I've truly made a mistake folks, I was replacing spark plugs of my F-type R 2016 and was working on replacing the rubber heat shields back into its original place on the passenger side. Somehow my silk bracelet slipped off from my wrist and fell into the engine bay as I was struggling to get the heat shields to go back in place. I used my flashlight and I genuinely looked everywhere but I could not see where it went. I know there's a under tray below the engine and I'm hopping and praying it's maybe there. Any advice on how I can retrieve my bracelet? I'm afraid to drive the car as it's a silk bracelet with gold rings on it and I really don't want to lose it. All advice appreciated!

 

Get under the car and remove the undertrays - I'm sure you'll find it easily enough, thanks to gravity. And next time, remove jewellery, watches, rings, etc, before working on the car!

More concerning to me is that I dropped a USB stick down between the passenger seat and centre console and I have no idea how to retrieve that without removing the seat!

 

The foam pads are described as part of NVH, not heat shields. I've not put them back on any of my cars after the plug change.

 

Here is a quick overview of how to remove the lower engineer cover (compliments of one of The Rock's great DIY guides):

 

Understand your concern. @PrettyA Hope you find the bracelet in the undertray.

With me, I always drop the 10mm socket!

 

This may not work for the bracelet, but I use this stuff for holding on to bolts in socket/ratchet wrench:

https://www.walgreens.com/store/c/sc...298254-product Not so much for Walgreens, if you have them, but for the product. If you can see the USB you may be able to wrap a wad of this stuff on a dowel and help dislodge it in a way to facilitate getting it out. Another tool that may for work the USB is a pair of LONG needle nose pliers:

https://www.harborfreight.com/11-in-...6&gad_source=1

For the bracelet, if you have one of those little lighted mirrors on a stick, you may be able to see it. Put as many light sources around the various corners of the engine bay to help light up the general area where it fell off. This link gives a general idea of what to look for, Harbor Freight, local car parts stores, even DIY stores have them.

https://www.walmart.com/c/kp/inspect...rs-with-lights

Let us know how it works out!

 

I've also used claw tools for grabbing stuff that has dropped down into hard-to-reach places (assuming you can see it). These sometimes have magnets as well to help with screws/nuts/bolts:

https://www.grainger.com/product/35T...B&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

Funny you say that, I recently dropped an AAA battery between the driver's seat and center console and let me tell you, I had to use my super long wobble extension to get it out. It involved pushing the battery front and then back and then back to the front and finally it dropped into footwell

 

Lucky you! I've tried groping under the seat without success, and also tried a flexible grabby thing, also without success. I shall try to find some bumpy roads and see if I can dislodge it into an accessible place that way!

 

I was digging under my driver's seat and found an unused $100 Chipotle gift card from a previous owner between the console and the seat rail. Win!

 

I found the POs credit card wedged under one of the seat rails. Bet that loss created some consternation. Cut it up and tossed it.

 

Definitely worth getting one of these first:


Even if it doesn't work for this particular application, I guarantee you'll find use for it in the future. I have an older, larger unit that has saved me hours of frustration WRT finding and retrieving things from cramped, dark spaces.

Luck.

 

Funny, I was going to mention that, as I have a DEPSTECH one I got off Amazon. It includes a hook you can attach to the camera, for retrieving things.