhaust heat.

i thought that was just me..

beers :beer: