Hi
I have a 2009 Saturn Vue suv. One of the crossbars is slightly loose. The bolt for tightening it is circular with tiny grooves all around it. It is also stamped with the number 5.
I’m in limbo as I cannot tighten it to use it or loosen it to replace it.
Any one familiar with such a bolt? I can send a photo if needed.
Thanks!!
A number 5 Torx?
A photo would help.
It’s hard to say what you have without seeing it, but it may be some form of “security” or “tamper proof” fastener. You can buy tools for installing and removing these. Here’s a picture that shows some examples:
Look at McMaster-Carr, I bought a T-handle wrench for my cross bars from them.
They have pretty much everything, for example: https://www.mcmaster.com/torx-screwdrivers
Try just about any auto parts store.
thanks all. been searching online. it may be a torx product. there is something called the external torx, a female fitting for a 1/4" driver.
the lowes website says I will find it in aisle 63, bin 2. will find out tomorrow.
will try to attach a picture, again thanks all.
That’s not a Torx. A Torx has 6 points, that one has 15!!! I have bits for almost every type of security bolt I’ve ever seen or heard of, but that one is new to me.
Try looking in a Saturn Auto forum. Does these links help…
Just visited Advanced Auto.
Helpful man described it as a spline socket. Not too rare, should find thru Lowes. He had a full set for $60. Should be able to get single head for under ten bucks. Thanks again!
Good find!
If it doesn’t already have one, I’d definitely put a lock washer under it.
Well it is not a spline head though it sure looks like it. Tried metric and us sized spline sockets from lowes. either too big or too small, no just right goldilocks here.
Am following carldelo’s advice and just sent an email to McMaster-Carr. Also dropped by my favorite garage to schedule an oil change and showed it to the mechanic. he likes a challenge, says he has some tiny vice grips and another idea or two.
will know next week when I take it in. Again thanks for all the suggestions.
just sold my two canoes and bought a new kayak. had it out a couple of times and love it weighs just 42 pounds and has a lot of glide. need to get this rail taken care of as I want to take it downriver and then review it here.
it’s a Hurricane Skimmer 116.
John,
I suspected that may be the case. I looked up spline sockets and they seem to be 6, 8 or 12 splines, not what you have there.
I think I might use a locking vise grip on that bolt and then just replace it with a stainless domed hex head of the correct thread.
Thanks kfbrady. Was just looking at long nose vise grips on line.
Tight fit in that little cavity. But the long nose might work.
Regular needle nose pliers will not budge it.
That looks very much like the threads often found on internal valves for faucets etc. For the life of me I can’t recall what they are called–but they are used to twist new valves into value/spout body when you have to replace the
valve stem------------ had to google it.
talk to a dealership. It’s probably propriety Don’t screw it up with a vice grip.
Saturn went belly up in 2010. There are no dealerships, although maybe they share some GM parts? Does anyone know?
Is there a specialty high end screw/fastener store in your area? They might have a idea.
Another desperation option that would keep the thread of that bolt intact (which may prove to be a good option) is to have a decent welder tack weld a standard bolt or nut on the end of that mystery bolt. You could then use a common socket, etc, to easily extract that thing. Once removed you could then identify the thread and locate some new bolt with better options…
@johnmadill said:
HiI have a 2009 Saturn Vue suv. One of the crossbars is slightly loose. The bolt for tightening it is circular with tiny grooves all around it. It is also stamped with the number 5.
I’m in limbo as I cannot tighten it to use it or loosen it to replace it.
Any one familiar with such a bolt? I can send a photo if needed.
Thanks!!
Do all the corners have the same bolt?
Wondering if this one bolt is just a one-off someone stuck in there.
Can’t imagine the rack coming with a weird bolt.
Spot welding a nut on that isn’t a bad idea but it looks like it is surrounded by plastic. I have a welding machine but I wouldn’t go near it.
If vise grips can’t do it then I’d drill it and use an easy out.
I think an experienced welder could do this, maybe with some shielding around the plastic?
If you drill into the nut with a tap you really don’t know how strong this nut is? Might go well or not? Might be tricky doing this sideways with a hand drill?
But I would look to see if there is some web forum for this car? I would expect some owner has lost this tool before and this “how do I remove this bolt?” query has been asked before?
There is a web forum; I posted links to it earlier.
But, I unfortunately couldn’t find any references to that particular bolt.
