(Yay it's fixed after 5 hours and missed work day) PCV grommet that fell into valve cover

Hey thanks for all the good advice. I'll leave the thread back up in case someone in the future punches that hard plastic grommet into the valve cover by mistake.

 

I’m gonna say most everyone is gonna say not to drive it until it’s removed.


So valve cover

 

Yikes, I wouldn't drive it!

 

Exactly. Get an Uber or something to work

 

I wouldn't chance it.
Find a ride to work or call in sick.
Get a valve cover gasket set from Autozone.

 

Get some small gauge wire, small flashlight, mirrors, boroscope if you have one.

It probably didnt go too far once it fell so Id try my best to rig something up to get it out before driving

 

have you tried a long pick type tool? maybe get lucky and scoop it out? far fetched but worth a try



in the event you do decide to try running it, please video record the events for your fellow TWers

 

Don't drive it. An uber is cheaper than a new motor.

 

how big is the gasket? If it’s big enough it won’t fall into the engine due to this plate.
Other than that, might be able to open the oil cap and suck it back thru the hole with a vacuum



note this is on a 2000, not sure if they looked like this in 96. Have to peek inside with a flashlight and see

 

I had the same issue last weekend on my 3.4L- Luckily I was able to see it and used one of the picks pictured above to stab and remove it.

Perhaps the recommendation to replace the PCV Valve grommet should only be during a valve cover gasket job.

 

I taped some 1/4” vinyl tubing onto the end of a vacuum to clean up around my valve covers before removing them, and down inside the spark plug tubes. Different engine I realize, but perhaps you could attempt something like this. Tubing small enough to go into the PCV hole, and flexible to move it around and hopefully extract the broken piece(s). Good luck.

 

Okay, I took the day off and am removing valve cover for first time.

There is a steel loom in the back of the 2.4,is that going to have to be removed (see photos)?

What about spark plug tubes under the valve cover? Any tricks to those?

 

Phew. the hole was too small for the grommet to fall down . now to fish out the grommet, miss a $200 day at work, $40 kit for gasget, $30 uber ride, and stress for a tiny bit of plastic. Thank you you everybody, wish I could buy you all a beer

 

Damn this little thing right here. My boss is furious, I'm pissed, and the adventure to get the part and put it back together with no broken wires and no leaks is just beginning

 

Time to change the title.... emergency is over.

 

Oh no. What is this? Is this the plug kit that comes with the gasget kit? Any tips or tools to replace these, or do you just pry them out with screwdriver?

 

Usually a flat head screwdriver will do it. Wider the better.

For install, use a large socket or the old tube seal to drive in new ones.

 

Glad you didn't chance it. It's easy to look at what you missed out on, but don't forget about the issues that could have come if you did risk it

 

They are really stuck in there.

 

Ya they suck. I about sliced my finger in half when my full body weight came down on the screwdriver I was using to take them out. Make sure you put the new ones in the right way and be gentle.