Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: Dubious on 31 July 2009, 10:27:51

Title: Incredible disappearing sockets
Post by: Dubious on 31 July 2009, 10:27:51
I managed to drop a deep socket attached to a 4" extension down behind my DIS pack (v6 facelift). It hit someting metal but didn't reach the ground. I can't see or feel it anywhere (even now the DIS pack is out) and where the car is I can't safely jack it high enough to get underneath.

Can anybody suggest where it might be ? Could it be anywhere dangerous (ie should I find it before driving) ?
Title: Re: Incredible disappearing sockets
Post by: GastronomicKleptomaniac on 31 July 2009, 10:50:17
Have you got a magnetic stick?
Title: Re: Incredible disappearing sockets
Post by: Andy B on 31 July 2009, 11:09:36
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Have you got a magnetic stick?

Surely you need to be able to see where it is before you use your magnet!   ::)  :y  :y  ;D
Title: Re: Incredible disappearing sockets
Post by: GastronomicKleptomaniac on 31 July 2009, 11:11:49
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Have you got a magnetic stick?

Surely you need to be able to see where it is before you use your magnet!   ::)  :y  :y  ;D

 Aha! This is where stage (ii) of the plan comes in - steal your missus' (or your own, I won't judge) makeup mirror. Then do your best impression of a dentist. :y ;)
Title: Re: Incredible disappearing sockets
Post by: Andy B on 31 July 2009, 11:14:28
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...
 - steal your missus' (or your own, I won't judge) makeup mirror.  ....

I do have my own actually! One of SWMBO's cast offs ..... honest!!  ;D  ;D  ;D  ;D
Title: Re: Incredible disappearing sockets
Post by: Dubious on 31 July 2009, 11:30:14
I've tried stirring around with a stick stick (of my own), to no avail.

I just can't imagine what part of the vehicle would be big enough to stop and hold a 6" long and reasonably heavy lump of steel.
Title: Re: Incredible disappearing sockets
Post by: feeutfo on 31 July 2009, 11:57:06
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Quote
...
 - steal your missus' (or your own, I won't judge) makeup mirror.  ....

I do have my own actually! One of SWMBO's cast offs ..... honest!!  ;D  ;D  ;D  ;D

You need the mans version, also on a stick....
....discs out of a hard drive work too. :-)
Title: Re: Incredible disappearing sockets
Post by: Andy H on 31 July 2009, 12:06:00
(http://homepages.nildram.co.uk/~aholter/DSCF0737.jpg)

(http://homepages.nildram.co.uk/~aholter/DSCF0741.jpg)

The heat shields on the car body might be a bit loose and the socket might have slipped behind the sound deadening or it might have slipped into the gap between the oil cooler pipes and the block.
Title: Re: Incredible disappearing sockets
Post by: Dubious on 31 July 2009, 12:06:37
So nobody's saying 'Don't be stupid, there's nowhere for anything like that to get stuck' ?
Title: Re: Incredible disappearing sockets
Post by: Dubious on 31 July 2009, 12:07:20
Oops - cross-posted. Thanks for the pics.
Title: Re: Incredible disappearing sockets
Post by: Andy H on 31 July 2009, 12:14:12
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So nobody's saying 'Don't be stupid, there's nowhere for anything like that to get stuck' ?

Its a bit like a lobster pot in there behind the engine. I discovered a whole new vocabulary when I first changed my DIS  ::)
Title: Re: Incredible disappearing sockets
Post by: feeutfo on 31 July 2009, 12:33:58
at a guess, in descending order,
Top of gear box
Stuck on oil cooler pipes to oil filter area
On top of sub frame or stearing tie rod.
Its not uncommon to drop sockets inside the subframe when doing wishbones. Basically you need to have a look up from underneith the car. Can you roll it?
Title: Re: Incredible disappearing sockets
Post by: Ghost on 31 July 2009, 13:02:18
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Quote
...
 - steal your missus' (or your own, I won't judge) makeup mirror.  ....

I do have my own actually! One of SWMBO's cast offs ..... honest!!  ;D  ;D  ;D  ;D



Yeh yeh [smiley=evil.gif] [smiley=evil.gif]
we are starting to get worried about you ;D ;D
Title: Re: Incredible disappearing sockets
Post by: Andy B on 31 July 2009, 14:10:41
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So nobody's saying 'Don't be stupid, there's nowhere for anything like that to get stuck' ?

I think Omegas just do that every now & then. Mine ate an 8mm combination spanner somewhere near my head lights ..... I never did get it back!  :'(  ;D
Title: Re: Incredible disappearing sockets
Post by: Dubious on 31 July 2009, 15:50:46
Thanks for all the tips. Sounds like I need to get it on axle stands when I get it back on tarmac.