nrenz123 Posted August 11, 2009 Share Posted August 11, 2009 I was removing the engine cover this evening to investigate an oily smell, I removed all the bolts that hold the cover in place. I tried to remove the cover but couldn't get it past the filler cap so I removed the cap. While sliding the cover forward I heard something drop into the filler cap. Naturally I was deflated and gutted. It was one if the large washers from under the cover. I know better than to start the car, so I had a good look around the engine bay but couldn't find the washer, so it's almost certainly gone into the head. Has anyone got any experience removing the cam cover? From what I can see i will need to remove the plenum, intake, and right hand cam cover. I'm hoping to get the cover off and it will just be sitting there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jay3032 Posted August 11, 2009 Share Posted August 11, 2009 Have you tried a magnet? Worth a go! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mic-39 Posted August 11, 2009 Share Posted August 11, 2009 Have you tried poking about with one of them telescopic magnet thingies before you dismantle too much Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanS16 Posted August 11, 2009 Share Posted August 11, 2009 Have you tried using a strong magnetic screwdriver? I dropped a washer in when I changed to a CF engine cover but managed to fish it out pretty easily Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrLizard Posted August 11, 2009 Share Posted August 11, 2009 id get a telescopic magnet, there really cheap, you can get telescopic led torches as well... if all that fails im sure someone can help you rip the engine apart to get at it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lamby Posted August 11, 2009 Share Posted August 11, 2009 here is a link where you can download the service manual. which will explain how to remove the cam cover. http://www.350z-tech.com/zwiki/Service_Guide just pick your year car yes you are right you will need to remove the air intake and the upper and lower plenum and the cam cover the guide above should guide you through it. good thing you realised and heard it drop and never started the car. could have been worse hope this helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZMANALEX Posted August 11, 2009 Share Posted August 11, 2009 It will be sitting on the top of the head beside the cam shafts and valve springs and should not go down any further although there is a large gap at the very front beside the cam sprockets and chains so be very careful. Like the guys have suggested a strong telescopic magnet may lift it out, failing that, cam cover off I am afraid. I can talk you through this if you have any isues. Alex. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nrenz123 Posted August 11, 2009 Author Share Posted August 11, 2009 Cheers guys, im going to put a magnet in a plastic bag and try dropping it into the car with a bit of string tomorrow. if that fails then it will be cam cover off. Cheers for the offer alex, how would i get in touch with you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZMANALEX Posted August 12, 2009 Share Posted August 12, 2009 Cheers guys, im going to put a magnet in a plastic bag and try dropping it into the car with a bit of string tomorrow. if that fails then it will be cam cover off. Cheers for the offer alex, how would i get in touch with you? You really would be much better with a flexy telescopic screwdriver type magnet as you would have much more control over it. To get in touch just pm me if you have issues and I will send over a contact phone number. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz Walker Posted August 12, 2009 Share Posted August 12, 2009 What a nightmare, still at least you realised what had happened. Good luck with fishing it out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marzman Posted August 12, 2009 Share Posted August 12, 2009 Ouch this is bad! I'd be panicking. DONT tie string around a magnet and use that ... you know the string will come undone and you'll drop the magnet in too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerry3167 Posted August 12, 2009 Share Posted August 12, 2009 OMFG..an awful thing to happen, as the consequences could be dire! Good luck finding the washer! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rtbiscuit Posted August 12, 2009 Share Posted August 12, 2009 good luck with the search, hope its where you think it is. as said above, the extendable magnets are best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZMANALEX Posted August 12, 2009 Share Posted August 12, 2009 Here, this will help you where to look and your telescopic flexable magnet should do the rest. Are you sure that the washer definately went into the oil filler? Looking down the filler with a bore scope should locate the demon. Even looking down the oil filler with only your eye will reveal quite a large surface area of the cyl head. Alex. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nrenz123 Posted August 12, 2009 Author Share Posted August 12, 2009 Well after a good hour or so of prodding around with a telescopic magnet this morning with no luck i had to strip the whole thing down, the worst part was removing the lower of the two rubber hoses that go to the throttle body as they had never been off before. I lost some skin taking that off but apart from that it wasnt too bad. The washer had rolled back slightly as my parent house live on quite a steep street, but i was obvious when the cam cover came off it was just sitting there laughing at me . Car is back together now, i've checked all the hoses i removed and they are all connected properly and all the nuts and bolt are tightened so hopefully all should be well. On the plus side fitting a plenum spacer should take half the time now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanS16 Posted August 12, 2009 Share Posted August 12, 2009 Well you've just done more DIY than the majority of us on here so you should be chuffed with yourself really Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lamby Posted August 12, 2009 Share Posted August 12, 2009 im pleased you found it and no damage was caused Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shuck Posted August 12, 2009 Share Posted August 12, 2009 Well done! I would have bottled out and called someone/cried till everything sorted itself out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M13KYF Posted August 12, 2009 Share Posted August 12, 2009 fixed now, at least you didn't just ignore it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leon@EPRacing Posted August 12, 2009 Share Posted August 12, 2009 glad you got it out its complete ar5e when this happen. my mate did simular on his fto a few year back by taking the tappets out to clean and one of the tappets slipped his hand and drop it down the block. after that he has to strip the bottom end to get the tappet out and that took him a good day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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