frankdatank91

i was attempting my starter replacement and stripped the top alt bolt/bracket. My question is how unsafe is it to run the car like that for a few days until I can get a new one in. The bottom bolt is good and the alt is pretty dang tight. It runs now but I'm just scared. How do you all change your starters? bottom? take out alt from top?...

TIA,

Frank

xviper

You'll know if it's not tight enough. The alternator won't put out enough power to charge the battery and run the car. As tight as you think it is, that alternator pulley has considerable resistance when in high demand. The belt will slip and possibly make the whole thing too loose to properly drive the other pulleys (water pump, A/C).
To change the starter, the alternator must be swiveled to the side, not necessarily removed, although removing it will give you a better working area. The bottom bolt comes out from below, but the top bolt can be a bugger. You can use a long extension with a universal joint on it but this has proven to be disastrous in the sense that more than a few knock sensors have been broken when the extension bows. The better way is to partially disassemble the intake manifold brace so you can get a more direct shot at the top starter bolt.