Belt Lifter Bolt Diameter

[xCv2x]

I recently had all three of the belts replaced on my 1990 240sx (KA24e). After about 2,000 miles, the belt that connects to the alternator and the waterpump broke. I decided that I would handle the replacements myself - so I called a friend to assist. We found out that the man (at the Nissan dealership in Tyler, Tx) who installed the belts forced the belt on in order to get around breaking loose the belt lifter that was securely stuck to the alternator and had no intent of moving. My friend and I worked to free this part, and we connected the belt properly and I drove around for another few hundred miles over a few days with no problems, what-so-ever. After the first day I stopped checking the belts because I figured that they would have come loose if they were going to by then. Today I started up my car and heard a squeaking sound - after an examination under the hood I realized that the bolt that attatched the belt lifter to the alternator was missing. I can't find the part, and I need the size of the bolt so that I can buy a replacement. For the time being my daily driver has a loose belt that could fly off at any moment. Could somebody please tell me the size of this piece, either from knowledge or by taking the time to measure it. Any help would be deeply appreciated.

[C-Kwik]

Belt lifter? Are you referring to the tensioner? And which bolt are you referring to? The bolt for adjusting the tension? Or the one to lock the tensioner in place? I don't know the size of either, but I'm sure it would be important to know.

And I highly doubt anyone could get a belt on a car without loosening the tensioner. The belts are not made to stretch. It would be especially difficult to try by hand. I could see the possibility that either the belt was overtightened, or it was a faulty belt. As for the adjustment bolt,if it was the locking bolt, it may have just been tightened down quite a bit. Or if it was the bolt that adjusts tension, did you make sure to loosen the locking bolt first? This is a common mistake that people new to working on cars make.

You may be able to get the bolt from the dealer. If you tell them which bolt you need. Their computer lists almost everything.

[xCv2x]

The belt lifter - or tensioner, whichever you choose to call it - was corroded into one position. It took a hammer to free it, and several blows at that. The bolt I was referring to was the one that held the tensioner in place, and the belt that was previously on there had breaks where the grooves had once been. The pullys were also bent from what looks to have been a flat-head screw driver. I went down to Lowes today and sorted through bolts until I found one that fit. Thanks for replying...