Dropped allen key into engine. Problems now.

I was re-doing the rear allen bolt on the air filter cover (left hand side as you're facing the car). I was rushed and I dropped the allen key behind the cover.

Looked everwhere for it. On the bottom of the under-cover. Shone torch around, with a mirror. No sign.

Left it. Came out next morning and found battery completely flat. Never happened before. No lights on dash even. Had another good look for the allen key.

Decided to try and start it. Jumped it from an Audi A4. Gave it 15 seconds then turned key. While electrics were back on, all I got was a funny two clicks. Tried it twice then left it for fear of doing damage (if I haven't already).

Based on the above, does anyone know where it might have fallen? Happened to anyone before? How do I get it out? Can I put my hand blind into the part of the engine without risk of injury? Can anyone point me to a diagram of the engine?

I only have a basic tool set up. Not even ramps yet. Any advice and help much appreciated. Thanks a mil.

:doh:

This is a strange one. Is the allan key inside the engine or outside the engine. My guess is it's dropped down the back and is bridging two terminals to short out the battery. Bit more info would be great.

get an extending magnetic probe then poke around with that, allen key should stick to it

Admittedly i know very little about freelanders. Is either the alternator or starter down behind there and it's shorted out, draining the battery?

HAVE A LOOK AT YOUR MANUAL

Is it a magnetic key?

Is it possible that the flat battery is unrelated to the loss of the allan key?

It seems amazing that dropping a spaniard down the back of the motor could short anything.

AFAIK there is nothing there that could be shorted.

Interior light left on perhaps?

Is it in a garage with a door ajar?

You need to get the air-filter cover off again to get a proper lookdown there from above

Drop the undertray to check properly from underneath. You don't need ramps to get enough room to drop the tray - a brick under each front wheel is enough.

Meanwhile disconnect and recharge the battery.

What engine is it? I cant speak for the others, but on a TD4, there is nothing to be shorted out down behind the engine. There are a few electrical connections, but they are all the style with insulated plastic plugs....ie the VNT solenoid.
Its probably on the under-tray. Check you can select all gears in case its lodge in the selector linkages - unlikely, but you never know. To be honest, Its not likely to cause damage either if you leave it, but it may well eventually rattle its way off the tray and fall to the road while driving.

As for the non-start, it sounds like not enough juice flowing through the jump leads to crank it - either the leads are too small diameter or the clamps are not making good enough contact. If they are heavy duty leads, put them on and give each clamp a hard squeeze and wiggle as you connect them to "bite" into the terminals through the surface layers of crud and oxidation normally found there.


Years ago I was changing the valve stem oil seals on my beloved Ford Orion when the tweezers I was using the lift off the valve collets slipped out my fingers and disappeared down one of the engine oil-ways. Several hours of poking and prodding with a magnet stick produced nothing so I finished the valve seals, shut my eyes and started it with my finders crossed. It ran perfectly - I assume the tweezers made it right down to the sump, where they stayed until I sold the car years later!

Air filter at the back will be a TD4. Back there is the exhaust manifold and various pipes.
Alternator is at the front, Aux belt is down the left hand end of engine though. I'd take the battery off and give it a full days charge if it's that flat!

Halfords do a long flexible magnetic pick-up thingy. I used one to find an allen key I dropped down in the front of the engine. A bit of poking about may retrieve it from wherever it's lurking

Bloody Spanish

zoolander said:

Bloody Spanish

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he would have to be very small to retrieve that allen key




i think he must've meant spanial

Freelaner said:

he would have to be very small to retrieve that allen key




i think he must've meant spanial

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Halfrauds have them on special offer this month.

Small spaniards and open-ended spaniels.

Singvogel said:

Halfrauds have them on special offer this month.

Small spaniards and open-ended spaniels.

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do they have any open ended ratchet spaniels

Freelaner said:

do they have any open ended ratchet spaniels

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No - I didn't see any of those.

But they did have screwdrivers in two sizes -

The medium sized Rat**** Screwdriver and
the smaller sized Mouse**** Screwdriver.

Singvogel said:

No - I didn't see any of those.

But they did have screwdrivers in two sizes -

The medium sized Rat**** Screwdriver and
the smaller sized Mouse**** Screwdriver.

Click to expand...

har har har

we all make mistakes it is part of being human

dropped my socket and ratchet down the front of my hippo thought s... how do i get that out solution bloody strong magnet on the stone guard and dragged it to the back problem solved

yep i have done that

Cheers for all the advice. Was good to know there was no alternator or something down there that might have been a big problem. Yep, the jump leads were too small / bad connection / needed some charging. I got it started up, and no problems experienced with regard the lost allen key. It's still missing, though! Thanks again, all.