Big SNAFU need help assessing

Sooo..
I was replacing the coolant temperature sensor on my 2006 2.7l tacoma 2TR-FE..
Everything was going pretty well.. got the manifold off and the old sensor..
Somehow the new one got over torqued and snapped off..I went to use a screw puller and when I was drilling the pilot hole the rest of the sensor when into the engine block further.. and then when I just tried the puller with a soft hammer knock to set it the rest of the sensor went into the engine block completely off the threads..
Is this something I could access or should I fold and tow to mechanic.. if so any idea the cost?

 

That’s sucks.
How big was the piece that broke off?
Is it possible it’s still in there?

Hopefully it makes it’s way down inside the block and stays there.
I don’t see any “easy” way of getting it out?

This might help you get an idea of where it “sits”

 

The piece didn’t go in the cylinder.
Turning it over by hand isn’t going to do anything.
You can not “look” in there.

It’s either sitting right there in the water jacket of the head, or it fell in to the water jacket of the block.

Maybe @BassAckwards has an idea. I think he has a lot of experience with these engines.

 

It's still visible, but there's no way I can get it to rethread..
It's the entire sensor forward of the hex nut part.

 

Ah man, one of those moments. I agree, don’t start it. You don’t want the remains swimming through the water jackets. I can’t think of any way to get it out, if you can’t even see it. Even if you could see it, getting it out would be extremely difficult.

Pulling the head, one of the steps is to drain the coolant. I’d skip that step. I’d also not use an impact wrench or air ratchet. The rattle might cause it to fall further down. Even if you pull the head, there’s a chance you won’t be able to get it out.

If the piece in there is smaller than the hole it screws into. One idea comes to mind. Pull a coolant drain plug, be ready with a rubber tip air gun. As soon as the plug is out blast air in, also be ready with some tweezers or small needle nose pliers to grab it if it comes up to the hole. Just throwing an idea out.

 

Just saw your picture, my idea won’t work. The piece won’t just shoot out.

 

Another one I’m gonna throw out. Take a Phillips screwdriver just smaller diameter of the piece, grind the end off so you have sort of like an unsharpened pencil. Blast the piece clean with brake cleaner and let it dry naturally. Glue your grinder screwdriver to the piece. I don’t know, super glue or something. Then MAYBE you can pull it out to the threads and unscrew it.

 

Yeah I just thought about that. I feel dumb. I saw the head and saw that cylinder lined up with the sensor. Duh. Well at least I didn’t drain my transmission fluid doing an oil change

 

Could you drill a small hole into it and get an easy out tapped into it and get it out that way?

 

How difficult would it be to pull the head?.. it looks like I'd need to remove the timing chain, serp belt, and do more disconnection of wires and have a couple special tools?
Any one have an idea of what a reasonable amount of time to pay a mechanic to do this is...

 

I hate to say it. Looks like you’ll need to pull the head completely off. Drill out the threads just till the hole is big enough to remove. Then you’ll need to find the correct size tap and helicoil to repair.

 

Oh. FYI. When ever drilling stripped or broken bolts out of a engine, always use reverse cut drill bits.

 

Or just move it to the side, install a new sensor and let it ride

I doubt it will inhibit coolant flow enough to cause an issue. The water jackets aren't really big enough to let that thing move very far. It's not like it going to end up in the radiator or water pump

Certainly the cheapest option to consider..

 

But what about the three passes of Teflon tape around the threads?

 

I dunno, maybe grab it with some forceps and pull it off

just throwing ideas out there.

 

Yeah, for sure. And appreciate it.. just considering options.. something about leaving a piece of metal in the engine doesn't sit well with me, but I also dont know with any level of confidence whether this would be a good idea or not.. anyone else agree?

 

If it doesn't cause an overheating issue I don't see what other kinds of damage it can do by staying in there, it's just a coolant passage. There's no rotating parts

Embarrassing for sure, but probably not crippling for the vehicle

 

Looking at the pic in post #2, even with the head off probably not room to get the piece out.

It either comes out the hole it went in ..or you buy a new cyl head. You'd lose out on core value too

 

It’s possible the piece is too big to swim away. I’m unfamiliar with the 4cyl. Do you have room to get a drill to it? If yes, a NEW reverse drill bit to start. Then since it’s unattached it might just move and spin on you. If you can manage to make a hole, then get the extractor on it, you might be able to pull out, get it on the threads, and back it out. If it’s tapered like a pipe plug, you’ll be fighting it, the big end of the piece trying to get started backwards on the small end of the hole.

 

Any chance a magnet on a stick tool would help?