Dropped a washer in water pump...

4.0L2WD · 01-06-2011, 12:27 AM

Hi there.

2001 ranger 4.0liter v6. I was having coolant leaking issues the past few days, I thought the coolant was coming from the vent hole, So i bought a new water pump and installed it last night. Today i was driving around. More coolant leaking.

The plastic t-stat housing was cracked on the lower back side, Ford did a shotty job designing that housing. My lord. So but a new lower and upper t-stat housing, c lips for the (2) sensors, and both gaskets for the housing. I get everything off. Which dam near took 2 hours. Not much room to work with. (small big hands) Right before i pull out the full housing i remove the upper and pull out the T-stat. My finger accidentally brushed the corner, where there is a silver stud, Yeah that drops right into the lower coolant hose down into the new water pump.....

I am not going to turn over the starter !!!

My question is, What is the best method to get that little piece out of the water pump? It's small enough to go anywhere. I would appreciate some advice, since everything is still apart and i have stopped with installing a new housing. I need to get the stud outta the water pump area before i re assemble.

Fail boat for me.......Wheeeeeee
I was extremely pissed when it happen.

**ncranchero** · 01-06-2011, 04:30 AM

Magnet if you can get to it, if not disassemble until you find it. If it hangs in the pump impeller you'll be opening it up again.

Stuff happens..........

spacecadebt · 01-06-2011, 04:48 AM

Im glad to know im not the only one that has done something like this. I dropped a socket in my intake once. I tried everything to get it out from a crows foot to magnets but eventually had to disassemble until i found it. Pain in the arse!

dw43935 · 01-06-2011, 10:45 AM

I know the feeling. I pulled the distributor on my 87 T-bird, thought I was doing good by threading the hold down bolt back into the intake so I would'nt lose it, dropped it & it went straight to the oil pan. You ever tried to remove an oil pan from a Fox body without pulling the engine?

4.0L2WD · 01-06-2011, 07:35 PM

I got it out today, Pulled the lower radiator and it ended up in the bowl, Thank god.

I am having a hell of a time installing the new t-stat plastic housing on a 4.0. I had to give up for the day, This is almost a joke trying to install this housing.

for designing a horrible surface area.

01-06-2011, 12:27 AM	#1
4.0L2WD Wannabe Elite Explorer Bay area 2001 2wd Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 5 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	Dropped a washer in water pump... Hi there. 2001 ranger 4.0liter v6. I was having coolant leaking issues the past few days, I thought the coolant was coming from the vent hole, So i bought a new water pump and installed it last night. Today i was driving around. More coolant leaking. The plastic t-stat housing was cracked on the lower back side, Ford did a shotty job designing that housing. My lord. So but a new lower and upper t-stat housing, c lips for the (2) sensors, and both gaskets for the housing. I get everything off. Which dam near took 2 hours. Not much room to work with. (small big hands) Right before i pull out the full housing i remove the upper and pull out the T-stat. My finger accidentally brushed the corner, where there is a silver stud, Yeah that drops right into the lower coolant hose down into the new water pump..... I am not going to turn over the starter !!! My question is, What is the best method to get that little piece out of the water pump? It's small enough to go anywhere. I would appreciate some advice, since everything is still apart and i have stopped with installing a new housing. I need to get the stud outta the water pump area before i re assemble. Fail boat for me.......Wheeeeeee I was extremely pissed when it happen.

01-06-2011, 04:30 AM	#2
ncranchero Sport Trac Moderator Denver,NC Truckin' on Pat & Charlie Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 3,563 Vehicle Specs	Magnet if you can get to it, if not disassemble until you find it. If it hangs in the pump impeller you'll be opening it up again. Stuff happens.......... __________________ Steve, 2010 Transit CONNECT 145K miles, 2002 Sport Trac 4x4 SOLD 2000 Taurus SES 3.0L 24 Valve DOHC Duratec 87K miles 1994 F150 4x4 4.9L/5-speed 160K miles, 1995 Ranger 2.3L/5-sp/3.73 75K miles "Plain Jane" How to post photos

01-06-2011, 04:48 AM	#3
spacecadebt Wannabe Elite Explorer Geneva FL 99 Ranger 2.5 Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 100 Vehicle Specs	Im glad to know im not the only one that has done something like this. I dropped a socket in my intake once. I tried everything to get it out from a crows foot to magnets but eventually had to disassemble until i found it. Pain in the arse!

01-06-2011, 10:45 AM	#4
dw43935 Wannabe Elite Explorer Ohio '97 Mercury Mountaineer Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 15 Vehicle Specs	I know the feeling. I pulled the distributor on my 87 T-bird, thought I was doing good by threading the hold down bolt back into the intake so I would'nt lose it, dropped it & it went straight to the oil pan. You ever tried to remove an oil pan from a Fox body without pulling the engine?

01-06-2011, 07:35 PM	#5
4.0L2WD Wannabe Elite Explorer Bay area 2001 2wd Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 5 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	I got it out today, Pulled the lower radiator and it ended up in the bowl, Thank god. I am having a hell of a time installing the new t-stat plastic housing on a 4.0. I had to give up for the day, This is almost a joke trying to install this housing. for designing a horrible surface area.