Help figuring out what to do!

[Zak8022]

ok, so yesterday i changed my oil and tranny fluid, and i noticed something out of place under the car. I know htis pic sucks, and is hella zoomed in, but it was hard to get any decent shot under there. there is a bolt that is loose....but its not any normal bolt i have seen before. the head is square, so its not like a ratchet or normal wrench will fit it.

(pictures taken from under the car, just a bit towards the drivers side and towards teh rear from the oil pan. as you can see in both, the big white thing is the new oil fliter)

im still tryin to figure out just what this is..but it looks like a bolt for either the a/c compressor, or the alternator(honestly, i couldnt see that well and dont know which is which off hand). the bolt is loose, but i managed to tighten it by hand just a bit....but obviously that wont last long.

has anybody see this before, or know how to help? i am open to anything. its just so weird, ive never seen anything like that kind of bolt before.

thanks in advance.

 

[EluSive2K]

That square bolt looks like the one from the alternator, i dont know if its the same as a civic, since thats what i have, but im sure it should be just about the same. So yeah, pound it back in and torque it back up. Its important.

 

[anekin007]

from that pic, im pretty sure its the alternator. i dont think that bolt suppose to be sticking out like that. put it back in, im not sure but i think there is suppose to be a nut on the other side.

 

[Zak8022]

hmm...ok, thanks guys. i know i will have to do something with it...im not gonna leave it like that. i just dont know HOW to get it back in...im only a weekend mechanic, and dont know what i would use to screw it back in. any thoughts on that?

 

[civic_anxiety]

yeah that happened to me, my alternator mounting bolt came off while i was driving. luckily i heard it fell off, so i stopped, and that was the thing that came off.....yeah on the other side is a size 14 mm nut. u dont need to pound it back in place, its easy, just use ur hand and push it back, then tighten it with a socket wrench.....

 

[Zak8022]

ok....then it looks like the nut is long gone...unless its one of those nuts thats welded in place. but i dont think i saw room for that down there. i will have to lookup what size nut it is and order it from the dealer.

thanks guys