where'd this bolt come fall of from? PLEASE HELP!!

[dsm4bk]

I was driving home after work (in stop and go traffic), and then at the last traffic light when I made a left turn, and accelerated, I heard a clank noise and saw something fly out from underneathe and to the side. I don't know if it was from under the hood, or if it was from somewhere near the back end when it flew out. I stopped the car immediately, and walked over to the road and found the bolt that was thrown to the ground.

The head of the bolt is rusty, but when you look really closely, it has red paint on it.

I looked underneathe the car, and hood, and couldn't spot anything out of the normal, and there wasn't any leaks. I drove the car VERY slowly home afterwards (I was 300 feet away from home) so I couldn't tell if anything was wrong/different when driving.

These are the pics of the bolt
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/highonpsi/979aeaa9.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/highonpsi/a270b852.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/highonpsi/d42f6dd9.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/highonpsi/ccecb7a8.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/highonpsi/480653b0.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/highonpsi/98bd6790.jpg

Please let me know if you have any idea what it could be. Thanks

 

[92awddsm]

What size is the head, 14mm? Looks like a bell housing bolt. Im not sure though.

 

[91awd]

I was going to say the same thing. It might also be a tranfer case bolt but the diameter looks a little small about the right length though. So what would be the first two places I would check. The transfer case takes five bolts three on the bottom and two on top just so you know I can't remember on the tranny.

 

[xcelr8n]

starter bolt?
looks kinda like a bellhousing bolt a little...
my guess is starter bolt... and its looks like a14mm to

 

[dsm4bk]

damn, this is crazy, I had the starter replaced (with a used one), the x-fer case was replaced with a brand new one under the recall, and the bell housing was replaced cause the throwout bearing fuct up and pulled the lip off it (all of this was in the past few months)

The bolt seems to look new to me, or is that how they all are when they are inside something, and not exposed to anything?

Also, because I see the red paint, is that what Mitsu does when they replace something under recall (to make sure no one took the bolts off by looking at the red paint?

Thanks guys, I'm going to go try look underneathe the car now at all the things you said. (doubt I can see much without a hoist though )

 

[Doug99RS]

I was in the process of mentioning the red paint but you beat me to it. I would also look at the front and rear (car's front and rear) motor mounts. That bolt resemebles the bolt that goes through them. Also, the paint could have a matching component as well. See if you can find the red paint elsewhere like maybe on other bolts. I don't think it's transfer case because I thought most of them were in excess of 4 inches since they have to go through the case and still have enough left for the bellhousing.

Also check your lower control arms. That style bolt is also used there. Where the fork meets the lower lateral arm (straight arm) as well as where the lateral arm meets the subframe.

It's also used to hold the triangular support braces to the subframe as well on the underside of the vehicle.
Doug

 

[dsm4bk]

That reminds me...

I noticed that the car was jerking pretty badly in the stop and go traffic (when I was pressing the gas slightly, and letting off the gas, back and forth). Its always been like that, but it seemed a little worse than ever today. I thought it felt like something was wrong with the engine mounts, but I got an ACT 2100 with street disk, if that is normal with those??

 

[Doug99RS]

I would check your motor mounts and suspension stuff like above. Chances are that if you felt something give then you should not drive it. It will not take much for one of those suspension arms to fall out of place with one bolt missing.
D

 

[dsm4bk]

I went and checked underneathe, and something looks fishy on the tranny side, is this hole supposed to be there, or a bolt supposed to go in it? Theres also some red stuff inside which could explain the paint??

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/highonpsi/e2514915.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/highonpsi/8b894e9e.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/highonpsi/6ab88ec8.jpg


Thanks again

 

[91awd]

I don't think it goes there I have never worked on a 2g but it also doesn't look like their has ever been a bolt there. and now that I look at it again I don't think it's a transfer case bolt.

 

[volcom121]

It is one of your starter bolts. I'm currently in the process of putting a new clutch in, new drive shafts, a couple new suspension components, ect. but the red paint is what gives it away. Both starter bolts pass through the bell housing on the trans and both have red paint on them. it even says so in the service manual. Not to hard to put back in though.

 

[WhiteCloud]

I would also look at the front and rear (car's front and rear) motor mounts.

Word, that's where I saw it originating from.

 

[dsm4bk]

so it ended up being the subframe bolt.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

 

[Doug99RS]

No problem, glad we could help.
D