Bigwood

So I was tightening up my fan belt and when torking the center nut back down, a small box end wrench (using it to hold the torx driver in the center of the nut) snapped and went flying. I am missing about a 3” section. I believe it flew under the bottom pulleys, back inside under the engine. I don’t think it can really hurt anything sliding around back there on the metal pan but I know it isn’t a good idea as-well . I have a magnet on a wand but it can’t make the 90* corner below the fan belt. Does anyone have any great ideas or advice on how to get behind the fan pulley ? Is there a access panel? I am not a good enough mechanic to remove the pulley system so if I can’t fish it out somehow, I’ll probably need to leave it in there. Thanks in advance!

Todynot

A borescope might help you locate it.

95_993

I've glued a small magnet on the end of a bent coat hanger to get into tricky spots.

HalfGerman

Maybe something like this would work for you?

https://www.harborfreight.com/flexib...ool-94614.html

pp000830

Hi Bigwood,
If it made it under the pulley and you can no longer see it, it cleared the pulley edge and slid under the engine where over time it will vibrate further forward and fall out under the car. If you know that is where it is it is no biggie as it will get lost somewhere along the road as you drive your car. Over the years I have lost stuff down there, nuts, washers, even an ignition wrench, never to be seen again. Losing stuff down there is only an issue if the item is too big to slide out of view where it can remain and wedge against the pulley. In one case I retrieved a square compressor mounting nut from out of view using a little machine wire as a fish tape with a hook bend on the end. I only did it because I didn't have an extra nut on hand.
Andy

cgfen

Leave bits in your engine compartment at risk.
when it comes out, maybe nothing will happen.
maybe $$$omething will happen.
Are you a betting man?

I once dropped an 8mm socket into the bowels of my 997 Turbo.After 8 hours of searching / magnet / boroscope = no joy.
started taking stuff apart and found it wedged between the front pulley and engine case.
if i had started the engine it might have;

• flown out harmlessly?
• other?
• wedged more tightly and cracked the case?

I'll never know because I couldn't tolerate the uncertainty or potential expense.

techman1

Try compressed air. Works even better if you have a long wand tip to use. Been there done that.

samurai_k

This boroscope works great. Have used it from fishing Legos out the vents to inspecting the motor. Used it to pull a few bolts that fell into that spot so I know what you are talking about. Has a magnetic tip to pull that piece out under the pulley. You may need one of those magnetic stick tools to then lift it out.

pp000830

Great idea, why haven't I thunk of that? When you hear the clang on the floor you know it slipped under the engine and blew out onto the floor!
Andt

NC TRACKRAT

If you can't get your hands on a borescope right away, try a small inspection mirror on a telescopic rod that they sell at auto supply shops while using a small powerful flashlight. While there, look for a tubular shaped magnet that swivels on the end of a telescopic rod. You may be able to get that under the crank pulley.

Jon 'Bama

i have the same one. Works great