I was on the highway when this happened. I boosted from a low speed and next thing you know i hear a boom. Look down at my volt meter and I see 11.0 and battery light shines in the dash. I knew my alternator tensioning bolts blew off. Pretty scary when you hear a boom and clank clank bang. I had to use zip ties, 550 cord(if you're in the army, you'll know what that is), and a prayer to hold the alternator still. Held well for a good hour drive on the highway. I don't have a mitsu dealer near me anymore since they're mazda now. Anyone know where else they got these new bolts?

I had that happen. There is one bolt that you can only get at the dealer because it is a custom part where the screwhead has a screw hole in it. The other bolt ... the tensioner one isn't in CAPS. It's rather a big screw job to find those bolts.

I tensioned my alternator with zipties for ohh... six months? I just got lucky and found a tensioner bolt that sorta fit, and use it instead.

Went to the Dodge dealer next to the Mazda and found the bolts. cost me a little over 12 bucks for both. Should be here thursday. Hey Dino, how many zip ties did you use? I'm surprise it didn't burn off yet. I'm using 4 and the 550 cord.

Originally posted by DarkOne
I tensioned my alternator with zipties for ohh... six months?

hahahahaha

when in doubt....use the search/zipties :thumbsup

I'm curious ... how in the hell do you blow your alternator tensioner bolts off? Was your alternator locked tight at the pivot point?