While looking for the source of oil that's been oozing down the left front of my engine, just above the alternator, I discovered this:

Two timing chain cover bolts (7 and 9 in the tightening sequence) were unscrewed pretty far. I screwed them back in and torqued them to spec. I don't know how they got loose.

Has anybody ever seen this happen before? Could they have vibrated loose like that? I know I never touched them, and I've never had a mechanic do anything in that area.

Furthermore, is that stud just below the rightmost circled bolt, the one just above the radiator hose, supposed to have a nut on it?

 

i would guess somneone did a home timing belt change didnt tourqe it to spec and forgot to put the missing nut back on

 

Timing belt?

OP: It's extremely unlikely they loosened themselves that far.

The stud appears to be where the upper alternator mounting bolt should be; it should be a bolt, not a stud. Either way, an empty stud should usually have a nut, yes.

 

those things have been tampered with, its an impossibility. a botl which retains the front license plate doesnt come loose not matter if you hit a pothole or someone rips off your license plate the bolt remains in, so i cant believe it loosened itself

 

sorry timing chain im still used to speaking in terms of hondas