97/98 camry 4Cyl - bad idle after replacing engine mounts

[camry0501]

Hey guys,

need some advice on this situation, (I'm a computer engineer, don't know much about car engines etc):

- about a week & 1/2 ago I noticed that when accelerating I would hear a deep sound comming from the engine - I assumed I had cracked or damaged something to do with the exhaust (simillar problem with another car) - so I gave it to my mechanic who does all my servicing for me and he said something allong the lines - damged exhaust, but I also noticed that you had snapped some engine mounts - he replaced all the affected parts - he also changed my timing belt (nearing 100,000 Kms)

- I got the car back today and I noticed that while I sit at the lights (ie in drive and my foot on the brake) it is vibrating badly (never had this before he fixed it) - also the idle (ie neutral or park) is not smooth any more

- When I asked him about it, he mentioned that the engine mounts are new, will take some time for them to soften up???

1. is this true about the engine mounts?

2. How would I have snapped engine mounts? obviously its still driveable even though they have snapped (i'm not sure exactly which ones he changed but he mentioned my engine was sitting on an angle).


-----

I spoke to another good friend of mine who is a mech engineer working as a mechanic - he mentioned that possibly when he put everything back together after the work that there is rubbing from the exhaust onto somewhere or the car hence I can feel the vibrations????

-----

any other info on this area would be appreciated - I have loved my camry for what its worth - all 97 Kwatts of it! hehe - would be a shame if this is a permanent thing...

- Crazy Toyota Fanatic.

[Joe W]

Doubt if it's permanent.Possible that the vibration was there before but not noticed due to bad mounts.When was the last tune-up and has the check engine light come on?

[camry0501]

um last tune up would probably been at last service - about a month ago

he did mention that it might have been there from before but the engine would have been compensating for itm but it couldn't have been THIS bad!

[yotatechie04]

I'd say that the vibration you're experiencing is normal. It will take some time for the motor mounts to soften up a bit, although it shouldn't last too long. You're idle should be sitting smooth (tach isn't jumpy) although you'll still feel the vibration, although if your idle is rough (tach jumpy) and you feel vibration, there is something mechanical wrong. Other than that, I'd say everything you're having going on with your Camry is perfectly normal. I had the same problem with mine when I first replaced my motor mounts.

[camry0501]

ok - thanks for the reassurance - any idea how long it should roughly last for? are we talking days? couple of weeks ?

tacho isn't jumpy which as you say must be a good thing...

i'll let you guys know how I go with it all...

Thanks heaps for the info

==============================
I was born in the back of a toyota and i'll die in the back of a toyota!

[yotatechie04]

Well, I figure that it the rough vibration should last about 6-8 weeks max. If it happens to last any longer than that, I would take it back to the guy you had work on it and tell him that the mounts are way too hard, and you want something softer.