Hello,

This is my first post to this forum, and our first Volvo, a 1998 V90 wagon. We got it with 77000 miles on it, very clean. Nice, comfortable car. This seems like a very helpful and knowledgeable bunch of folks, I hope you can help.

I've searched archives and read FAQ's and have seen that a popular topic is engine mount replacement. I haven't yet found a description of the symptoms of engine mount failure. How do I know the mounts are due for replacement? I have a theory, but I'll keep quiet, don't want to give you any ideas:)

Thanks

Scott

Timing belt replacement at 70K. Has yours been changed?
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'Socialist practices are now so ingrained in our thinking, so customary, so much a part of our mores, that we take them for granted.' Leonard Read, 1951

The engine sits a little lower, the stainless steel safety wires have allot of play in them, you may feel the A/C compressor kick on and off rather harshly, sometimes rough transmission shifts, and you can really feel the engine shake on start-up and turn-off when the mounts are in need of replacement (depending on how bad).

DEWFPO
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1998 S90 071,245 and 1995 964 154,100

If replacing engine mounts is popular on this car, its news to me. I cant recall anybody else posting about it either. Why do you think you may have problems with the mounts? BTW, 77k on that car means its a baby, hasnt even seen 100 which is barely broken in.
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97 S90 with 177K miles still going strong

Hey,

Thanks for your response. Perhaps I inappropriately accused V90's of having chronic engine mount problems, that wasn't my intent. I meant to say that a search of the rear drive list nets enough hits to make me want to know more about the problem. The hits weren't exclusively V90's.

I hope 77k is low mileage, part of the reason we bought the car is for Volvo's reputation for durability. Things break though, sometimes sooner, sometimes later.

The behavior I'm wondering is that the engine gives a good shake at startup and when I turn it off. I appreciate how much mass inside the engine is getting flung around at these times, some shake is going to happen. The question is how much? For a young, high end car, it seems like a little too much. But, I can't claim to know, it's our first Volvo.

So the question is still, what are the symptoms of failing engine mounts?

Thanks

Scott

Scott,

Dewfpo hit the nail in the head. My 95 960 had all the symptoms he named: ac shook car when clutch kicked on and off; slack in what I called the wires around the mounts; shakey engine at start up. Had my indie Volvo shop replace them and all the symptoms are history. These mounts are oil filled and the oil tends to leak out of them in time. My car had 120,000 at the time and was doing all that jazz at 112,000. With the new mounts, I can actually grasp the engine and easily move it side to side now.

Mr. 960