Help! Dropped screw in engine

DON'T START THE CAR

What engine is it? Overhead valve or overhead cam?

The grabber tool is available for a few quid from hardware stores or alternatively, you could try something magnetic. You can always magnetise a long screwdriver by repeatedly "wiping" the end across a strong magnet (e.g. a speaker driver unit).

If you can't remove the screw using a grabber or magnetic tool you will have to remove the rocker cover. There's no way around it...
 
I will try the rocker cover, magnet, and grabber tomorrow. The plastic rocker cover is the only rocker cover I'm aware of though. When I take this off, I only have access to the ht leads and spark plugs, which is why I got in this mess to change the plugs.

I'm not sure where the screw is now as I had been poking with the screwdriver to try and retrieve it and unsure if its fallen deeper or still there.

Tesla and 3rd Opinion, I think both of you gave positive useful advice. Please don't argue over a thread as I feel bad enough as it is.

My car is a ford fiesta 1.25 16v.
 
You might need to remove a couple of other bits of plastic crap to get full access. Shouldn't be anything too tricky though. Bloody engines are covered in uneccessary junk these days.
 
Lopéz said:
Bloody engines are covered in uneccessary junk these days.
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I always wondered what the "Plenum Chamber" did in my Mondeo.

It's a weird plastic box on top of the throttle body. Some people replace it with the kit from the Focus, but it must be doing something otherwise Ford wouldnt of used it. No idea what though!
 
The thing that runs over the cam cover with "1.8 115 bhp" or whatever stickered over it?
Apparently it dampens harsh induction noise. Mine is in the bin.
 
Hate to point it out, but car make, model and year are essential for this type of question - look at the response you got when you provided this information :)
 
[huzeeee] said:
Yeah rocker covers dont even need to be torqued up tbh, whip it off what car is it?
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Again, I have to disagree with some advice in the thread.

If you don't torque down the rocker cover and in the correct order you WILL warp it. It's only made of aluminium. You will then get oil leaks. Also, I am pretty sure a vacuum is created under the Rocker cover on the Zetec engines for various other parts to operate from. Anyone confirm this?
 
FIXED!! JOB'S A GOOD 'UN!! :) :D

After a quick perusal of Haynes. I removed the plastic cover, unplugged the HT leads, some air pipe, four screws and the timing chain cover screws, gave it some welly and the real rocker cover popped off.
There it was, snuggled at the top just to the right of the oil filler hole so no wonder it couldnt be seen. No need for magnets or grabber arms.

Have replaced everything back as it was and the car is working again. Never mind changing the spark plugs, my stress levels need a rest before I attempt any more car maintenance.

Once again many thanks to everyone who contributed to the thread, I couldn't have got through it without you. :)
 
Dogbreath said:
Did he not notice that it was misfiring on one cylinder?
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Sorry to bump an old thread, but no, not really - it was a dodgy old mini that only idled on 2/3 cylinders anyway. When the misfire got worse, and it started smoking heavily under power, he took it off the next weekend.

[edit] Glad you got the problem sorted out matey :)
 
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