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Topic: Antifreeze tester slipped into the radiator.

Reality
Sarge
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posted 11-23-2004 05:39 PM

This car is a 90s Ford Taurus with a pretty standard looking radiator. I was testing the antifreeze with a tester like the one below. It slipped and as far as I can tell went all the way down into the radiator.

I have tried to fish it out with a bent hanger, but it's no use. I can't imagine how I would ever be able to retrieve it.

Most of it is made of soft rubber (the bulb and extending tube portion) The main body of the tester is hard plastic. Is it likely this will affect the functioning of the radiator/car in a negative way? If so, how, and what might I do to get it out?

I've searched the web, and cannot find an answer. Any help would be very appreciated.

[ 11-23-2004: Message edited by: Reality ]

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I once had a Quantum Car, but every time I looked at the speedometer, I'd get lost. - Heisenberg

Posts: 85 | From: livingroom | Registered: Sep 2004 | IP: Logged

Wintermute
Sarge
Member # 1307

posted 11-23-2004 06:43 PM

Get on google and search for tri-prong or 3 prong graspers. You'll find medical grade and pc-tool graspers. The pc graspers probably won't be long enough, though. The medical grade graspers come in many lengths, but they are expensive. You also might try to drain the radiator and flush it with water. That might make the tester rise out. I hope this helps some.

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Verdammt durch das Fleisch. Gerettet durch das Blut.

Posts: 519 | From: Qwghlm | Registered: Dec 1999 | IP: Logged

Cacophonous
Sarge
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posted 11-23-2004 07:36 PM

Maybe try a plastic magnet?

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Wintermute
Sarge
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posted 11-23-2004 08:02 PM

lol

check it out. plastic magnets

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Posts: 519 | From: Qwghlm | Registered: Dec 1999 | IP: Logged

WillyTrombone
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posted 11-23-2004 08:07 PM

Mute's suggestion is good, although I would recommend a screw retreiver like you can get at most any hardware store (like this).

As for leaving it in, I don't think it would be a good idea. It could get lodged somewhere and clog stuff up.

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WillyTrombone
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posted 11-23-2004 08:12 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Wintermute:
lol
check it out. plastic magnets

that's very cool stuff by the way. A professor in my department won a nobel prize for related research a few years ago.

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Cacophonous
Sarge
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posted 11-23-2004 08:26 PM

I think Mute was closer with The Green Manalishi with the three prong crown.

Preferably the flex type like this one for only 2 bucks:

http://www.homedepot.com/prel80/HDUS/EN_US/diy_main/pg_diy.jsp?CNTTYPE=PROD_META&CNTKEY=misc%2fsearchResults.jsp&keyword=Pick+Up+Tool&cm_ven=hd_over&cm_cat=Search&cm_pla=25&cm_ite=

You could the radiator completely out and turn it upside down.

[ 11-23-2004: Message edited by: Cacophonous ]

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burble
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posted 11-23-2004 08:53 PM

it's not like it can go through the cores in the middle.

if nothing else, take the radiator out (can't be hard, most likely a few bolts plus the fan and shroud) and just turn it over.

Posts: 528 | From: Nashville, TN | Registered: Nov 1999 | IP: Logged

Cacophonous
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posted 11-23-2004 09:01 PM

What a novel idea?

It could remain inside the radiator without problem but depending on the 'cheapness' of the components it could melt/dissolve after time causing blockage, although unlikely.

[ 11-23-2004: Message edited by: Cacophonous ]

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dAm
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posted 11-23-2004 09:01 PM

did it slip into the actual radiator or the plastic surge tank? Most rads have the core so close to the top that I couldn't see that thing falling all the way in. Either way, you'll want to get it out whatever way works best. You don't want it causing a blockage.

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Shut-up and fish

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GFKiller
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posted 11-23-2004 10:27 PM

Use one of these!

Posts: 1762 | From: Staten Island, NY | Registered: Jun 1999 | IP: Logged

Reality
Sarge
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posted 11-24-2004 12:26 PM

Thanks to everyone for the helpful ideas. I'm gonna try to find one of those grasper/retriever things at the home depot today. If that doesn't pan out, I'll probably end up taking the radiator off like burble said. I haven't done anything that major with a car before, so I hope I don't have to. One thing is for sure. I'm not driving it until I get it out. I don't want to gum it up or mess up the water pump. Thanks all.

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I once had a Quantum Car, but every time I looked at the speedometer, I'd get lost. - Heisenberg

Posts: 85 | From: livingroom | Registered: Sep 2004 | IP: Logged

Mad Max
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posted 11-24-2004 01:34 PM

It's been a while since I did anything with radiators but "in the olden days" there was always a "top" hose and a "bottom" hose. They usually have a reasonable inner diameter - about 1-2". If you can get to it perhaps you can take off the bottom hose and get the tester that way? You certainly don't want the tester getting into your water pump or that could be big bucks to get fixed. I think you really want to get it out and not take any risks.

[ 11-24-2004: Message edited by: Mad Max ]

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WillyTrombone
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posted 11-24-2004 05:41 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Reality:
Thanks to everyone for the helpful ideas. I'm gonna try to find one of those grasper/retriever things at the home depot today. If that doesn't pan out, I'll probably end up taking the radiator off like burble said. I haven't done anything that major with a car before, so I hope I don't have to. One thing is for sure. I'm not driving it until I get it out. I don't want to gum it up or mess up the water pump. Thanks all.

Major? That's barely more changing an oil filter. You might not even need to take it out. You might be able to just drain it, pull the hose, and pull the object out through the hose fitting (depending on the size and flexibility of that hygrometer, anyway).

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Posts: 2844 | From: the edge of forever | Registered: Jun 1999 | IP: Logged

Mad Max
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posted 11-24-2004 07:15 PM

quote:
Originally posted by WillyTrombone:
Major? That's barely more changing an oil filter. You might not even need to take it out. You might be able to just drain it, pull the hose, and pull the object out through the hose fitting (depending on the size and flexibility of that hygrometer, anyway).

That reminds me of the days I used to work on my Mini back when I was in Scotland. I pretty much replaced everything:
engine
camshaft
clutch
shocks
brakes
replaced brake drums with rotors
cylinder head
etc.

Those were the days.

[ 11-24-2004: Message edited by: Mad Max ]

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dAm
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posted 11-24-2004 07:27 PM

I would be very suprised if that tester made it all the way to the bottom. If it were me, before pulling it out I would try to flush water into it from the bottom or through a heater hose with hopes that it would float back towards the neck.
Just remember, if you have any critters around, anti-freeze is very toxic to them and they'll lick it up the first chance they get so be careful when you drain/flush/whatever it.

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Posts: 577 | From: Calgary | Registered: Nov 2001 | IP: Logged

dAm
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posted 11-24-2004 07:33 PM

and Willy is right. In most cases pulling one is as simple as draining it, unhooking the hoses, unbolt the shroud and then a couple bolts that hold the rad in and out it comes. Any difficulties will lie in auto-transmission cooler lines that don't want to come loose or if you're not careful removing the hoses you can crack the neck. MOst of the time it's a piece of cake.

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Posts: 577 | From: Calgary | Registered: Nov 2001 | IP: Logged

Mad Max
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posted 11-24-2004 07:43 PM

quote:
Originally posted by dAm:
and Willy is right. In most cases pulling one is as simple as draining it, unhooking the hoses, unbolt the shroud and then a couple bolts that hold the rad in and out it comes. Any difficulties will lie in auto-transmission cooler lines that don't want to come loose or if you're not careful removing the hoses you can crack the neck. MOst of the time it's a piece of cake.

Don't forget to take the fan out too.

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dAm
Sarge
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posted 11-25-2004 07:15 AM

yeah, I keep forgetting what car it is. I'm used to working on Freightliners and Peterbilts.

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Posts: 577 | From: Calgary | Registered: Nov 2001 | IP: Logged

Snag
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posted 11-30-2004 02:02 PM

I remember one day (years ago now!!) I bought two sets of brake pads from Canadian Tire (they were on sale!) . I changed the pads, bled my brakes...they were like brand new. Even though it was an '86 Reliant hehe. ANYWAY, I am living in Calgary and I tap my brakes on Deerfoot Trail (the main freeway) and I hear a little noise clunk under my car. Thinking nothing of it because it was just momentary and could easily be road debris, i keep going. I start slowing down when i hear this god awful grinding. I pull over....wtf. Maybe a rock stuck in my brakes...ah, it'll break/fly away. Still going. WTF?! I get nervous and pull my tires off. There one of my new pad with less than 500km on it, sheared right off the bracket and I had now scored my rotor with the rivet!! So, I go to the trunk, get my big ol' 3/4" ratchet and using my bodyweight, compress the calipers in and change my brake pads...AGAIN...on the side of the freeway only to go to Crappy Tire to inform them of what happened and then damn near sucker punched the fucker for telling me that I would have to replace the rotor at my own dime because it was not a warranty issue because they never installed them.

I have not bought brakes from them since.

FTR: This is my ride now:

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dAm
Sarge
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posted 11-30-2004 05:18 PM

Parts and Service at Crappy Tire is a bad joke best played on someone else.
Know what they do if one gets towed in for a "no start" condition? They just change battery, alternator and starter without testing anything and call it fixed. Then they tell the customer that one went out and took the other two with it. This was told to me by a mechanic that used to work there.
I myself took an old Camaro in once for new tires and alignment and they tried to tell me I had both tie rod ends and two ball joints that needed changing before they could align it. I just paid for the tires and left with the car. Took it to Ike's Minute Muffler and put it up on the rack and found only one bad ball joint and it wasn't even one of the ones they said was bad. Tie rod ends were fine. We just changed the one and did the alignment.
They get away with most of their crap because 99% of the customers don't know any better.
As far as parts go, I won't buy any there.

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Shut-up and fish

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Snag
Sarge
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posted 11-30-2004 07:20 PM

the only thing I have bought there for my truck is the air freshener and the seat covers...and of course oil and filter. But the filters are K&N and the oil is full sysnthetic brand name...not motomaster!

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Wintermute
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posted 12-02-2004 07:58 PM

Reality ~ Did you ever get that little radiator problem taken care of?

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Posts: 519 | From: Qwghlm | Registered: Dec 1999 | IP: Logged

Wintermute
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posted 12-02-2004 08:08 PM

[ 04-23-2021: Message edited by: Wintermute ]

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Verdammt durch das Fleisch. Gerettet durch das Blut.

Posts: 519 | From: Qwghlm | Registered: Dec 1999 | IP: Logged

Cacophonous
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posted 12-02-2004 10:22 PM

This is not how I remember this thread.

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Posts: 5571 | From: Yes | Registered: Jun 1999 | IP: Logged

Reality
Sarge
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posted 12-03-2004 12:16 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Wintermute:
Yes, thank you! In fact I just got the grabber tool you and Cac suggested, and it allowed me to fish the tester straight out. Thanks again for the help!

LOL. Actually, no. They don't carry that grabber at Home Depot or any other hardware type store I could find. I couldn't order it online because I don't have a credit card, and wouldn't want to pay 6 dollars shipping for a 2 dollar tool. The Ford has an oil leak, so I drove it a very short distance to a local shop, and I asked them to get the tester out too. I looked down at the bottom of the radiator, and there was a pretty big pipe/tube, so I'm thinking the mechanic will get it out thruogh there. I do still appreciate the help, though.

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I once had a Quantum Car, but every time I looked at the speedometer, I'd get lost. - Heisenberg

Posts: 85 | From: livingroom | Registered: Sep 2004 | IP: Logged

Wintermute
Sarge
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posted 12-03-2004 06:25 PM

That's too bad because I think that tool would have worked for you. But I guess if you're taking the car to the mechanic, you might as well have him take the tester out too.

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Verdammt durch das Fleisch. Gerettet durch das Blut.

Posts: 519 | From: Qwghlm | Registered: Dec 1999 | IP: Logged

Reality
Sarge
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posted 12-09-2004 11:39 AM

Final Update:

I just got the car back. It's running good. The mechanic wasn't able to get the tester out, but he said that the tester wasn't going anywhere, and that the car would have to be on fire for there to be enough heat to melt the tester. I guess it will just have to stay in there for now. It's not hurting anything, so why worry about it I guess. The end.

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I once had a Quantum Car, but every time I looked at the speedometer, I'd get lost. - Heisenberg

Posts: 85 | From: livingroom | Registered: Sep 2004 | IP: Logged

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