awdwill

Guys, I took out the center shift **** cover to do some LED stuff, and then I accidentally dropped a big screw into the opening of the gearbox. I tried to open it up but I can't figure out how. Can someone please teach me out to open this thing so I can retrieve the screw?

The screw can be replaced, and shifting is still smooth, but I am very concerned that my gearbox is at risk of being messed up in the future and cause safety issues.

drewster12

iTrader: (4)

Go to the hardware store and get yourself a telescoping magnet tool. It basically is a strong magnet that you can put down the slot and try to retrieve the lost screw.

Initial G

iTrader: (38)

^ Same suggestion I was going to offer, get yourself a powerful magnet and see if you can "grab" the screw from the opening. Hopefully this will work and save you the trouble of opening up the gear shifter/center console. Good luck OP.

evogt500

Technically its not the gearbox, its the center console shift mechanism. If you did drop it in the actual gearbox, you are pretty much screwed (no pun intended). Like the others say, go to sears and get a telescopic magnet and fish it out.

nosurprise

iTrader: (1)

Recently, I had dropped one of the four 10mm bolt that holds the stereo in place into the top right corner of the picture OP posted ... there is a huge hole there between the carpet and where the shifter begins. I'll leave it there as I don't see anyway to look for it. I'm trying to order it from Sewell parts, but can't seem to order it, anyone knows how? The part number is 91511B0616.

I had opened the stereo console quite a few times without problem, but a few weeks ago, while I was doing the remote start on the car, my arch nemesis, the mosquitoe, showed up by the windshield as I was loosening the 10mm bolt. These things had bit me multiple times when I was trying to put the rear F-Sport sway bar in as well. I looked at it with no free hands to squash it, but thought about how cool it would be to squash it. This momentarily distraction was enough for the 10mm bolt the slip out of the wrench and bounce into the pit below.

bigdenis

Or you can find a long thin rod/stick and put some rolled up sticky tape onto the end of it. Put it into the slot and try to pick up the screw with it.

Gville350

iTrader: (10)

It's in the abyss now; unless it henders you shifting the gear selector it'll be fine.

1sWt2GS

iTrader: (6)

theres the magnet sticks that u can get

B16da9

iTrader: (7)

funnny the same excat thing happen to me today while helping a coworker take the radio out of his mazda 6. I actually used the magnetic tool people on here recomended and I was able to fish it out.

Destrier

any luck? The magnet stick has saved me multiple times. I had to get some washers out of the nooks and crannies of a cylinder head, my heart stopped when I saw them go in there =/

98023IS250

terrible idea.. you may drop the rolled up sticky tape in as well..

don

iTrader: (2)

May I suggest the Bubble-Yum-on-a-stick approach too.

bigdenis

If you drop the tape, push your stick against it, and it will stick back on. I use this trick at work every now and then.