Dropped a small screw driver while tightening the air intake boot. Now I can't find where it fell. By the looks I think it fell into the fan shroud(sp?). Is there an easy way of taking the bottom portion of the shroud off, or atleast access it to see if it fell in there? Any other places where it may have fallen into? Any help would be appreciated. The good thing is that I turned the fan and it's not hitting anything. The bad is that I'm a long ways from home and all my tools.

Be very careful here. You are not a dumbass. I dropped my oil filler cap after changing the oil into the same area you are talking about. I have one dog who is always picking things up and taking them somewhere to chew, and of course he was near the truck when I dropped it.

I looked for a half of an hour with lights ect. I removed the skid plate that protects the radiator and searched all around between the shroud and the radiator. When I turned the fan by hand I could not feel or hear anything. I searched everywhere in my yard ( I have 4 acres ) and could not find it. So I went into town and bought a new one from the Chevy dealer.

I installed the cap and started the engine. Wham a quick noise and then no more noise. I then looked under the truck and could find nothing, ran engine for 5 minutes with no leaks or obvious problems.

I drove the truck down to the Phoenix area about 75 miles and then in town I noticed the engine temperature was rising, uh oh. Stopped and looked underneath and coolant was dripping from the radiator. After buying more coolant and water I was able to limp it home. Dealer replaced radiator for I believe around $1,200.00.

I"ve got to admit I sure felt like a dumbass.


Tom

That's why I love this forum. For the most part, members on here are helpful and brutally honest!! That's a great story and I'm positive that 04gmcmax appreciates your response. Accidents don't qualify you as a Dumbass. However, not learning from your own mistakes or learning from someone else's mistakes does! Good luck! :)

Be very careful here. You are not a dumbass. I dropped my oil filler cap after changing the oil into the same area you are talking about. I have one dog who is always picking things up and taking them somewhere to chew, and of course he was near the truck when I dropped it.

I looked for a half of an hour with lights ect. I removed the skid plate that protects the radiator and searched all around between the shroud and the radiator. When I turned the fan by hand I could not feel or hear anything. I searched everywhere in my yard ( I have 4 acres ) and could not find it. So I went into town and bought a new one from the Chevy dealer.

I installed the cap and started the engine. Wham a quick noise and then no more noise. I then looked under the truck and could find nothing, ran engine for 5 minutes with no leaks or obvious problems.

I drove the truck down to the Phoenix area about 75 miles and then in town I noticed the engine temperature was rising, uh oh. Stopped and looked underneath and coolant was dripping from the radiator. After buying more coolant and water I was able to limp it home. Dealer replaced radiator for I believe around $1,200.00.

I"ve got to admit I sure felt like a dumbass.


TomWas it the loose oil cap that damaged the fan/radiator?

man i ve almost been in the same boat dropped a flat head screw driver in tht same area couldent find it was like oh well it will fall out gave it one last quick glance and it was wedged in there would of went right through the radiator. 30 mins later finnaly got it out with a magnet and some finess.

Was it the loose oil cap that damaged the fan/radiator?


Yes.

Tom

Man my truck has ate alot of my tools. They are probily lying in the road little ways from the house.

Man my truck has ate alot of my tools. They are probily lying in the road little ways from the house.


lol, the same can be said for my project car, i found a few bolts and sockets i dropped when i pulled the motor:eek:

Get one of those magnet sticks that's retractable. It's saved my ass a number of times when I've dropped wrenches.

x2

Get one of those magnet sticks that's retractable. It's saved my ass a number of times when I've dropped wrenches.

I was changing the spark plugs in my wife's L6 Trailblazer. I had all of these plug holes open, and started with farthest one. Had to use a pliers to pull my spark plug socket off the plug and as I was rmoving it, the dam pliers fell apart and the screw that holds the two pieces together falls into one of the open cylinders!!!!! I ended up finding a tiny magnet, carefully attaching it to a coat hanger (gotta love gorilla tape) and fished this screw out of the cylinder. Can you imagine the carnage if I had given up looking for it?!

...fished this screw out of the cylinder. Can you imagine the carnage if I had given up looking for it?!

Holds hands to his temples..."I see an engine replacement in your future."

Get one of those magnet sticks that's retractable. It's saved my ass a number of times when I've dropped wrenches.

Yeah, I have one of those. Unfortunately I was no where near home. Good thing it was a heavy screw driver. I found it with a flashlight sitting inside the fan shroud. I turned the fan and didn't hear anything so figured it was safe for the ride home. It stayed there and I got it out with a coat hanger.
Strunkt, sorry to hear about your situation.

Buy now its either good news or bad hope its good news

. . . the dam pliers fell apart and the screw that holds the two pieces together falls into one of the open cylinders!!!!! I ended up finding a tiny magnet . . .
Fortunately, most tools aren't stainless. If those pliers had been stainless (e.g., scissors, and their screw, are usually SS) you'd have been pulling a head since the magnet wouldn't work. Of course, that's assuming you knew the screw was down there.

Otherwise, you'd still have been pulling a head, plus more stuff too.