Help.....I dropped a socket in the engine compartment
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 632
Likes: 0
From: Pasadena MD
Help.....I dropped a socket in the engine compartment
Hi All,
It's been a while but I have a slight problem and wonder if it's a cause for concern. While replacing the battery, my @##^&*% socket fell off the wrench and fell underneath the hole that's already underneath the plastic bottom for the battery. No hope on reaching it as I can't see it, so a magnetic socket wouldn't help. I don't feel like taking that whole section apart, because my expertise is limited to the basics-lol
I'm not sure if there is another hole down at the bottom where it will just fall out if I take it for a spin. I havn't driven it yet, since I've just taken it out of Winter storage, and the darn battery tender didn't keep the battery charged, hence my replacment.
Is anyone familiar with this section of the engine? Will it fall out? Is there a danger of it harming something internally, etc.
Thanks for your advice.
It's been a while but I have a slight problem and wonder if it's a cause for concern. While replacing the battery, my @##^&*% socket fell off the wrench and fell underneath the hole that's already underneath the plastic bottom for the battery. No hope on reaching it as I can't see it, so a magnetic socket wouldn't help. I don't feel like taking that whole section apart, because my expertise is limited to the basics-lol
I'm not sure if there is another hole down at the bottom where it will just fall out if I take it for a spin. I havn't driven it yet, since I've just taken it out of Winter storage, and the darn battery tender didn't keep the battery charged, hence my replacment.
Is anyone familiar with this section of the engine? Will it fall out? Is there a danger of it harming something internally, etc.
Thanks for your advice.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 25,889
Likes: 7
From: Virginia Beach
CI 3-5-6-7-8 Veteran
*Jack up front of car or right front
*Turn your wheels all the way left, or remove RF wheel
*You'll see the access panel for the car's computer right there
*Remove it and you should be able to get where you need to go.
*Turn your wheels all the way left, or remove RF wheel
*You'll see the access panel for the car's computer right there
*Remove it and you should be able to get where you need to go.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 25,889
Likes: 7
From: Virginia Beach
CI 3-5-6-7-8 Veteran
Originally Posted by REDEVIL
but I doubt anything will be hurt from the socket being in there.
Originally Posted by Corvette Owner's Manual
Any sockets dropped by moron owners into the battery area should be removed instantly. We know your excessive gold chains and chest hair make working on the car harder hard, but still, you must remove the socket instantly or the vehicle will explode
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 11,028
Likes: 5
From: Chicago (Naperville) IL
sorry to laugh, but usually we end up with extra bolts and screws when we work on our cars 
, that musta been really frustrating - I woulda started yelling at my fiance if she was around and blame it on her distracting me or something
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 11,308
Likes: 1
From: The Beautiful Greater Bay Area California
Originally Posted by Cobra4B
*Jack up front of car or right front
*Turn your wheels all the way left, or remove RF wheel
*You'll see the access panel for the car's computer right there
*Remove it and you should be able to get where you need to go.
*Turn your wheels all the way left, or remove RF wheel
*You'll see the access panel for the car's computer right there
*Remove it and you should be able to get where you need to go.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 16,270
Likes: 30
From: "It's 106 miles to Chicago, we've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-‘18-'19
NCM Sinkhole Donor
OMG!!!!
You dropped a tool into the BLACKHOLE??
The last person that reported that problem reached down there with a magnetic extending wand and his arm disappeared!
You've heard of the Bermuda Triangle, right? Well, this is the Corvette Triangle.......
Tools have a way of mysteriously disappearing into it - never to be heard from again......
Actually - now that I've gotten that out of my system - I really did use one of those magnetic extending wands and I was able to snag it. Here's a pic of what's in that hole......
Happy hunting!
You dropped a tool into the BLACKHOLE??The last person that reported that problem reached down there with a magnetic extending wand and his arm disappeared!
You've heard of the Bermuda Triangle, right? Well, this is the Corvette Triangle.......
Tools have a way of mysteriously disappearing into it - never to be heard from again......
Actually - now that I've gotten that out of my system - I really did use one of those magnetic extending wands and I was able to snag it. Here's a pic of what's in that hole......
Happy hunting!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 785
Likes: 1
From: Middletown PA
Originally Posted by blacksedan87
"To recover dropped socket, simply remove fender and pick up socket."
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,396
Likes: 2
From: North Manchester Indiana
I found a chaftsman wrench in my rocker panel, they tuner musta dropped it when they installed the boost a pump...
I could see it when i removed the rear innner fender to install the brake ducts...
a magnet on a yard stick got it,,,,,
be easy to removed the wheel, then the panel and get your tool back..:
wonder if they miss it,,
I could see it when i removed the rear innner fender to install the brake ducts...
a magnet on a yard stick got it,,,,,
be easy to removed the wheel, then the panel and get your tool back..:
wonder if they miss it,,
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,195
Likes: 2
From: ATL
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10
Originally Posted by Cobra4B
*Jack up front of car or right front
*Turn your wheels all the way left, or remove RF wheel
*You'll see the access panel for the car's computer right there
*Remove it and you should be able to get where you need to go.
*Turn your wheels all the way left, or remove RF wheel
*You'll see the access panel for the car's computer right there
*Remove it and you should be able to get where you need to go.
I've been able to gain access to this area without jacking the car. You end up having to turn your wheels to the left and the right in order to get all the attatching bolts out. I think they are 7mm.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 3,495
Likes: 0
From: Paducah Ky
Originally Posted by wrustywrench
I found a chaftsman wrench in my rocker panel, they tuner musta dropped it when they installed the boost a pump...
I could see it when i removed the rear innner fender to install the brake ducts...
a magnet on a yard stick got it,,,,,
be easy to removed the wheel, then the panel and get your tool back..:
wonder if they miss it,,
I could see it when i removed the rear innner fender to install the brake ducts...
a magnet on a yard stick got it,,,,,
be easy to removed the wheel, then the panel and get your tool back..:
wonder if they miss it,,
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 5,761
Likes: 1
From: Irvine CA
I dropped a socket there while replacing the stock battery with an Optima Red. Even when I convinced myself that it is ok, I lost a few nights sleep over it. I caved in and retrieved the socket with a magnetic wand after I took out the battery and its tie-down/holder.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 710
Likes: 1
From: Fremont (Livin' On The Fault Line!) CA
I feel your pain bro, I dropped a battery terminal nut while changing out my battery but luckily for me it fell onto the plastic splash guard below that area
If you're positive it fell into that hole (and I know exactly what hole you're referring to
), do think you might be able to fish it out using something like this:
Magnetic pick-up tool
It's on sale at Sears BTW, and works quite well; has a built-in flashlight, powerful magnet, and is telescoping.
Or something like this: Flexible pick-up tool (this baby has little claws that you can use to grasp the socket if you can locate it, and the whole thing is flexible).
Good luck
If you're positive it fell into that hole (and I know exactly what hole you're referring to
), do think you might be able to fish it out using something like this:Magnetic pick-up tool
It's on sale at Sears BTW
, and works quite well; has a built-in flashlight, powerful magnet, and is telescoping.Or something like this: Flexible pick-up tool (this baby has little claws that you can use to grasp the socket if you can locate it, and the whole thing is flexible).
Good luck
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 11,138
Likes: 11
From: Fremont CA
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19-'20
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Originally Posted by Stickman81
I've been able to gain access to this area without jacking the car. You end up having to turn your wheels to the left and the right in order to get all the attatching bolts out. I think they are 7mm.
J/K
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 368,384
Likes: 24,790
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
Originally Posted by Cobra4B
*Jack up front of car or right front
*Turn your wheels all the way left, or remove RF wheel
*You'll see the access panel for the car's computer right there
*Remove it and you should be able to get where you need to go.
*Turn your wheels all the way left, or remove RF wheel
*You'll see the access panel for the car's computer right there
*Remove it and you should be able to get where you need to go.
I've done the same thing with a socket and taking this panel off made access very easy. There is not hole for the socket to fall out, so if you want it, follow the above.