So I just lost a bolt somewhere in the engine bay. It's one of the three 14mm bolts on top of the front strut tower. I searched a bit but was hard with it being dark out. I'll look more tomorrow but in case I can't find it, anyone know where I could get a replacement?
Would a similar looking bolt from a hardware store be good enough?
Am I gonna have any problems with that bolt hiding somewhere in the engine bay?
And would it be safe to drive with only 2 of the 3 bolts on one of my front strut towers for a bit until I got a replacement?

 

I'm not sure about the safety question but I'm sure the lost bolt will fall out while you're driving and you won't need to worry about it. As for a replacement just head over to home depot and find the same size nut and you should be good.

EDIT: Just read that you're missing the bolt.. I have no idea

 

sorry, I guess I meant nut, if thats what you were confused about. The nut that you thread onto the strut tower bolt is what I dropped into the engine bay

 

Yeah I think it's a nut haha I wouldn't worry too much about it but I'd try to find that replacement ASAP

 

i wouldnt worry about it, ive dropped plenty of things in there, but i def wouldnt drive the car. get a ride to the dealer and get a new one.

 

just take another one out and match it at the hardware store.... 'stainless' gezzzzzz

 

You should be ok driving to the hardware store. But before you do that do you have some kind of magnetic rod you can fish around with? I have a magnetic antenna I use and it has worked in some surprising circumstances.

 

i suppose i could try but the thing is, i have no idea which direction it flew. i was unbolting the bolt with one hand while looking under the fender and holding the strut tower with the other hand so when it came off i didnt see which way it went, all i know is that its more likely somewhere on the driver side than passenger

 

its probably like a $0.50 nut anyways, lol

 

yea I couldn't find it so I went to Home Depot and bought a new one for 44 cents. All good now.

On a related note, the inner bolt on the driver's side strut tower is impossible to access. ARGH


The little metal plate cover above it keeps you from being able to use a socket. Meaning, all I could fit was a 5 inch combo wrench and to remove that nut alone it took 15 mins of pulling with all my might. Also, meaning I can't use a torque wrench to tighten it, so I had to guess and tighten it as much as I could with aforementioned combo wrench.