Cursing myself for trying to do this too fast!

While changing the air filter on my RX350, one of the bolts and washers fell out of the filter housing and either went into the engine bay somewhere or to the bottom portion of the filter housing. The bolt and washer was the one at the rear of the filter housing towards the firewall. Can't find the missing items and don't really want to pull off the bottom tray if I can avoid it.

From what I can see, air enters the air filter housing and passes up through the filter and into the engine? Is this correct?

If so there doesn't seem to be much risk of this bolt getting into the engine (if it is at the bottom of the housing) if it has to first pass through the filter itself.

Has anyone else had the same problem?

 

Found it finally! Fixed.

 

some people put tape while unbolting. Better be safe than sorry. The feeling of losing a bolt in the engine bay is so scary, isn't it?

 

So. Where was it?

 

In the engine bay down about 12 inches. Managed to get my hand down and found it by feel.

Will take my time next time!

 

Glad you found it. Not knowing where exactly it is would drive me nuts and for sure I'd have searched everywhere until I found it.

 

Thanks mate. Same here and it was driving me nuts!

 

I keep a flashlight and a magnetic retriever for just such occasions.

 

Sears (and others I would guess) sell magnetic inserts for sockets to help prevent this from happening. They are not a cure-all but they work pretty well.

 

I had a similar problem years ago with a Chevrolet. Changed the air filter which amounted to unscrewing a butterfly nut that held the air cleaner in place. Unfortunately for me when doing this simple task the bolt that ran from the carburetor up through the air cleaner somehow unscrewed it's self, vibrated back down from the butterfly nut, fell down the carburetor and ended up in a cylinder where a valve flattened it, breaking the valve and blowing up the engine.





Cat

 

Hence I have magnetic pick up tools...comes in handy.