96 dodge Dakota 3.9 automatic transmission have been down the rabbit hole of the idle issues but I was replacing the sensor when one of the hex key bolts fell into the oblivion. I cannot find a decent replacement so far and was wondering if anyone has the specs by chance. I called Dodge today and they have no clue what the thread or size or anything is

 

If you go to the sticky section under 1st Gen Tech you will find one sticky containing fsms and parts manuals. Download the parts manual and look it up. Likely wont have bolt specs but it’ll have the MOPAR part number and you can search from there. Might be useful to ask the parts guy again with the part number.

Let me know if you found it. If not I’ll look for it for you.

 

I looked in my 90-93 parts manual and I'll be danged if I can find anything on that crankshaft mounting bolt.

 

HF also has "magnet on a stick" (not actual name) which you can move around over the area where it fell and when you hear something hit the plastic cap take a look to see what it is
Edit- Or you can take the other one out and find out what size it is??

 

I can but I don't have calipers or anything to properly measure it. I might try a junkyard for a spare one. It's insane that tiny oversight on the manuals. Event he dodge parts guy was scrambling through a few years models. I'm getting the same P0340 code because it's loose. It has a Hex 6 key my guess is it's a 7mm core bolt no idea on threat pitch it's not a machine screw. Frustrating I'll pull it and post a pic soon.

 

Take the one bolt out like 94 says and take it to Home Away From Home Depot and find the nut that fits on it. Then you know the thread size and can scrounge around for the bolt.

 

A 5/16 - 18 x 1 is a hair too long for the factory hole. So close but have something in the second hole now at least.

 

Is it the correct thread? If so, maybe throw some washers on it to serve as a spacer so it doesn't bottom out. If it's not the correct thread then you're playing with fire.

 

Notes on having the bolt out

It's a 1/4 in drive not a 6mm. And the thread is identical. I tried these at AutoZone still kind of hot and couldn't get a proper line up on the hole. Cold it was a perfect fit aside from being too long

 

If you're confident it is the correct thread and you wont booger them up (that would make for an ugly problem) then just slap some washers on the bolt. It wont need to go as deep into the threaded hole.