Motor mounts fall into that category of items that go bad on pretty much every modern vehicle from the Dodge Neon to the Dodge Ram 3500 but unlike some vehicles where fixing the motor mounts is as simple as unbolting the old mount and bolting up the new unit – the 2nd gen Neon relied on a system of engine torque struts to keep the engine properly positioned. Any time that any of the bolts in the engine torque strut setup become loose, including when you are replacing motor mounts, the torque struts must be tightened properly to ensure that the engine sits in the bay correctly and that there isnt excess stress on the engine mounts. Fortunately, we have a great DIY in our 2g Neon section that walks you through each step of the procedure with detailed diagrams to make sure that you know what everything is prior to tearing into the job.
Not only does our Dodge Neon engine torque strut adjustment DIY walk you through all of the features of the torque strut system and address how to properly tighten them all to factory specifications but it even includes a diagram that shows how and where to jack up the engine so that you can tighten the engine mounting system in the same fashion as the automaker expects. Dealing with the engine torque struts can be a pain compared to other vehicles that use fixed mounts but this DIY can save you time and money when addressing faulty mounts in your Dodge Neon.
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
