Mazda really dropped the ball on this engine mount

[KrisZ]

I changed the passenger engine mount in my Mazda 3 and after looking at it, it is really a weak design. The oil inside the mount leaked out about two years ago after I hit a pretty deep pot hole. I was putting off this change until now, but I didn't want to push my luck any further.
I just want to share the pics with people owning Mazda 3, as total mount failure can cause some serious collateral damage to the drive train.

Here it is looking normal. Still I couldn't help but wonder why is it so thin at the base

Sorry for the orientation, the base is on the right side of the picture.

And here is the damage revealed. It is plain to see that the very bulky top portion does not bear much weight of the engine. It is really the bottom portion that needs extra material to deal with all that weight being transferred from the top of the engine mount.

Basically the rubber shears off at the joint with the aluminum. Mine was sheared off almost all the way around, except a small portion still holding the mount together. Once the thin, cone shaped, rubber part separates from the aluminum, there is nothing connecting the two and the engine can drop down on the passenger side.
On the positive note, at least the mount was very easy to change.

 

[Quest]

I'd blame it on the porthole if I were you.

*grin*

Q.

 

[SLCraig]

Reminds me of the Saturn top engine mounts.
Easy to change, which is the main plus, because you had to often.

 

[Spazdog]

Was there a Ford badge on it?

Every part on my Mazda that has failed has Ford markings on it.

 

[dparm]

Originally Posted By: Spazdog
Was there a Ford badge on it?

Every part on my Mazda that has failed has Ford markings on it.



My Mazdaspeed3's turbo was not from Ford......

 

[rationull]

How'd you know it was broken originally? Excessive vibration, or just noticed the oil leaking out?

At least it was the passenger side. I cringe at the thought of the driver side (transmission) mount needing to be replaced.

 

[UNC197]

Common problem on these cars. Many threads about this on Mazda3 specific forums. Luckily mine is still fine, but I do check it regularly.

 

[bdcardinal]

The car is based on a Focus which is notorious for this problem in all years.

 

[rationull]

No problem w/ the wife's 2008 3s with ~50k miles so far (AFAIK, knock on wood). I'll have to give it a close look.

 

[KrisZ]

Originally Posted By: rationull
How'd you know it was broken originally? Excessive vibration, or just noticed the oil leaking out?

At least it was the passenger side. I cringe at the thought of the driver side (transmission) mount needing to be replaced.


Yes, oil leaking out is your best sign, but if you don't open the hood often you can easily miss it once it gets covered with dirt.
Initially though, everything seemed fine, no excessive vibrations, or other symptoms. That's why I drove it for another two years. But lately I noticed extra vibrations when the engine was cold and transmission in drive, also hot idle would experience excessive vibrations from time to time, so I decided that I can't put it off

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Originally Posted By: bdcardinal
The car is based on a Focus which is notorious for this problem in all years.


Didn't know it was based on the Focus. The Focus' eat motor mounts.

 

[bdcardinal]

Originally Posted By: Miller88
Originally Posted By: bdcardinal
The car is based on a Focus which is notorious for this problem in all years.


Didn't know it was based on the Focus. The Focus' eat motor mounts.


The Mazda 3 was based on the then European Focus, same as the Volvo C30.