Dropped a bolt down the turbo...(98 c70)

I just got a "new" 1998 C70...love the car, will never drive anything else -
unless I really broke it and I have to go for the ford aspire I deserve.

The car has 84,000 miles, so I figured I should change the plugs, cap, rotor
and wires. I removed the spark plug cover, the one that bolts on with 6
bolts. Everything went OK, but when it was time to put the cover and screws
back, I dropped one of the screws behind the engine. I had removed the black
pipe that goes over/to-the-right of the spark plug cover, and I'm pretty
sure the bolt went right into the now open/exposed silver orifice in the
back of the engine (closer to the driver). The arrows in the picture
indicate the bolt, and where it fell (just imagine it without the pipe on
top).

I tried to fish it out with a magnet, but no luck. So I started the car.
Seems to run fine. Drove it home from the folks - no problems. I even got
confident and stepped on it - no problems.

So...what have I done? Do I NEED to worry about this bolt, or is there some
magical screen that will prevent it from being sucked into the turbo when
conditions call for it? Is that even the turbo that it fell into? I
appreciate any input you might have, many thanks.

Rob

"Rob" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:Yy2%e.24443$%L4.14690@trndny02...
> I just got a "new" 1998 C70...love the car, will never drive anything
else -
> unless I really broke it and I have to go for the ford aspire I deserve.
>
> The car has 84,000 miles, so I figured I should change the plugs, cap,
rotor
> and wires. I removed the spark plug cover, the one that bolts on with 6
> bolts. Everything went OK, but when it was time to put the cover and
screws
> back, I dropped one of the screws behind the engine. I had removed the
black
> pipe that goes over/to-the-right of the spark plug cover, and I'm pretty
> sure the bolt went right into the now open/exposed silver orifice in the
> back of the engine (closer to the driver). The arrows in the picture
> indicate the bolt, and where it fell (just imagine it without the pipe on
> top).
>
> I tried to fish it out with a magnet, but no luck. So I started the car.
> Seems to run fine. Drove it home from the folks - no problems. I even
got
> confident and stepped on it - no problems.
>
> So...what have I done? Do I NEED to worry about this bolt, or is there
some
> magical screen that will prevent it from being sucked into the turbo when
> conditions call for it? Is that even the turbo that it fell into? I
> appreciate any input you might have, many thanks.
>
> Rob
>
>

It's hard to say, it may be wedged in the volute and not be able to contact
the compressor wheel, but then again it might come unwedged and destroy a
$1400 turbocharger in the blink of an eye, depends on the size of the bolt
and the shape of the innards of that particular turbo. Personally I'd remove
the housing and get the bolt out, even best case if it's wedged in there
somewhere it'll block some airflow and reduce economy and/or power.

Simply, find it and get it out. Sweep the shop floor and check
everything, check the engine bay, and if you still haven't found it,
pull the turbo and start taking it apart.

The guys who build gas turbines for radio-controlled models work with
one simple rule: never assume anything is all right by default. As
james said, $1400-plus gone in the blink of an eye. I don't think that
you have that amount of pocket change kicking around.

"byrocat" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>Simply, find it and get it out. Sweep the shop floor and check
>everything, check the engine bay, and if you still haven't found it,
>pull the turbo and start taking it apart.
>
>The guys who build gas turbines for radio-controlled models work with
>one simple rule: never assume anything is all right by default. As
>james said, $1400-plus gone in the blink of an eye. I don't think that
>you have that amount of pocket change kicking around.
>

At this point he would HAVE to open the turbo because he has already
driven the car and so there is no way of knowing if the lost bolt was
dropped somewhere else in teh car and then fell off on the road.
Opening the turbo and NOT finding the bolt at this point might be
worse than finding it. Not finding it means it went somewhere else,
but where?

One of the benefits of working on your own car is that you learn all
the places hardware hides when it makes a friend of gravity- sometimes
the easy way... sometimes the hard way. There have been times when I
wanted to take my car, turn it over, and give it a good shaking!



__ __
Randy & \ \/ /alerie's
\__/olvos
'90 245 Estate - '93 965 Estate
"Shelby" & "Kate"

"Randy G." <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> "byrocat" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
> >Simply, find it and get it out. Sweep the shop floor and check
> >everything, check the engine bay, and if you still haven't found it,
> >pull the turbo and start taking it apart.
> >
> >The guys who build gas turbines for radio-controlled models work with
> >one simple rule: never assume anything is all right by default. As
> >james said, $1400-plus gone in the blink of an eye. I don't think that
> >you have that amount of pocket change kicking around.
> >
>
> At this point he would HAVE to open the turbo because he has already
> driven the car and so there is no way of knowing if the lost bolt was
> dropped somewhere else in teh car and then fell off on the road.
> Opening the turbo and NOT finding the bolt at this point might be
> worse than finding it. Not finding it means it went somewhere else,
> but where?
>
> One of the benefits of working on your own car is that you learn all
> the places hardware hides when it makes a friend of gravity- sometimes
> the easy way... sometimes the hard way. There have been times when I
> wanted to take my car, turn it over, and give it a good shaking!
>


Reminds me of a few months ago when I found one of my missing wrenches under
the hood, I'm not sure how it stayed there but it was right where I'd set it
down, after driving around for over a month.

"Randy G." <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> One of the benefits of working on your own car is that you learn all
> the places hardware hides when it makes a friend of gravity- sometimes
> the easy way... sometimes the hard way. There have been times when I
> wanted to take my car, turn it over, and give it a good shaking!
>

I am not alone!!!!

Mike

Rob wrote:
> I just got a "new" 1998 C70...love the car, will never drive anything else -
> unless I really broke it and I have to go for the ford aspire I deserve.
>
> The car has 84,000 miles, so I figured I should change the plugs, cap, rotor
> and wires. I removed the spark plug cover, the one that bolts on with 6
> bolts. Everything went OK, but when it was time to put the cover and screws
> back, I dropped one of the screws behind the engine. I had removed the black
> pipe that goes over/to-the-right of the spark plug cover, and I'm pretty
> sure the bolt went right into the now open/exposed silver orifice in the
> back of the engine (closer to the driver). The arrows in the picture
> indicate the bolt, and where it fell (just imagine it without the pipe on
> top).
>
> I tried to fish it out with a magnet, but no luck. So I started the car.
> Seems to run fine. Drove it home from the folks - no problems. I even got
> confident and stepped on it - no problems.
>
> So...what have I done? Do I NEED to worry about this bolt, or is there some
> magical screen that will prevent it from being sucked into the turbo when
> conditions call for it? Is that even the turbo that it fell into? I
> appreciate any input you might have, many thanks.
>
> Rob
>
>
I do not think that the bolt you are referring to fell in to the turbo
it most likely as others have stated is lying around in the rear of the
engine or on the floor where you did the work. Use this as a learning
experience the next time you remove the inter cooler pipe from the turbo
place a rag in both ends so if something does drop it does not go where
it could cause major damage . I would just to be on the safe side remove
the inter cooler hose once again & throughly check the turbo just to
make sure that the bolt is not in there just waiting for the right time
to show up
Glenn

--
"*-344-*Never Forgotten"
Is for the New York City Firemen who lost their lives on September 11,2001.
The official count is 343, but there was also a volunteer who lost his life
aiding in the initial rescue efforts. And I will never forget them as
long as I live,
nor should any American.

Thanks for the advice everyone. So tomorrow I am driving back to the folks
(20 miles away, I don't really drive during the week) and:

1) Back the car up into the ramps
2) With the front end lower and the back end higher, gravity should push the
bolt (if it is really there) to the front-end of the thing, and I should
have better luck at fishing it out with a magnet and/or wires.
3) if that does not work, I guess I'm pulling that turbo out

wish me luck

By the way, here is a picture of what went where - the yellow arrows
indicate the bolt and where it fell.

http://mysite.verizon.net/vzepklgm/droppedthebolt/

Thanks,

Rob


"Michael Pardee" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:AumdnfIPDORKTaDeRVn-(E-Mail Removed)...
> "Randy G." <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> One of the benefits of working on your own car is that you learn all
>> the places hardware hides when it makes a friend of gravity- sometimes
>> the easy way... sometimes the hard way. There have been times when I
>> wanted to take my car, turn it over, and give it a good shaking!
>>
>
> I am not alone!!!!
>
> Mike
>

Maybe a dumb idea but i have used it with success drop another bolt from the
sme point and see where it lands attached to cotton so you can find it .

"James Sweet" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:RFj%e.105$%p6.23@trnddc06...
>
> "Randy G." <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> "byrocat" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>>
>> >Simply, find it and get it out. Sweep the shop floor and check
>> >everything, check the engine bay, and if you still haven't found it,
>> >pull the turbo and start taking it apart.
>> >
>> >The guys who build gas turbines for radio-controlled models work with
>> >one simple rule: never assume anything is all right by default. As
>> >james said, $1400-plus gone in the blink of an eye. I don't think that
>> >you have that amount of pocket change kicking around.
>> >
>>
>> At this point he would HAVE to open the turbo because he has already
>> driven the car and so there is no way of knowing if the lost bolt was
>> dropped somewhere else in teh car and then fell off on the road.
>> Opening the turbo and NOT finding the bolt at this point might be
>> worse than finding it. Not finding it means it went somewhere else,
>> but where?
>>
>> One of the benefits of working on your own car is that you learn all
>> the places hardware hides when it makes a friend of gravity- sometimes
>> the easy way... sometimes the hard way. There have been times when I
>> wanted to take my car, turn it over, and give it a good shaking!
>>
>
>
> Reminds me of a few months ago when I found one of my missing wrenches
> under
> the hood, I'm not sure how it stayed there but it was right where I'd set
> it
> down, after driving around for over a month.
>
>

Glenn Klein <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>Rob wrote:
>> I just got a "new" 1998 C70...love the car, will never drive anything else -
>> unless I really broke it and I have to go for the ford aspire I deserve.
>>
>> The car has 84,000 miles, so I figured I should change the plugs, cap, rotor
>> and wires. I removed the spark plug cover, the one that bolts on with 6
>> bolts. Everything went OK, but when it was time to put the cover and screws
>> back, I dropped one of the screws behind the engine. I had removed the black
>> pipe that goes over/to-the-right of the spark plug cover, and I'm pretty
>> sure the bolt went right into the now open/exposed silver orifice in the
>> back of the engine (closer to the driver). The arrows in the picture
>> indicate the bolt, and where it fell (just imagine it without the pipe on
>> top).
>>
>> I tried to fish it out with a magnet, but no luck. So I started the car.
>> Seems to run fine. Drove it home from the folks - no problems. I even got
>> confident and stepped on it - no problems.
>>
>> So...what have I done? Do I NEED to worry about this bolt, or is there some
>> magical screen that will prevent it from being sucked into the turbo when
>> conditions call for it? Is that even the turbo that it fell into? I
>> appreciate any input you might have, many thanks.
>>
>> Rob
>>
>>
>I do not think that the bolt you are referring to fell in to the turbo
>it most likely as others have stated is lying around in the rear of the
>engine or on the floor where you did the work. Use this as a learning
>experience the next time you remove the inter cooler pipe from the turbo
>place a rag in both ends so if something does drop it does not go where
>it could cause major damage . I would just to be on the safe side remove
>the inter cooler hose once again & throughly check the turbo just to
>make sure that the bolt is not in there just waiting for the right time
>to show up
>Glenn


I am reminded of my '72 Type II VW (van). The dual(!) Solex carbs had
brass "dump tubes" for the accelerator pump. Their base was a press
fit in the carb body. I had two of those tubes fall out of the carb
and go through the motor! It makes a hell of a noise, but not as bad
as that bolt would in the turbo charger! The cure? I ended up
soldering thin, stainless steel safety wires to them, and tying the
end of the wire under a screw on the body of teh carb. I will never
miss owning air-cooled VWs, and they got all the money out of me they
ever will!


__ __
Randy & \ \/ /alerie's
\__/olvos
'90 245 Estate - '93 965 Estate
"Shelby" & "Kate"