Thetastycat

Hey all - well now I understand that THERE IS A HOLE IN THE BELLHOUSING DIRECTLY BELOW WHERE YOU BOLT UP THE CPS. I've also learned that the autos have an inspection plate you can just unbolt, but no luck on the AX15. I got an endoscope but it's not that great and it doesn't move around well, so I've pretty much given up hope of locating and retrieving the bolt that way.

So - is this what I should do? Drop exhaust, remove driveshafts, remove center console and shifter, remove everything from tranny and TC, jack up motor and tranny, remove crossmember, unbolt tranny from motor, somehow figure out how to pull tranny/TC out, retrieve bolt? I've only been doing my own wrenching for about a year - I did rebuild the TC but never tried a clutch. I do have a Chilton manual, and I figure I can follow the instructions as to how to change a clutch far enough to drop the tranny. Am I correct that I don't have to drain the tranny? Just put in some high-dollar MT-90 a few months ago, would really hate to drain it already. Also can I leave the TC connected to the tranny?

I swear dropping that bolt in there took the wind out of my sails pretty hard......thanks for any help you can give.

4.3L XJ

You should be able to remove the inspection cover from the front of the bell housing and get it out that way

Thetastycat

Man, how I wish! Apparently only the autos have that to remove that plate on my AX15 requires pulling the tranny.

BUT
I just called my mechanic buddy and he said it would probably be just fine to leave it in there - He said it probably just dropped to the bottom and will stay there out of the way. Atthis point, I'm willing to give it a shot. I've ordered two new bolts, and once the CPS is secure in there, I'm going to start it up, and if it doesn't sound like World war III in the bell housing I'm just going to leave it there until I have to do a clutch next.

Funny how going through all that work doesn't seem that bad when you have to replace the clutch, but having to go through it all over one bolt that slipped out of your fingers just seems maddening....

5-Speed

You should be able to pry the dust shield back far enough (after taking the lower bolts out) to have the bolt slip out. I would definitely not leave the bolt in there. Ever see what happens when the bolt gets stuck between the ring gear and bellhousing? Ya its not a good outcome.

Thetastycat

CF, that is a brilliant idea. I'm absolutely going to try it when I get back tonight. I was surprised I could see in there at all - please God let there be enough room to get that bolt out. Since I know there's no danger of that plate actually coming off, I'll take out all the bolts I can see. Seems like the starter is up far enough that it won't make a difference - think so?

5-Speed

I would remove the starter. If anything, you may be able to shove a magnet down the starters hole and fish the bolt out that way.

Thetastycat

Hey, I'm going to need every bit of range of motion in that plate anyway - I'll definitely take the starter off. Good call

Griffyorcono

I can tell you from plenty of experience that the plate may not have a observation location but it is very easy to bend it lol... Just make sure you have all of the bolts off pull it and bend that puppy until you can grab what you need. Good luck my friend!

Thetastycat

I can't possibly explain how much more hopeful I am to hear that! I'd really rather get it out of there if I can. I'll take out everything I possibly can and BEND THAT BABY UNTIL I HAVE MY WAY.

Also can we talk about how there's no inspection plate on the AX15....."Ok Jim, I'm off tomorrow but I'll be back in Monday. Hey don't forget to add that inspection plate to the AX15 before they finalize the design this weekend." "Sure thing Hal, have a great time at the lake"

Griffyorcono

I've had multiple AW4 people tell me to check my inspection plate when I was concerned something was wrong with my transmission. I just nodded my head because I didn't want to bother with their lack of any knowledge in the XJ AX15 world lol. I have wondered though if you could make you're own observation plate because it would be very nice

MaskedMallard

Maybe see if you can locate an Earth Magnet, to move the bolt closer to what ever you pull off to allow you to gain access.

Thetastycat

............well I'm not taking it off the table!!! I might even consider cutting part of it out and making a plate to screw in. I would WAY rather do that than drop the drivetrain over this one #_##$/+- dropped bolt......

Thetastycat

I've also been wondering whether the bellhousing/flywheel/everything else was magnetic - figured the bolt would be for sure. Good call - even if I can just get the crappy endoscope up in there enough to actually see, at least I stand a shot at finding it so I can actually figure out how to get it out. Good call!

Thetastycat

COME IN EVERYONE, THANKS AGAIN FOR COMING, PLEASE HAVE A SEAT

I AM DELIGHTED TO ANNOUNCE A DEVELOPMENT IN THE SITUATION





I have been a straight male for 40 years and yet at this moment I am 100% gay for EVERY single person that contributed to this thread. I can't tell you how depressed I was at the thought of having to basically do a clutch swap just because I dropped one bolt at the wrong time - and you all 100% saved me from it. I removed the starter and all the bolts I could access, and that cover pried back plenty far enough to get the scope and then a coat hanger in there. Seriously I cannot even begin to thank you all enough. I love the Soviet-esque ethos of THEN WE MAKE INSPECTION PANEL THEN - heck, it worked!!

Unfortunately I got it all back together again and same old business with it not wanting to start well - he's a brief vid of how ridiculous it is now (worse than ever!) - and this is after cleaning all the grounds, checking all the connections, new starter, new fuel filter, new fuel pump, and now new CPS. O'Reillys guy said the battery was very strong even though the sticker says 10/18 and he said it wasn't even a good quality battery; he said the alternator was reading fine too. What on EARTH is causing this ridiculousness...


Anyway, seriously THANK you all. You saved me SO much hassle for ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! I absolutely owe you and you made my life a whole lot better.

lawsoncl

Just looking at the voltmeter and how slow it's cranking, I think you're got a bad battery and/or rotten battery cables. Have a good look at the connectors at the battery too.