My car is in the garage with the entire cooling system and Oil filter housing removed. wife is out of town until tomorrow night and I am supposed to be somewhere tonight.

overhaul is going beautifully, BUT...I dropped the alternator cap nut in the nether regions (I ALWAYS drop something down there but usually find it). This time, no dice.

Do any of you know the thread pitch of that nut? I believe the post on the alternator is M10. I might have to uber to Home Depot to find a nut to use until I can order a new cap nut, but wanted to know if anyone knows where on the car there might be another, less essential version of a nut I can scavenge and just use temporarily. doesn't have to be plastic. just needs to be able to hold the battery cable in place so I can drive to get a replacement. also would autozone or a place like that have something generic that would work since these valeo alternators are fairly ubiquitous?

thanks!!

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2005 X5 3.0i - 71k mi (9.2018) -> 81k (9.2019) -> 100k (9.2021) -> 123k (8.2025)
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SOLD : 2003 X5 3.0 - 177k mi (9.2018) -> 186k (9.2019) -> 205k (9.2021)
SOLD : 1997 328is Coupe - Hellrot Red
SOLD : 1988 528e w/ Bullseye s256 / MS2 Extra / GC Coilovers / Yukon Coils ~ 300+ HP