Dropped The Allen Key into Oblivion

AlexHawke · 10-18-2006, 02:57 AM

Stupid question but I thought I'd ask anyways. Was installing my pain in the ass MOMO shift knob and bag tonight (pain in the ass cutting the bag to fit into the plastic ring... leather was too thick) and as I was tightening the knob, I accidently dropped the small allen key that came with the package into the hole in the console. After searching with my flashlight, the allen key is nowhere to be found and I don't really want to rip up the console to find the allen key.

So the question is, I'm not too familiar with what is underneath the shifter... will a small allen key floating somewhere down there do any damage? I've driven the car around the block to see if I hear anything tinkling down there but nothing. Just a bit concerned.

Thanks

8thgenuser · 10-18-2006, 03:13 AM

Probably nothing to be too concerned about other than the possibility of it making a tinkling sound sometime in the future.

chylld · 10-18-2006, 05:57 AM

probably no need to be concerned, however there are electrical connectors there as well as the handbrake mechanism and spring, so if i were you i'd take the console out and find the little bugger asap. taking the console out is very easy...

AlexHawke · 10-18-2006, 10:38 AM

Thanks guys for the reply. Don't think it's doing any damage down there right now but I don't want it to eventually get caught on something.

Problem now is, the new shift boot I put on is really tight and there isn't much give to reach in and pop open the console the old way (the silver part). I don't want to stick in a screwdriver and pry it off and end up scratching or breaking the thing. I read a DIY on AUX input and it showed that you have to pry open the silver part to get the rest of the console off?

Is it possible to pop open the larger part of the console without taking the silver part off? If so, how? We all know how scratch-prone the interior is... it's tricky.

Any tips would be awesome.

Thanks again guys! Stupid me I know...

**wing_gundam** · 10-18-2006, 10:58 AM

I dropped a screw into the door once....the tint guys left one of the little plastic covers for the door off, so i found the parts on the ground and put it back together myself....i shoved the screw thru the holder or whatever it was and it fell into the door!

No noise so far.

***Izzy*** · 10-18-2006, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlexHawke

Thanks guys for the reply. Don't think it's doing any damage down there right now but I don't want it to eventually get caught on something.

Problem now is, the new shift boot I put on is really tight and there isn't much give to reach in and pop open the console the old way (the silver part). I don't want to stick in a screwdriver and pry it off and end up scratching or breaking the thing. I read a DIY on AUX input and it showed that you have to pry open the silver part to get the rest of the console off?

Is it possible to pop open the larger part of the console without taking the silver part off? If so, how? We all know how scratch-prone the interior is... it's tricky.

Any tips would be awesome.

Thanks again guys! Stupid me I know...

I'm pretty sure you'll still have to take off the shift boot. Because you have to take out the shift boot, so you can then take out the front tray, to reach two screws. Took me 8 minutes to take apart the console. It's real easy. :)

Kakashi · 10-18-2006, 11:57 AM

78 cents worth of change went into my old car. it just slipped under the crack in the console and it never made clinking noises or gave me any problems..

was freaked for awhile tho..

AlexHawke · 10-18-2006, 12:06 PM

Hmmm. I'll give it a try tonight. Looking at the DIY for the AUX, I didn't know there were screws in there too. Looked like once you have the silver part off (base of the shifter) you could just pop the rest of the console off starting at the bottom.

Now just a matter of popping the silver part off with the new shift boot being so stiff (I can't dig in and pop it like before). MOMO can be a mofo.

Lesson learned... never work in the dark

Gonna find that allen key and throw it into the lake! Thanks everyone.

***Izzy*** · 10-18-2006, 12:16 PM

I woulda just gotten an AugerResources shift boot. THey're made to fit! But, y'can't help that now...

My older DC5 shift boot was like that too. I just pried from the sides with my finger nails, and it came off rather easily from there. Put some cloth on a screwdriver and pry. :)

There are actually 6 screws to take the entire console off. So be aware of that.

AlexHawke · 10-18-2006, 12:25 PM

Thanks Izzy. Next time I'll know better... must have spent a couple hours trying to trim and fit the MOMO shift boot lastnight. That thing is thick and just doesn't want to go with that plastic ring that comes with the stock shift boot. My luck I finally get everything to work and the allen key goes bye bye lol.

Cloth and screwdriver it is! So anxious to get it out of there... now I have to just bare another 5 and a half hours here at the office before I can hunt that bugger down.

By the way, just joined this forum... got my civic a couple weeks ago. People here are very helpful. Awesome place!

Thanks again all. Hope all goes well tonight (before the sun sets lol).

chylld · 10-18-2006, 06:44 PM

hmm not sure if i'm too late to help. you don't need to take the silver bit off, you can take the larger front top console bit off first (taking the silver bit with it):

mtconsole.JPG

as for how to take it off, i found that you can fit enough fingernails under the edge of the console piece and just give it a sharp short tug upwards, and work your way around. some clips might fall off but given that you're taking the centre console out to do some searching anyway, it's no biggie (just check that all the clips are back on the top console piece)

after that there's 2 screws under there as well as 2 screws inside the large rear console compartment, as well as 2 clips at the very front. there are some mighty good instructions at collegehillshonda.com - look for accessory installation instructions.

dude · 10-18-2006, 09:53 PM

My suggestion is: run to the closest Autozone or Pepboys, buy a long flexible magnet for ~10 bucks, shove it in through the boot and I can guarantee you will find the allen wrench in less then a minute without disassembling anything. And keep the magnet - it is very usefull tool.

AlexHawke · 10-18-2006, 10:48 PM

So it's 9:42pm here... just got back from the driveway. I managed to pry open the center console, find the allen key and put everything back together in one piece. Only a few minor mishaps... MOMO shift boots are a pain in the ass for this civic. Izzy the cloth and screwdriver worked like a charm. I just used the small microfiber cloth that came with my sunglasses. No scratches!

Now I can rest in peace knowing that there is no allen key floating around somewhere down there.

Thanks everyone for their input. It helped a lot! You all rock!

I've been to oblivion and back

hurricane · 10-18-2006, 11:57 PM

Yeah, every DIY'er should have a magnet. I have 2, one for finding small stuff that is small enough to get into small spaces and another that is bigger for heavy objects. Makes it a lot easier when you drop that wrench and it ends up under the very center of the car.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dude

My suggestion is: run to the closest Autozone or Pepboys, buy a long flexible magnet for ~10 bucks, shove it in through the boot and I can guarantee you will find the allen wrench in less then a minute without disassembling anything. And keep the magnet - it is very usefull tool.

si_civic · 10-19-2006, 01:29 AM

CURSE OF THE SI!

DA DA DA!

10-18-2006, 02:57 AM	#1 (permalink)
AlexHawke Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Toronto, Ontario Age: 29 Posts: 7 iTrader: 0 / 0%	Dropped The Allen Key into Oblivion Stupid question but I thought I'd ask anyways. Was installing my pain in the ass MOMO shift knob and bag tonight (pain in the ass cutting the bag to fit into the plastic ring... leather was too thick) and as I was tightening the knob, I accidently dropped the small allen key that came with the package into the hole in the console. After searching with my flashlight, the allen key is nowhere to be found and I don't really want to rip up the console to find the allen key. So the question is, I'm not too familiar with what is underneath the shifter... will a small allen key floating somewhere down there do any damage? I've driven the car around the block to see if I hear anything tinkling down there but nothing. Just a bit concerned. Thanks

10-18-2006, 10:58 AM	#5 (permalink)
wing_gundam Smooth Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: T dot Posts: 17,848 Civic Type Stock iTrader: 9 / 100%	I dropped a screw into the door once....the tint guys left one of the little plastic covers for the door off, so i found the parts on the ground and put it back together myself....i shoved the screw thru the holder or whatever it was and it fell into the door! No noise so far. __________________ Trying to sell? Read the updated for sale forum rules here

10-18-2006, 12:16 PM	#9 (permalink)
*Izzy* Supreme Pizza! Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Azusa, CA Age: 25 Posts: 11,935 iTrader: 5 / 100%	I woulda just gotten an AugerResources shift boot. THey're made to fit! But, y'can't help that now... My older DC5 shift boot was like that too. I just pried from the sides with my finger nails, and it came off rather easily from there. Put some cloth on a screwdriver and pry. :) There are actually 6 screws to take the entire console off. So be aware of that. __________________

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10-18-2006, 03:13 AM	#2 (permalink)
8thgenuser Webby's Minion Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 7,065 Nikon Squad Member #8 iTrader: 1 / 100%	Probably nothing to be too concerned about other than the possibility of it making a tinkling sound sometime in the future.

10-18-2006, 05:57 AM	#3 (permalink)
chylld Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Sydney, Australia Age: 25 Posts: 235 iTrader: 0 / 0%	probably no need to be concerned, however there are electrical connectors there as well as the handbrake mechanism and spring, so if i were you i'd take the console out and find the little bugger asap. taking the console out is very easy...

10-18-2006, 10:38 AM	#4 (permalink)
AlexHawke Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Toronto, Ontario Age: 29 Posts: 7 iTrader: 0 / 0%	Thanks guys for the reply. Don't think it's doing any damage down there right now but I don't want it to eventually get caught on something. Problem now is, the new shift boot I put on is really tight and there isn't much give to reach in and pop open the console the old way (the silver part). I don't want to stick in a screwdriver and pry it off and end up scratching or breaking the thing. I read a DIY on AUX input and it showed that you have to pry open the silver part to get the rest of the console off? Is it possible to pop open the larger part of the console without taking the silver part off? If so, how? We all know how scratch-prone the interior is... it's tricky. Any tips would be awesome. Thanks again guys! Stupid me I know...

10-18-2006, 11:57 AM	#7 (permalink)
Kakashi Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Aurora CO Age: 22 Posts: 3,707 iTrader: 1 / 100%	78 cents worth of change went into my old car. it just slipped under the crack in the console and it never made clinking noises or gave me any problems.. was freaked for awhile tho..

10-18-2006, 12:06 PM	#8 (permalink)
AlexHawke Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Toronto, Ontario Age: 29 Posts: 7 iTrader: 0 / 0%	Hmmm. I'll give it a try tonight. Looking at the DIY for the AUX, I didn't know there were screws in there too. Looked like once you have the silver part off (base of the shifter) you could just pop the rest of the console off starting at the bottom. Now just a matter of popping the silver part off with the new shift boot being so stiff (I can't dig in and pop it like before). MOMO can be a mofo. Lesson learned... never work in the dark Gonna find that allen key and throw it into the lake! Thanks everyone.

10-18-2006, 12:25 PM	#10 (permalink)
AlexHawke Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Toronto, Ontario Age: 29 Posts: 7 iTrader: 0 / 0%	Thanks Izzy. Next time I'll know better... must have spent a couple hours trying to trim and fit the MOMO shift boot lastnight. That thing is thick and just doesn't want to go with that plastic ring that comes with the stock shift boot. My luck I finally get everything to work and the allen key goes bye bye lol. Cloth and screwdriver it is! So anxious to get it out of there... now I have to just bare another 5 and a half hours here at the office before I can hunt that bugger down. By the way, just joined this forum... got my civic a couple weeks ago. People here are very helpful. Awesome place! Thanks again all. Hope all goes well tonight (before the sun sets lol).

10-18-2006, 06:44 PM	#11 (permalink)
chylld Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Sydney, Australia Age: 25 Posts: 235 iTrader: 0 / 0%	hmm not sure if i'm too late to help. you don't need to take the silver bit off, you can take the larger front top console bit off first (taking the silver bit with it): mtconsole.JPG as for how to take it off, i found that you can fit enough fingernails under the edge of the console piece and just give it a sharp short tug upwards, and work your way around. some clips might fall off but given that you're taking the centre console out to do some searching anyway, it's no biggie (just check that all the clips are back on the top console piece) after that there's 2 screws under there as well as 2 screws inside the large rear console compartment, as well as 2 clips at the very front. there are some mighty good instructions at collegehillshonda.com - look for accessory installation instructions.

10-18-2006, 09:53 PM	#12 (permalink)
dude Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 80 iTrader: 0 / 0%	My suggestion is: run to the closest Autozone or Pepboys, buy a long flexible magnet for ~10 bucks, shove it in through the boot and I can guarantee you will find the allen wrench in less then a minute without disassembling anything. And keep the magnet - it is very usefull tool.

10-18-2006, 10:48 PM	#13 (permalink)
AlexHawke Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Toronto, Ontario Age: 29 Posts: 7 iTrader: 0 / 0%	So it's 9:42pm here... just got back from the driveway. I managed to pry open the center console, find the allen key and put everything back together in one piece. Only a few minor mishaps... MOMO shift boots are a pain in the ass for this civic. Izzy the cloth and screwdriver worked like a charm. I just used the small microfiber cloth that came with my sunglasses. No scratches! Now I can rest in peace knowing that there is no allen key floating around somewhere down there. Thanks everyone for their input. It helped a lot! You all rock! I've been to oblivion and back

10-19-2006, 01:29 AM	#15 (permalink)
si_civic Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: B.C. ,Canada Age: 30 Posts: 4,608 A/Cst.D.F.Abate iTrader: 10 / 100%	CURSE OF THE SI! DA DA DA!