You know your motor mounts need to be replaced when you hear impact noises in your engine bay or feel excessive vibrations throughout your car. This essential component keeps your engine attached to your chassis, so don’t ignore it when you notice problems. But why do engine mounts wear out over time? Here are five reasons you need to know.

Use Without Maintenance

The most common reason your engine mounts could fail is simple: you’ve used your car for years and never had them serviced. It’s a good idea to have your engine mounts checked by a mechanic every few months and never go longer than a year without having someone take a look. You can spot the telltale signs of bad motor mounts by looking for rusty metal and worn rubber.

Car Accidents

After any accident, no matter how minuscule, have a professional look at your motor mounts. Any shift in position can significantly weaken their connection to your engine. Excess strain on the mounts can cause their deterioration to accelerate, so don’t wait too long.

Reckless Driving

Taking corners quickly, accelerating too much, and applying the brakes too aggressively can all work to damage your engine mounts. Your engine is a hefty piece of machinery, so whenever you put your car into intense situations, your engine mounts have to work extra hard to keep it locked in place.

Driving on Uneven Terrain

Uneven terrain causes more vibrations than most cars experience, and that can result in wearing out your motor mounts long before the usual estimate of five to seven years. If you take your vehicle off-roading, get your engine mounts checked frequently.

Poor Installation

Motor mounts need to be installed precisely, so don’t attempt a self-installation unless you’re incredibly confident in your abilities. If the mounts aren’t angled correctly or in the optimal positions, they’ll wear out much faster than expected. We’ve got a great selection of engine mounts for Honda Civics, so don’t worry if you need to replace yours any time soon!

Now that you know these five reasons why engine mounts wear out over time, drive thoughtfully, and make sure to visit your local auto shop regularly to avoid massive headaches.