Hi to all
,I was replacing the thermostat in my Punto MkI 55S and accidentally I dropped the 10mm socket nut inside the transmission bell housing through the gap.The car works ok and I can't hear and noise from the transmission but do you think is ok to just leave it there?:bang:

Andy

Might cause some damage to the clutch or input shaft of gearbox if it hits any of them.

NO! I once without realising it(socket not locked on to extension bar) left a socket inside a focus bellhousing. A month later it had smashed through the bellhousing and cracked the casing! I'd take the gearbox out (or half-out it should drop out) asap.

Ouch! That's the problem. If it clips the clutch assembly at all, it becomes like a lottery ball in the machine. On a motorway the speed of the clutch spinning is what would cause all that damage to the casing and everything else around it.
The faster the socket is moving the more it weighs aswell (effectively)
Like when they say in a car crash someone not wearing a seat belt will hit the person in front of them with a force of 10 times their weight. The faster it's travelling the more force. Same principles

thanks for the replies.I tried to saved some cash by changing the thermostat myself but now it seems that I can't avoid the visit to the stealer..

DIY, just remove all the bolts around the bell housing and see if you can get enough of a gap between the gearbox and engine to pop it out. You'll be charged about £100 at a garage or more to remove the gearbox

I agree with the other guys advising you to get that socket out of there but perhaps its worth a shot at getting it out with say a magnet first before having your pants pulled down at a stealership?

You can get these strong Neodymium magnets that are unbelievable. But before you use on you'll have to be sure that whatever means you try of dangling it in there you'll need to make double sure its attached properly to say a piece of line by drilling the magnet first and making sure its well and truly tied on.

If your carful and you use a tiny magnet i'm sure you'll do it

Worth a shot I guess?

Or turn the car upside down and shake it

Just remove the thin steel dust cover that's on the bottom of the bell housing. Check out the Guides for Mk1 clutch renewal to get some idea. You may need to slacken a few bits off but you don't really need to separate the bell from the lump.

Here's a link to the guide:

https://www.fiatforum.com/punto-guides/211883-how-fit-new-clutch-mk-1-a.html

red

If there is no steel cover use a suitable size holesaw to cut a hole through the bottom bellhousing. Extract the socket and fit a grommet in the new hole to keep the dirt out

sorry but I tried really hard to find the steel bell housing cover ,the only thing that looks like a cover is to the side of the gearbox behind the left front wheel.Is this the cover we are talking about?

regards
Andy

no!

the cover faces the sump, its on the other side to gearbox, i don't think there is enough gap between bell housing and fly wheel though, but hope i am wrong

If its not possible to get the cover off, get a suitable hole saw and grommet and cut a hole in the bottom of bell housing. Avoid cutting the stiffening ribs and job done.