Hi all,

I've read through the DIY for the RX 350 Water Pump replacement a ton of times now, and I'm at the point where I need to remove the Top Engine Mount (Got the very top bracket removed okay), and basically I have all the bolts out of the mount, but I can't get the engine lifted high enough with the jack to squeeze it out of there. When I raise the engine with a jack to get some more clearance it moves about an inch or two, and then it starts to try to move/lift the whole vehicle. I have the bottom engine mount and pivot point removed, and the front engine mount removed also.

Anybody have any ideas on what to do?

There's still 1 bolt in the engine mount that doesn't have enough clearance to be removed. One other user reported they cut the bolt but I don't want to do that if it's possible to avoid it. While this bolt will need to be removed also, I've checked the mount's clearance and the bolt itself is not keeping it from lifting up and out, it's just the clearance between the mount and the side of the chassis and a/c line.

I noticed one other post where they removed the A/C line that's in the way...I think that may help, but I'm not entirely sure I'll have enough clearance unless I can get the engine lifed up another inch or two.

I attached a few pics with the engine lifted as high as it would go. The DIY said the intake manifold should come up to be flush with the top of the car, but with the engine lifted all the way there's still about 2 inches of clearance left (where I circled in red). I think if I could get it to budge these 2 inches I could get it out but I'm not sure what else to look for that it might be hung up on. I'm lifting the engine with a floor jack and a 2x4 under the oil pan. Maybe there's a better angle or point to try to lift it from??

 

try to remove the nut for the driver's side engine mount as well and it may be able to jack higher.

 

When I did mine I don't think I had to jack up higher than 3/4". I loosened the AC hose mount and pulled it up half an inch. IIRC the stud slid in above the frame and below the loosened AC line. Are you trying to get the stud out above the AC line? Mine was a 400h so this may be different than yours.

 

There is a bold on the back side of the manifold that brackets the manifold to the fire wall. Use a stubby 12 mm ratchet wrench to loosen and remove the bracket bolt. Then it will lift more. The engine will not raise any more unless you remove that bolt.