When the car is idling, I can feel the oscillating vibration of the engine, as the pistons move. Is it just a question of engine mounts having gone bad? the engine mounts are originals and it's a 97.

It didn't do that when new obviously.

 

i would throw mounts in it.

 

I replaced my all four original mounts last week on my '98. (172k miles) The rear one was so torn that the metal sleeve was just flopping around in the mount. If you are on 15 yr old originals, then hell yes...replace those things!

 

Is there a big difference?

Polyurethane or OEM?

Where did you get them?

 

urethane mounts will make it vibrate worse stick to stock rubber mounts

im sure you can get them at any auto parts store or the dealership of course

 

I bought mine at rockauto.com, and they are made by Anchor. I got all four mounts for what one would cost at the dealer. Oh, and the car feels great now. My side engine mount and transmission mount looked to be in good shape still, but they were cheap to replace. Most likely all you need is a new front and rear mount.

 

poly mounts wont make it vibrate nothing like a worn out rubber mount, and for what its worth the poly mounts will have a SLIGHT vibration at idle but nothing too noticeable, they will outklast any rubber mount and are far better....

just sayin....but make sure you have no telltale symptoms of a misfire and anything like that either because a misfire can cause some vibration also....

 

I have the polys in my max and they dont vibrate that bad. the only bad thing is that Energy sus on make the front and back mounts. Im not sure if they have ones for the side mounts.

 

Well I was speaking from my cars perspective.
I have an auto so I think it will vibrate worse I've been in some cars with them and it was pretty bad but never a max. In sure the manual won't vibrate cuz your not always engaged to the wheels like an auto

 

If you have the GLE trim, make sure you replace the front mount with the electric mount not a regular one. More expensive but less vibrations. Not sure if the side and trans mount are electric.

 

just the front

 

SE trim also...though I put a regular manual trans style mount in mine. No added vibration for me.

 

New here, Just bought a 99 4th Gen. The car is completely stock. bought it from a 65 year old man who didn't know the differences in SE GLE GXE etc. I cannot find a THING wrong with the car except that it drops a single drop of antifreeze under the radiator if it sits for more than a few days.

I did not ask him if he had changed the motor mounts, but in driving the car for almost 500 miles of my own, I have the feeling the 13 year old car probably has new ones. Thanks for all your info guys, I was a lurker here before I bought it and am happy to have some knowledge of the car now that I am the new proud 2nd owner.