Managed to drop a 6" socket extension in the engine bay.  I dropped it at the rear, behind the MAF/battery.  I heard clunk after clunk as it hit things on the way down, but it has yet to hit the ground.  Any ideas where it could be lurking? I have the telescopic mag tool at the ready, but I can't even see it!

Car's jacked up, under tray is off. Cannot see it anywhere. I think it's around the Cat / sub frame area.  Should I just let gravity and speed bumps take their toll?

I have done this before what i did was just played around with my telescopic pickup and in the end i found it, pain in the back side good luck :envy: 

Take a torch and a small mirror under the car with you. You may then be able to look downwards onto the subframe area, with a bit of luck.

I have done this before what i did was just played around with my telescopic pickup and in the end i found it, pain in the back side good luck :envy: 

 

Tried mate. I think it's wedged somewhere good. Just been for a drive and went over a few speed bumps. Didn't hear anything, so it's either long gone, or it's taken up permanent residence under the engine.

I dropped a tool down the back of my engine when servicing it.

Like you I couldn't spot it despite looking everywhere and removing the engine cover.

I just gave up and next time I serviced the car it was sitting in the engine under tray.

As long as it's not fallen near the moving belts it should be ok.

Lets hope if it did fall out on the road some other poor sod doesnt drive over it or get a wrecked tyre from it....ive dropped the odd tool over the last 26 years of been a mechanic but ive always made sure ive found them....id never leave a tool unfound & would never drive round with it still lost...lets hope its stuck somewhere & you find it when you have another search. 

Lets hope if it did fall out on the road some other poor sod doesnt drive over it or get a wrecked tyre from it....ive dropped the odd tool over the last 26 years of been a mechanic but ive always made sure ive found them....id never leave a tool unfound & would never drive round with it still lost...lets hope its stuck somewhere & you find it when you have another search. 

I know mate, but I'm sure what else to do.  It's a 3" socket adapter, not the 6" extension I thought.  I looked from every angle, had the car up on the axle stands, and I cannot find it anywhere. I don't know what else I can do, aside from hope it's still in the car in a safe location.  I'll just have to ask the mechanic to have another look soon when I get my new tyres fitted.

It could sitting in the wishbone. Are yours cast? If so they have quite a dip in the middle where it could be hiding.

It could sitting in the wishbone. Are yours cast? If so they have quite a dip in the middle where it could be hiding.

 

Possibly, it did make a solid thud at the end of it's fall.  I initially thought it had hit the ground.  I couldn't see it on the wishbones but I'll take another look.

Possibly, it did make a solid thud at the end of it's fall. I initially thought it had hit the ground. I couldn't see it on the wishbones but I'll take another look.

I dropped a bolt and it ended up on top of the wishbone. Couldn't see it easily at all.

I find these searches are best done during darkness, no contrasting light to mess with your eyes and the tool, usually shiny silver, shows up well in the dark gloom when illuminated with a torch.

I just once dropped a bolt in the same way. I found it on the engine cover only in the 3rd oil change :)

Without even noticing, the other day, I dropped a 16mm spanner down the back of a Fabia engine bay,  I spotted it easily enough while reassembling stuff, but I might just as easily not have seen it, 'cos I wasn't looking.  It landed on the subframe, sort of between ARB and steering rack. Not much of it was showing cos it was edge on, if you see what I mean. 

We had the 1st service done by the dealer on a previous car.

It was only 6 months over so later that we found a 10" long screwdriver wedged between the radiator front grille, and only then because of a coolant leak because it had worn a hole in the rad!