550 engine mounts

hello to f-chatters....

One quick question: is there an easy way to tell if there is a problem with engine mounts on a 550 ? something visual and easy as I have no mechanical knowledge and wouldn't even trust myself with a screwdriver.....

thanks

 

when they fail, they compress. search the archives and you can find photos of my failed mounts, as well as the TSB in PDF format.

find a "known good" maranello and eyeball how high off the mount the engine is sitting. compare to yours.

if you can look to see those cracks in the mount, all the better, but you might only be able to see those once the engine is pulled of of them.

i didn't do this myself - i just know it's how the problem was isolated on mine.

doody.

 

It is difficult to see them well from the top until you start taking pieces off, the same can be said of the bottom view as well. It is important enough that I feel that it is worth a trip to the shop and paying a few quid to get an expert opinion.

 

The 550 I bought recently had them done. From what I understand it is to be expected on the 550. The car is robust in general but has a view hoses, motor mounts, shocks, etc that do have be attended to at some point.

Oh well, get a tubi on it and you will feel better!

 

fyi - replacing them, if they are bad, does not apparently require the block to be lifted out. you can support it here and there and jack it around to do the work - so it's just "annoying", not a "nightmare".

why are you asking about this? do you suspect you've got a problem?

doody.

 

What are the symptoms when they crack, if any, and how long can they be expected to last ?
Silly part price ?

 

my symptoms were weird vibrations when the engine warmed up and you hit the gas - it torqued the block and since the mount had failed the block would hit the frame and transmit its vibrations into the rest of the car. it was a bugger to diagnose. sorta like "i have a headache doc - what's wrong with me?".

no, the parts were not stupid-expensive. it's just an engine mount.

doody.

 

One of the symptoms is when you hit a small item in the road and it flexes the sway bar up into the oil pressure sender and breaks off the mounting casting and lets ALL the oil out of the motor in about 5 seconds.

Quite a few 550's and 456's have gotten new motors that way.

 

Would not call that a symptom ...
Is the replacement of the engine mounts part of specified or recommended regular maintenance, and how long can we expect them to last ?
If inspection is as hard as indicated below, preventive replacement seems to be the only solution to avoid a disaster ?

 

It was meant more as a warning. Many people are just not aware or paying attention to them and it has cost a number of motors. There is no scheduled replacement. It is just something that has been evident to people that service them since about 99. It is something (one of many) your mechanic should be inspecting evert time he services your car.

 

there was a TSB issued, but no recall. a PDF of the TSB is posted in the archives. the changeover to the new part happened around the 550 to 575 changeover (if memory serves, which it frequently does not). the redesigned part is substantially more rational.

some folks on the board have been able to get their dealer to work out gratis fixes with FNA.

there is anecdotal data to suggest that low mileage / garage-queen cars are more susceptible to the failure than cars driven regularly.

doody.

 

I just asked because i guess after a year of 550 ownership i've turned into a total paranoia when it comes to the state of my car.....

and that i feel that may be the car is grounding too often.

did no experience any vibration though so should be ok.

 

I had my motor mounts done about 3 months ago. The engine will sag and create a vibration. The sagging should be apparent to your service shop. It is also pretty simple to see if you take the bottom plastic off and look up under with a flash light.

If they are cracked--replace them--Soon..

As everyone has said it is a very common item for the V12's.

 

How old is your car, and how many miles ?

 

My mechanic is telling me he will replace them at the 60,000 mile major, which is in a year or so.