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On the left side of the engine (facing rear) there is a metal link connecting the engine block to a solid mount point. That's a torque mount, designed to absorbed torque force from the rotation of engine components. Have you checked it lately?
The rear mount point is a solid attach, but the front is a bolt that screws into a threaded hole on the engine block, but not before passing through a bushing that floats in very hard rubber. That rubber degrades, but you won't see it unless you look closely and see that it has cracks and/or the rubber has separated from the metal. If you can physically move the link with your hand, it needs to go. Don't fix it and eventually something else will eventually give way.
These used to cost almost $200 but now you can find them on eBay for as little as $10. Don't worry, made in China, but they are of decent quality. I just replaced mine with one of those. You have to move the radiator reservoir out of the way (10mm bolt, then push it up off the tab). Unscrew both bolts on the link and then take them out. 10-15 min max, just a little uncomfortable unless you want to disconnect and empty the reservoir. You'll need a 10mm wrench, 15mm shallow and deep sockets and a 15 mm wrench, and a large screw driver to lever the bolts out. On the rear bolt that black nut does NOT turn. Don't force it or it will break. Turn the head of the bolt only, on the other side.
When putting them back in, be generous with the anti-seize compound on the bolt threads, and do NOT tighten them until you have them BOTH in and started into the threads on the other side. You'll have to wiggle the mount to get it just right. Then tighten them and reinstall the reservoir.
BTW, if you do this and disconnected the wire from the radiator overflow container, don't forget to plug it back in or else you'll get constant false "Low Coolant Level" warnings on the dashboard.
My shop had replaced the lower mount a while ago while they were doing something else, I just did the torque mount myself, easy peasy. Got it off amazon, looks quality, time will tell:
The bolts were pretty well stuck, was starting to have vague concerns about snapping the front on right off when it released. I anti-seized them for next time. So maybe hit them with penetrating oil a day or three before you do it.
Conveniently I needed to replace the coolant tank too.
Last edited by merlinj79; Apr 16, 2020 at 10:32 PM.
Have you checked your torque mount lately?
