motor mounts

1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT
228,000 MILES • V6 • FWD • MANUAL
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MENDIWILLDO
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  • 1 POST
if my motor mounts are cracked in half and I keep driving vehicle, what will happen next? what can break suddenly?
Apr 4, 2016 at 10:25 PM
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CARADIODOC
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Bail out! Life as you know it will cease to exist!

Actually, it depends on which mount has deteriorated. Some can allow the drive train to sit low on one side. That will affect the angle of the half shafts and in real severe cases can cause the cv joints to bind. If there is wear inside the inner cv joint housings, you may get a steering wheel shimmy at lower speeds when accelerating.

Some mounts only reduce the tendency for the engine to rock when accelerating and coasting. That can add stress to radiator hoses, fuel lines, and the exhaust pipe flexible connection. Worst case for this would be a torn fuel line in which case the engine would stall due to lack of fuel pressure, then the Engine Computer would see the lack of engine rotation so it would stop keeping the fuel pump relay turned on. That is done to avoid a fire hazard. Tugging on a radiator hose can break the hose connection off the radiator's plastic tank. A new radiator is needed to fix that.
Apr 4, 2016 at 10:57 PM