HELP HELP HELP - Took out wrong bolt durring tranny fluid change
So I'm fairly new to working on my own cars. I started working on my Miata and did the manual tranny fluid change there and figured I'd give my wifes 04 5 speed corolla a try. It would have been straight forward if I had looked up the how-to's here first - but instead I didn't and I removed the wrong bolt that I thought was the fill bolt from under the car, and now I cannot get that wrong bolt back in again. Stupid haynes manual didn't have any pictures of the manual transmission.
Basically the wrong bolt was close to the same height as the fill bolt so I thought it was right, until I had trouble actually filling fluid in it, looked more and then found the real filler bolt.
Now that I'm done with fluid change, I can't get the mistake bolt back in again. It feels like there is solid metal blocking the inside of the hole.
Anyone with any help would be much appreciated. I'm really hoping I didn't do anything major or expensive, we are actually about to sell this car to my wifes brother over thanksgiving.
Hmmm, wish I could help. I'm under my car lately but don't know. If anything, I'm going to double check that fill plug as I'll need to refill when I get the clutch replaced. Somebody answer this poor guy already!
Hmmm, wish I could help. I'm under my car lately but don't know. If anything, I'm going to double check that fill plug as I'll need to refill when I get the clutch replaced. Somebody answer this poor guy already!
Well I didn't get any answers fast enough so I called AAA and now I'm waiting to get towed to the dealer. The car does run, shifts and seems to be ok, but I'm afraid to drive it without that bolt in and risk major damage.
However, I'd still like responses if anyone has any. If I get an answer here before the dealer looks at it and charges me an arm and a leg that would be fantastic.
Yikes, you towed it??? Hmmm, wouldn't have done that - at least not to the dealership.
Did that have the same bolt size as the fill plug? Meaning the head of the bolt. And did you unplug it before you drained the tranny fluid? If so, and nothing came out, I'm wondering if it was a ground wire. Was there a ring attachment?
Yikes, you towed it??? Hmmm, wouldn't have done that - at least not to the dealership.
Did that have the same bolt size as the fill plug? Meaning the head of the bolt. And did you unplug it before you drained the tranny fluid? If so, and nothing came out, I'm wondering if it was a ground wire. Was there a ring attachment?
No, it was not the same size as the fill plug. It was 12mm. It also as not the ground wire, though I didnsee that one down there as well. The fact that it as small should have clued me in that it was not the fill plug, but it did have oil on the threads so that led me to believe it was.
Yikes, you towed it??? Hmmm, wouldn't have done that - at least not to the dealership.
Did that have the same bolt size as the fill plug? Meaning the head of the bolt. And did you unplug it before you drained the tranny fluid? If so, and nothing came out, I'm wondering if it was a ground wire. Was there a ring attachment?
Oh yeah, and the tow was through AAA so at least I didn't have to pay for it. But I was debating about towing to the dealer or some other garage. I'm just not that familiar with any local garages on the area so I figured the dealer would be better than risking taking it to a crap mechanic.
its just a bolt. forget them at the dealer. If you act like you're at their mercy, they'll play mercy with you and you will lose. Just act like it's no big deal and tell them to get that bolt back in. Of course, towing a car to the dealership on account of a bolt - not likely they're going to listen much to you about how easy it should be (which would be insulting) Hmmm, I still wanna know if you took that bolt out before you drained the fluid. If so, and there's no hole, I wonder if it's an unused grounding spot that the Miata just doesn't use. good luck
sorry, i should have checked to see if you posted more before sending that last one. I watched the AMA's then finished my post and hit submit. 12mm eh? Oil on the threads too? or was that before you took it out? It doesn't matter. It's not likely a 12mm bolt is going to be giving anyone any trouble. unless they make up some story about retapping threads. Did you drive that sucker in real hard? I don't think it's going to be a big deal. But let me know.
Well, it doesn't look good. From looking at the manual transmission pictorials it looks like that could be a Reverse Idler Gear Shaft Bolt. Did it have a small gasket on it?
It's a little difficult to be sure because I can't see the entire picture of the transmission.
If you do, you can look at the manualtransaxle2 pdf, (page 41 - 34) and look for the pictorial that shows the drain plug, (2) the fill plug (1), and that one somewhat between them (27).
If that's the bolt, then it's good you didn't drive it.
I haven't looked at that manual yet but I will in a bit... But from what you describe and what the dealer said, that does sound like the bolt.
The dealer is quoting 1800 for a full tranny rebuild. The shell gas station garage said they think a full rebuild is not necessary and though it does need to be taken out and the casing taken off, he thinks more like 800. I'm going to get a couple more estimates but I think the dealer is not going to be the way to go.
Do you know if its at least driveable to the nearest shop? Or should I even have it towed down to the next place too?
This is insane. One bolt? Let nobody touch that car until you find out on your own what bolt this is. does it hold something up inside? No, I seriously doubt that. Someone pass this along to the most knowledgeable mechanic on this site please. It's an '04? I'm looking at that pic again and will crawl under my friend's '03 and compare. This is just friggin ridiculous-you getting rebuild quotes. No way. I don't believe this. And you don't need no rebuild if it's driving fine and shifting. But I agree, I wouldn't be driving it right now until this is figured out.
OK, just went outside and looked at my tranny bellhousing. I see the bolt you're talking about - and it's a 12mm all right. It's just "left" meaning toward the passenger side of that large ground wire hole and a bit underneath it - like hidden if you're looking from above - you can see the ground bolt hole, but that 12mm bolt hole is hidden from view at that point. You know, I'm off tomorrow and am gearing up to take my tranny bell housing off to put in a new clutch - something I've never done before. If and when I get that bell housing off, I will definitely look/feel inside and figure out exactly what that bolt is for. I'll post it as soon as I know. I wasn't planning on taking that thing all the way outside the wheel well, but maybe I will now if I have the room. Either way, I'll get all the info I can. That's a circular part of the bellhousing so something is inside there I just don't know what it is at that point.
paulstoyota you are a god-send. Tomorrow morning I'm going to call three garages that were all rated pretty high in customer reviews and get the car towed to one of them. If you find me an answer before that garage starts working on it I wouldn't just owe you a beer, I think I would owe you a lifetime supply of beer (special rules and conditions apply).
So very looking forward to what you find and may this thread live in infamy as what not to do.
Wow, that's pressure. (no worries) (and you wouldn't owe me anything, lol - it's just that the number of people in this world who know what that bolt is for and we just have to find one) It's about 18 degrees here in Minnesota so I'm waiting for it to warm a bit. In the meantime, I'd do all the research you can. Do what I've done, call a dealership and just ask if a mechanic is available. Talk directly to him and ask him his opinion. Don't say "I need help." Say something like "i needed an expert who knows his stuff" - they love that and I say that all the time. I've called six times and talked to a mechanic about different stuff like windshield wiper motors, etc. Somebody knows. A mechanic will - especially if you can describe exactly where it is. Just remember to reference that ground as the bolt you're referring to is just beneath that a bit and toward the engine. And directionally, it's facing the FRONT of the motor.
Well I failed. Sorry. I can't get the bellhousing off and I have to have a friend come over tomorrow and help out. I broke a bolt off the crossmember so I'll have to drill that out. Plus, I can't get the rear brace off so there are a bunch of things holding me back. So so sorry I don't have an answer for you about that bolt. I still say ask around and find someone who knows trannies. Wait, call a transmission shop. that's it. They would know for sure. My apologies, but I'm dealing with my own dilemma right now. Best of luck!
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