Aargh Help!

[Bazza]

any one have any advice

i thought i would give my IS200 a quick onceover

checked all the levels

and decided to change the air filter

having difficulty getting to one of the screws

took the oil cap off and somehow managed to loose grip of the small 2inch allen key i had in my hand and guess where it ended up !

advice needed

[ColinBarber]

Didn't think you need to undo screws for the air filter, just a couple of clips?

Don't start the engine until you get the allen key out. Can you see it?

[ColinBarber]

If you can still see it you need something like this:

http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro.js...=18440&ts=87928

[Rob]

oooohhhh dear i would try getting a small flexible magnetic pick up tool and have a feel around for it (i am assuming that you cant see the alan key????) - if all else fails, u might end up taking the cover off - its nothing toooo major though.

[ColinBarber]

or these:

http://rswww.com/cgi-bin/bv/browse/Module....stockNo=4236714

http://rswww.com/cgi-bin/bv/browse/Module....&stockNo=542138

[Rob]

be careful if using a mechanical pick up tool, assuming you can see the allen key because if you nudge it then it go further down/inside - make sure you have steady hands im speaking from experience, i dropped a little bolt on the edge of a drive shaft hole in a gas turbine i was rebuilding, it went down the hole and i then spent the rest of the day stripping the gearbox and casings to get to it just be careful

[Bazza]

cant see it

is it much work to take the head off

im no mechanic

how far down could it go

did realise not to start it

[ColinBarber]

You don't need to remove the head, just the cam cover.

[Bazza]

told you i wasnt a mechanic

but is it a matter of removing some bolts

just looking at it makes me worried

how long would it take a competent mechanic to do

do you think the rac would do it

they would have to come to me

really dont need this after christmas

[mudzs]

Taking the cam cover of is easy enough ,the allen key can not go any further down ,i would have thought the aa would do this as it is only a short job and once cover of allen key would be very easy to see.

[ColinBarber]

Just had a look at my engine bay. I haven't taken the cam cover off before but looking at it, it is not a 5 minute job.

The air filter box has to be completly removed, coil packs from the spark plugs and the wiring pulled back, various pipes disconnected and brackets removed. If you are careful the gaskets could be reused, although at the front by the vvt-i actuator there seems to be some sealant so that will need to be reapplied otherwise you will get oil leaks.

Looking down the oil filler it you can see the camshaft but to the right to goes straight down to the botton of the head.

I think a gentle feel around with a flexible magnetic tool is your best bet. It shouldn't be too far away and you may get luckly and fish it out.

[ColinBarber]

The RAC may have a magnetic tool and try and get it out. I don't think they would take the cam cover off though.

1 - 2 hours work to remove/replace the cover.

[mudzs]

probaly depend on the aa bloke involved some go out of there way to help and others have a tow it attitude.had a cambelt come of as one of the top pullys came undone on a mk1 supra once aa bloke took 3 hours stripping it down putting it back together and doing the timeing again at the side of the a30 in the dark ,top bloke.give em a call and cross your fingers you never know

[Bazza]

fingers crossed the rac are coming

explained what had happened

she said it gets reported as a cant start callout

and to explain to the engineer whats happened

sit and wait time now

thanks for the help

[mudzs]

Explain to him in full what you have done before you give him your keys .good luck and they do take tips if you know what i mean :winky:

[Maz]

hope you got it out matey, and everything ok...

[Bazza]

still waiting

i expect a few hours wait

hoping for a quick solution

but expecting a long one

[Rob]

is your car under warranty? just put the cap back on and start it, then phone ur dealer and say you have a funny noise coming from the engine - problem solved. ;) :mat:

[DUNCAN]

is your car under warranty? just put the cap back on and start it, then phone ur dealer and say you have a funny noise coming from the engine - problem solved. ;) :mat:

Yeah, problem solved until they find out why it was rattling !!!

[Rob]

is your car under warranty?  just put the cap back on and start it, then phone ur dealer and say you have a funny noise coming from the engine - problem solved.  ;)      :mat:

Yeah, problem solved until they find out why it was rattling !!!

i was coming back from the supermarket and then heard this funny noise so i called you guys - honest guv'

[DUNCAN]

is your car under warranty?  just put the cap back on and start it, then phone ur dealer and say you have a funny noise coming from the engine - problem solved.  ;)      :mat:

Yeah, problem solved until they find out why it was rattling !!!

i was coming back from the supermarket and then heard this funny noise so i called you guys - honest guv'

Well sir,

We found the remains of what looks like a 2mm alen key ! :winky:

Do you have any idea how it got there ?

By the way, heres your bill.....

[Bazza]

big relief

a very nice man turned up

with some tools that wouldnt look out of place in operating theatre

shone a torch onto a mirror device

pushed a long aerial type tool down

pulled it out, and hey presto! allen key on the end

very impressive

i am very releived

and yes i did give him a good drink

[Rob]

big relief

a very nice man turned up

with some tools that wouldnt look out of place in operating theatre

shone a torch onto a mirror device

pushed a long aerial type tool down

pulled it out, and hey presto! allen key on the end

very impressive

i am very releived

and yes i did give him a good drink

that would be an inspection mirror and a magnetic pick up then

[Bazza]

correct

a valuable lesson learnt

[BESTY]

correct

a valuable lesson learnt

that`ll teach ye to stop poking round greasy holes