I was running the car yesterday (my2002WRXwagon) in the middle of nowhere (Salem NY-beautiful area by the way), when my belts started squawking. I checked and found that the 8mm bolt that holds the alternator to the tensioner (not the tension bold itself) broke.

I was fortunate that remnant of the bold were not still in the alternator. I was also lucky that the folks in Salem NY are super human beings. I was given a ride into town to a parts store which had a bolt that I could use.

I have just never had an alternator bolt break before. I just had the car in for a clutch replacement, but I can't think of any reason why they would have had to mess with belts. Just wondering if anyone else had seen this?

BTW, the car doesn't shake as if there were a loose or broken motor mount. Just a weird thing to break.