Ok so today I was changing out my license plate bulbs to some white LED ones. And when I was removing one of the bulb sockets I twisted it too hard and when it came out my hand lost grip of it and it went flying back towards the back of the trunk lid. It then went behind the outside layer of metal and into the crevice behind it. It then rolled down into the bottom right corner. Here is a picture to make more sense. It went into the area behind the hole in the red ciricle, and then rolled down towards the area in the blue circle. I have no idea how to get this out now. Does anyone have any bright ideas? I can hear it moving around when i shake the trunk lid and open/close it.

 

Might be best to remove the trunk lid and twist it until it gets out. Other than that I have no idea. You could also try one of the magnetic wands if it will fish down there but probably wont work with all of the surrounding metal.

 

what did you exactly lose in the hole? the light bulb??

btw- nice pun... "Does anyone have any bright ideas?"

 

Well, if it's a 194 bulb. LED or regular, there will be nothing for the magnet to stick onto. If you're thinking about the little metal contacts on the bulbs, then that won't work. The weight to magnet strength ratio is too insignificant. Your best bet would be to unfold a wire hanger, add some strong double side mounting tape to the tip and fish around in there. Failing that, try a vacuum cleaner to see if the bulb will come out thru the hole. If all else fails, then take the trunk lid off the car and shake it around till the bulb falls out.

Good Luck!

 

lol thanks...

I lost both the bulb and the socket in there. They were still attached to each other so they are down there as one piece.

 

Good advice JeffTsai, couldn't have put it better myself. Keep us posted on the problem. Good luck

 

How do you remove the trunk lid? Is it a one person job? Should I just say screw it and order a new socket and just leave that one in there and live with it moving around everytime i open/close the trunk?

 

You might want to have someone help you to avoid the lid from slipping and scratching/denting your car. As far as the getting a socket, it's really up to you and how much you can handle that socket being there

 

Sawzall??

 

I tried more today and it's just too hard to remove. I even tried closing myself in the trunk and getting it out. Looks like only option is to remove the trunk, which I'm not about to do. I guess I'll just get a new socket and live with that one being there.

 

I'm not sure what it's called, but I recommend that flexible and thin grabbing tool. On one end is the grabbing part with 3 little hooks. The middle section which is about 18 inches is connected to the hooks wrapped in a flexible metal sleeve like a payphone cord. On the other end is a button to open and retract the little hooks. It's not magnetic so it should help and also fit in that little hole where you dropped it. If anyone knows the name of the tool, please chime in. If you find the tool I'm mentioning, I'd then recommend to lift the trunk all the way up and let gravity do its job. The bulb and socket will be at the bottom so it wont wriggle around, maybe left or right only. Then all you have to do is aim for where its at, grab a hold of it and pull it out. My friend has brought this tool over a few times to fetch nuts and bolts that have fallen into the engine bay.