Dropped bolt into head

Hey guys

So I made a horrible mistake while replacing the head on my 2000 tacoma 2.4 and I dropped a bolt down into the back left coolant hole that goes into the block, I really have no idea on how to get it out I’ve tried a multitude of magnets and such but it’s just too deep. Would I have to drop the transmission to get to it?

 

Longer Magnet if you need to tape a long 1/4" extension on.

A piece of wire tapped to a magnet .

Make a Strong Electro magnet with a long screw driver.

unless you have done so!

Can you unbolt the piece from the Block with the transmission removed??

It is not part of the block it is where the sensors bolt into correct?

 

It is part of the block, it’s that bigger hole on the top left

 

If your referring to this 1 I believe that hole is an oil drain so your bolt may be in the oil pan, if it's not an oil drain it's an oil feed but I'm not sure.

 

What about putting a sticky blob on tip of brandnew pencil...
super sticky, like triple foam...

 

Wondering same thing.....did it fall straight thru.
or wedged in between....

Borescope would be nice....

 

Flexible, magnetic, pickup tool.

 

You should try using a camera snake before doing anything else. You can get them on Amazon for 20 bucks. If it's in the pan you'll know it. Look on the head where the hole lines up to and try to see where it goes. Might be a return hole for oil draining back to the pan from the head.
If you locate the bolt with the camera snake you can try a couple of different ways to retrieve the bolt.

(Option 1) Tape a barrell magnet to a coat hanger and stick it in the hole, try to fish it out.

(Option 2) Use an electric vacuum pump to retrieve the bolt. Connect the hose to the pump and snake it into the hole where you dropped the bolt.
You will need to add a catch container in the hose to capture any fluids that might be in the hole. The container is typically used on hand held vacuum pumps like the one used with Mightyvac brake bleeders. Google it and you'll see what I mean. I'd use a 3/16 or a 1/4 piece of hose to snake into the hole. Hopefully, you'll be able to get it out.

Good luck.

 

Are you absolutely sure that it fell into the hole and not somewhere else? Looking and not finding doesn't mean it went down the hole it just means you haven't found it yet.

 

I’ve had good luck with neodymium magnets carefully wrapped in safety wire. Gonna be hard to keep it from the walls though.


Good luck!