Parts dropping into engine compartment .

[Phil Cose]

Hi Folks, I had a washer tank bolt fall down into the engine and I still haven’t found it (Car off road at moment) So I began to think (Dangerous) I am going to buy a small pot of aluminous paint and paint bolt tops etc of course losing these parts comes before you get a chance to put them in your parts container it is I find extremely annoying. even if you have to wait for nightfall you should be able to locate the part with a flashlight Normally it wouldn’t be a problem but I am 73 and not as dexterous as I once was, so its easy to drop things. Regards overthehillphil

PS I will let you know if it works..

Topic

[Lorrin Barth]

This thread is worthless without pictures. It will probably require a time exposure but I gotta see the engine compartment with all those glowing bolt heads.

[Gary]

I use a telescoping flexible magnet, that also has an LED flashlight built-in. Aside from sticking to everything in an older car made from metal, it is a godsend especially for modern cars with loads of plastic in the engine bay. Makes getting any fallen fastener a walk-in the park. You say the bolt fell INTO the engine? I assume you mean the engine bay/compartment.

[Lorrin Barth]

On my car it has to be a giant nut or bolt for it to fall and completely disappear. I was setting up an engine hanger as part of a transmission pull. One of the adjusting nuts fell into the engine compartment. I had enough things open at that point that I knew I needed to find it just for the assurance that it wasn’t where it shouldn’t be. Six hours later, I do not exaggerate, I found it in a place in the fender I didn’t even know existed.

One time I dropped a socket off of a stick, the reason it came off was because it was the largest socket and heavy. I figured on picking it off of the floor after I rolled the car out. I had to buy a new one.

[Phil Cose]

I did mean the engine compartment. As for glowing bolts I only meant ones that are frequently removed ie battery screw caps and small 8mm bolts from body work or the like, do it prior to the work and after all safely back in place remove the aluminous paint if you wish…also luminous nail polish can be used , check out ebay they have tons of it. regards, overthehillphil

[zero]

The easiest way to have parts and tools fall through the engine compartment and I don’t think anyone will disagree with me on this one. Put a can pan of the nastiest coolant or oil underneath. I’ll be damned if every time I have a pan under a car I’m working on top of if any dropped nut, bolt or tool doesn’t fall directly into it.

*SPLOOSH* Well at least I know where it went.

[Phil Cose]

Yeah ain’t that the truth, in Australia its called “Burkes Law” Still haven’t found it yet. Overthehillphil

[James O’Hara]

I would say get yourself a stream light styluspro or another extremely bright led flashlight. I would then search in a grid pattern. Remember first place you check is ground second is under each tire.

Pachinko is never much fun with bolts and engines. 1 washer = over a week of down time for a truck. From then on unless I know it didn’t fall into anything important I always look.

[Phil Cose]

Thanks or the tip, I did eventually search with a strong light and found it wedged between a join in the splash guard tray Appreciate the comments. I get to put it through the re register test (Hail Damage) mid May.

[Author]

Replies