99 Intrigue 3.5L motor mounts?

[rick graves]

Hi, I need to replace the motor mounts on my daughter's Intrigue. I've called a few stores and they all say there is right rear mount but the front is not orderable. Napa Auto says there's a right rear and 2 torque struts (core support to block, and a front). They also recommended replacing the transmission mount. Does anyone have any experience with replacing 99 motor mounts, etc? and should I replace all?, or is there one that typically goes bad first? Do the torque struts also need to be replaced or typically go bad as well?
Thanks,
Rick

[Ruley73]

I'd say the front lower mount (just below alternator) goes bad the most on the 3.5L.. At least on my wife's car that's the only one that I've needed to replace and her car has 137K miles on it. As far as I know it is still only available from the dealership and 3 years ago it cost around $80, but I'm sure it's gone up since then.

[rick graves]

Thanks for the note regarding the front mount near the alternator .... I wonder why this mount is only sold at the dealer? At any rate, I'll keep my fingers crossed that it's one of the others I can buy from an auto parts store.

Regards,

Rick

[willieray3]

You can buy the front lower mount at www.gmpartsdirect.com for 75.00, the dealer by me wanted 135.00.

[EIntrigue]

How did you replace the mount? I have been trying to replace mine, but I can not figure out how to get it out.

[krivasauto]

Originally Posted by EIntrigue

How did you replace the mount? I have been trying to replace mine, but I can not figure out how to get it out.

Support the engine/ trans cradle with jack and jack stands, remove nuts/ bolts securing mount, remove bolts securing engine/ trans cradle to vehicle, lower cradle, remove mount, reverse.

[krivasauto]

Originally Posted by krivasauto

Support the engine/ trans cradle with jack and jack stands, remove nuts/ bolts securing mount, remove bolts securing engine/ trans cradle to vehicle, lower cradle, remove mount, reverse.

[krivasauto]

http://http://www.rockauto.com/catal...313567-1375854

[EIntrigue]

Thank you for all the information and diagrams. This will be helpful.

Can you tell me what you mean by "cradle?"

Thanks again.

[krivasauto]

Originally Posted by EIntrigue

Thank you for all the information and diagrams. This will be helpful.

Can you tell me what you mean by "cradle?"

Thanks again.

[Ruley73]

Originally Posted by krivasauto

Support the engine/ trans cradle with jack and jack stands, remove nuts/ bolts securing mount, remove bolts securing engine/ trans cradle to vehicle, lower cradle, remove mount, reverse.

This may be the the correct method if you have the tools and facility to do so, but dropping the cradle is unnecessary to replace the front lower mount. Dropping the cradle is tough to do in a typical garage.

It's been about five years since I replaced that mount and two years since we last owned the car. The engine actually threw a rod through the side of the block next to the starter a couple months after my last post on this thread. This was likely due to the wife driving it multiple times with the "Low Oil Level" light on for too long before telling me about it.

The hardest thing I remember was moving the wiring harness out of the way and removing the electric fan assembly to give me room/access to the top nuts on the mount. It is tight, but it does come out without removing any radiator hoses. I also completely removed the front upper mount.

After doing that, remove the two upper nuts between the front lower engine mount and the mounting bracket. Then remove the two lower nuts that attach the front lower mount to the subframe. Then place a hydraulic jack under the oil pan (make sure you have a board between jack and oil pan) and jack up the engine until you have enough space to quickly remove the old mount and replace it with the new one. Make sure you have the new mount nearby to do this relatively quickly. It is obviously a risk to use a hydraulic jack in this manner so do this at your own risk.

Next, screw the top two nuts on the mount's top side just enough to secure it to the bracket. Then slowly lower the engine down. Make sure the mount's bottom studs go into the holes in the subframe. Then install the two lower mount nuts and completely tighten the top two, reinstall the electric fan and upper mount and you're done. It took me about 3 hours to do this by myself.