March 19, 2007

Technical Information For The Collision Industry

ACTIVE ENGINE MOUNTS

Automotive engine mounts are designed
to support the engine and reduce vibrations and force, transmitted from the
engine to the vehicle structure, and from
road surface irregularities. Providing
adequate engine support requires a rm
engine mount, while controlling vibration and force requires a exible mount.
With changes in vehicle technology,
there are more requirements being
placed on engine mount performance.
Standard hard rubber, passive mounts
provide rm support for the engine.
However, the use of hard rubber allows
engine vibrations to be easily transmitted
to the chassis.
Active engine mount systems overcome
these conicting requirements by combining an engine mount that provides
good support properties with an actuator
to control engine vibrations, and vibrations from road surface irregularities.

ACTIVE SYSTEMS
Vehicles that may be equipped with an
active engine mount system include,
but are not limited to, the 2006 Jaguar
XJ, 2007 Hyundai Veracruz, 2007 Lexus
RX350, and 2007 Toyota Camry.
The 2006 Jaguar XJ equipped with a
2.7 twin-turbo diesel features electronically controlled active engine mounts,
designed to cancel most of the engine
vibration at idle. Because diesel engines
generate higher levels of vibration than

gasoline engines, electronically controlled active engine mounts are used on

all 2006 XJ diesels.
The 2007 Hyundai Veracruz has electronically controlled engine mounts on both
diesel and gasoline engine models (see
Figure 1). The Hyundai engine mount
system consists of three passive mounts
integrated with active controls, to offset
vibrations.
Some Lexus and Toyota models also
use an active engine mount system. The
engine mount system used on the 2007
Lexus RX350 and Toyota Camry is called
the Active Control Engine Mount (ACM)
system. On this system, the rear of the
engine is attached to the chassis by a
uid-lled mount to control vibration
and noise. The front of the engine is attached to the chassis by an electronically
controlled active mount that continuously adapts to the driving conditions
(see Figure 2).
The ACM system decreases engine vibration at idling using a vacuum switching
valve (VSV). The VSV is controlled by a
pulse signal, which is transmitted to the
VSV from the electronic control module
(see Figure 3). The frequency of this pulse
signal is matched to the engine speed to
decrease engine vibration.

HYDRAULIC SYSTEMS
Some vehicle models, such as the 2006
Ford Fusion, Lincoln Zephyr, and Mercury

Figure 1 The 2007 Hyundai

Veracruz is equipped with
electronically controlled engine
mounts.

Figure 2 Engine vacuum is used

to vary the pressure of the intake air
chamber in the active control engine
mount on a Lexus and Toyota ACM
system. (Courtesy of Toyota Motor
Corporation)

Figure 3 Signals are sent from

the ECM to the VSV to control the
vacuum applied to the engine
mount on a Lexus and Toyota ACM
system. (Courtesy of Toyota Motor
Corporation)

ACTIVE ENGINE MOUNTS

Continued From Page 1

Milan are equipped with passive hydraulic engine mounts (see Figure 4). A hydraulic engine mount is commonly called
a hydromount. These mounts have two
chambers lled with a uid, typically a
glycol mixture. A large orice valve and a
small orice valve connect the chambers.
A hydromount produces variable damping as a result of the transfer of liquid
from one chamber to another.

REPLACING AN ENGINE
MOUNT

MAGNETO-RHEOLOGICAL
SYSTEM

Replacing an engine mount may

require raising and supporting the
engine. Raising and supporting the
engine requires using the proper
equipment and following appropriate procedures. Always check for
clearance before attempting to raise
the engine to avoid damage to adjacent parts that could get pinched or
crushed.

One equipment maker is developing

yet another type of mount, a magnetorheological (MR) uid powertrain mount.
Damping properties of the mount are controlled instantly during a variety of road
surface conditions by adjusting the state of
the uid. The MR powertrain mount also
helps control engine vibrations.
One benet of the MR powertrain mount
is that it is being designed as a direct
bolt-in replacement for a passive hydraulic uid mount.
The MR powertrain mount system works
with both front- and rear-wheel-drive
engine mounting congurations. An MR
powertrain mount system includes the
appropriate MR mount(s), sensor(s), an
electronic control unit, and the associated wiring.

DAMAGE ANALYSIS
When analyzing damage on an active
engine mount system check for visible
damage. Inspect hydraulic or electronic
engine mounts for uid leaks, damaged
or pinched vacuum hoses, improper connections, or damaged electrical parts.
When analyzing damage on an engine
mount assembly on a 2007 Lexus RX350,
apply a vacuum to the engine mount
and verify that there is no change in the
needle movement of the vacuum pump
gauge. If vacuum pressure remains steady,
the engine mount assembly is good. If
the vacuum pressure drops or no vacuum
pressure exists, the engine mount assembly needs to be replaced.

Replacing an engine mount can be

a challenge. It will typically require
working from both above and below
the vehicle. Replacing an active
engine mount requires additional
attention to electrical and vacuum
actuators and connections.

Figure 4 The 2006 Ford Fusion

engine and transmission use
three hydromounts to reduce
powertrain vibration.

Always use safe working practices

when inspecting or replacing engine
mounts. Use the appropriate tools
and follow vehicle maker recommendations.

CONCLUSION
Changes in vehicle technology are
making the use of standard engine
mounts inefcient. Active engine
mount systems can provide the
engine support properties required in
newer vehicles along with improved
engine idle and road surface vibration control.
Vehicles equipped with an active engine mount system can make analyzing damage and collision repair more
challenging. As more vehicle makers
use active engine mount systems in
vehicle construction, technicians and
estimators will need to keep current
on engine mount technology.
For comments or suggestions on the
Advantage Online, please contact
I-CAR Senior Instructional Designer
Bob Jansen at bob.jansen@i-car.com.

http://www.i-car.com