Dropped / lost bolt on radio install?

Need some help. I am at my witts end.

Dropped bolt when mounting new radio that went down... where I don't know. I just heard it tumble. Thought it would fall through but it didn't.

Now every time I drive, I hear that bolt rolling back and forth somewhere. It's been like that for three weeks now!

It's rollig on something plastic. It is not visible from behind the panel.

I have partially dismanteled my dash / panel with no luck on finding bolt. I cannot find a logical place where it would be. I don't see how it could've fallen into vent system because there is no opening below where the blot dropped.

Any suggestions?

BTW - I've used magnets, air hoses with no luck.

Spine Shank

 

Trade it in

 

Let me know if you find it, I'm sure mine is in the same hiding place

 

Just consider yourself lucky. Usually you end up with extra bolts left over.

 

tie a magnet to a string and drop it in there with it

 

You'll have to pull the center console. That's where I found mine.

 

As I recall I may have had to pull my cup holder. You are not alone in this my brother..... Lol

 

Here is my trick for issues like this.

Find an old dead hard drive from a PC (Laptop is fine as well) Open it up, in there you'll find 2 magnets, both are Rare Earth Magnets. Take them out, tie a string to one of them it and keep feeding it down where you dropped the screw. Sooner or later you'll snag it with the magnet.. I'm sure you'll get caught on other metal about 500000000 times before you get the screw, but you will get it sooner or later..

Don't use normal magnets, not powerful enough..

Good luck.

 

Auto tranny where the stick comes up, unthread the shifter and pop off the plastic trimming around it should be sitting right there

 

How are the magnets attached to the metal plates? Can they come off?

 

Thx guys for the advice. Still no luck.

I've tried a super strong magnet, tied to a string, zip tied to a snake, fingers so sore now from sticking them in every nook and cranny. It's so frustrating because it's not that big of a space to be hiding. I can hear it as if it's right there. NOTHING!!!

MX - good idea, but already exhausted it. I have the center console off, the lower steering panel, and the entire radio console. There's not too much further to break it down. One would think he should be able to see it this far exposed, but nope, nada.

Keep the ideas coming though. Thanks

 

Try driving around with the dash taken apart and look for it since its moving. Next step is to have someone else drive or shake truck while you get in there with a stethoscope and see if you can pinpoint it. If either of these work let me know, then I'll do it too

 

I came up one short during re-install the other day as well. Lousy f&(*! design flaw! Fortunately, mine hasn't dislodged itself from wherever it's jammed just yet. I figure the first time I hit a good bump or leave the pavement, I'll be reminded of it from then on. ...must remind self to buy a magnetic 10mm nut driver just for this... Lost one of the stupid yellow plastic clips too so I'm sure I'll hear them both eventually.

 

Yeah they are glued on, you can use a flat head screw driver and razor to cut them off but be careful not to bend them too much.. They will snap.

 

Got it! MX was in the right direction.

As I resigned myself to defeat, I thought gravity has to work here. Sure enough.... it was under that little yellow box at the very bottom of the console.

Thanks MX and everyone else. Even the funny ones!

Spiney