Just bought a nice 97 Avenger ES 2.5 for$400 from a man that thought it had a bad engine. Took it home, gave it a tune up and itruns great. The "bad engine" was a spark plug that had separated and was causing the plug wire to bob up and down.

My only concern with the car is the creaking noise and engine movement when shifting into gear. I am guessing this is a sign that the enging mounts need replaced? If this is the case, does anyone have any instructions on replacing the mounts and is it a fairly easy job to do?

Thanks!

 

Welcome to DF Carecat21.
Swapping out engine mounts aren't terribly hard. It's just a matter of supporting the motor with a jack while changing out one mount at a time if that's what's creaking. Engine movement is normal unless it's excessive. Cracked/ripped mounts are also a good indicator, lol.
The creaking could also be the suspension. Does your car creak while going over bumps at a slow rate?

 

http://www.deyemeracing.com/ST/ST1MTM_install.htm

http://www.trademotion.com/schematic.../P/PT95185.gif blow up diagram

http://www.raktron.com/misc/mt.htm if it's just the insert you can do this ...

 

There is suspension noise so that is also a possibility. How much engine movement is considered "normal"? I'm trying to take care of everything we can do ourselves before taking it in to a pro for a more thorough inspection. If the guy couldn't even change a spark plug, I doubt anything was well maintained.

 

I'd take it in for the recall it's a free front suspension inspection ...

my motor moved about an inch under hard throttle , I did the urathane inserts and now 0 movement

 

yea im also having a suspension prob. like when i go over pot holes or any kind of bumps my suspension makes like a banging sound lol... (doubt thats normal lol) i was thinking about taking it in for the recall but im not sure if it has already had the recall done, and i dont want the mechanic cheating me out of a free recall and telling me that it has already been done when it hasnt. (if it hasnt) - what does the sound that im hearing from my suspension mean??? is my suspension going bad?

Can anyone give me a list or w/e recalls there are for the avenger 1997 Avenger Es

 

The recall is lifetime ... members have had it done three or four times ....

 

oh ok good to know thanks bv...

but does anyone know what the banging noise is from the suspension.... are they going bad

 

Does your car bounce or "float" when doing down the road Dynamite? Have you done the corner check by bouncing each corner? If it bounces anymore than 3 times, it's time for new shocks. That's not a standard, it's just a quick check. It's definitely something to have checked out or DIY. The suspension shouldn't thump or make any other noises.

Good links BV!

Carecat, have your suspension checked out too. It shouldn't squeak or creak. That sounds like balljoints to me. Also note that with motor mount inserts, you will feel more vibration out of the motor throughout your entire car if you use inserts on all four motor mounts. You don't have to do the inserts on all of them, you can just do two, but you will still feel more vibrations than stock. Still a good mod though if you can deal with the vibrations.

 

No.. i have never done the corner check... how do i do this check?