I am an idiot, I dropped a metal nut into my oil filler crankcase by accident, and now my 2003 Mazda 6 3.0 V6 is frozen. Engine will not crank, I think the nut is stuck in the timing chain. I towed it to Mazda dealer, and they are also perplexed so far. They have taken the valve covers off, and cannot find the metal nut. Help! Anyone know what I can do? Desperate in SAC TOWN CA

 

Have them drop the oil pan and look for it to be jammed between the bearing journals and the crank. It could have gotten scooped up and wedged in there.

I assume you must have cranked the engine already[:@]

 

WOW! That really sucks! I feel for you but I'd have to agree with sstlaure on this one. Good Luck with it.

 

not exactly what you want to happen to your vehicle... i feel for ya buddy!

 

Ouch... not good at all. Assuming you cranked the motor (you said it won't crank now) there is probably some serious damage, and I hope you have deep pockets. I would assume it could be wedged somewhere in between the cam(s) and the head or a valve, or like sstlaure said, in the crank bearing journals and the crank. It probably wouldn't be stuck in the timing chain, but anything's possible. They're probably going to have to drop the motor, take off the heads and oil pan and hope it just falls out... then repeair the damage. Could even be as severe as replacing the whole motor if there's any damage to the crank case (block). That's just my mildly experienced $.02. Good luck.

 

Good News on my 03 Mazda 6 V6 Engine, Mazda Techs found the metal nut jammed in the Timing chain, and I do not need a brand new engine.
Bad News they want $2,800 to tear it apart and replace the damaged oil pump, chain, etc.

Expensive lesson # 1: Don't work on engine, with oil filler gap off
Expensive Lesson # 2: Do not try to start engine, after dropping a nut down crankcase

Suffice it to say, my wife has banned me from working on any cars ever again!

Depressed in Sac Town CA [:'(]

 

Wow, I wouldn't have thought it'd get in the chaing, I guess it depends on where the filler is in relation to chain position. The money sucks, but it could been much, much worse. Yes, it's a good idea to not work on a car with the filler cap off.