Help, I'm an idiot!

[Bluejmc2005]

Hi all,

Anyone able to help? 2014 astra, my wife says do me a favour and change the daylight running lamp. I'm full of cold, eyes watering the lot but think done I can do that! Simple, not paying Halfords £18 for that! So, seems I need to disconnect the air filter housing to get access, fine, do that, hose disconnected from manifold get to bulb, remove bulb, bulb Halfords give me is wrong size. Get the right bulb, does it go straight in? No! And what happens next? I mange to drop both bulbs down where the air filter house hose connects, inlet? As pictured. Can't reach them with my man sized hands, can just see them down the bottom. Any ideas to get them out? I'm an idiot, should never had done this when not well

[Bluejmc2005]

[Bluejmc2005]

[Bluejmc2005]

Everything I do today is a mess!! What an absolute disaster, I have to try and laugh but it's hard. It's started to rain now too, of course.

[Bluejmc2005]

Thanks for the suggestions chaps, I think it's best I walk away from it for today and approach it tomorrow as I'm likely to end up more damage!

[Bluejmc2005]

GregK2 said:

Wouldn't just popping the top half of the airbox have given you clearance you need to access bulb? Hindsight now but still.

Yes, ample. But as title says, I'm an idiot!

[Bluejmc2005]

Rough101 said:

I’ve a small hose thing that goes into a hoover hose for such emergencies

Please tell me more....

[Bluejmc2005]

I was under the assumption that they would do damage where they are?

[Bluejmc2005]

SlimJim16v said:

Working on modern tightly packed engine compartments you must have,

a magnet on a stick -

https://www.amazon.co.uk/SHINE-MAGNETIC-TELESCOPIC...

and a long grabby thing -

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Housolution-Magnetic-Four...

Both ordered! Will the bulbs do any harm where they are?

[Bluejmc2005]

swisstoni said:

Can’t you just leave the dropped bulbs, buy a new one and fit it and forget it ever happened?

I was under the assumption that they would do damage where they are

[Bluejmc2005]

They have fallen down the part on the engine bay, where the hose attaches. I can just about see the bottom end of one of them.

[Bluejmc2005]

The bit that seems to lead somewhere under the wheel arch

[Bluejmc2005]

I'm sorry my explaining is so bad today, really am feeling quite unwell! They have fallen down the bit marked on this pic, where the hose from the air filter housing attaches

[Bluejmc2005]

richhead said:

if engine side of the filter, they yes it needs removing, if not engine side of the filter then shouldnt cause harm.
and dont forget its not a cold, its man flue, worse than giving birth ive heard

Yes so true I forgot that. It's a wonder I can even type! Where does that "hole" lead to then? Into the engine somewhere? And if so, is there another filter down there that you are referring to? Or is it simply where air comes into the engine? Sorry for my lack of articulation and if it's a stupid simple question

[Bluejmc2005]

Digger said:

This reminds me of your TV purchasing decision-making from that other place the other day

Lol!!! I didn't have this cold then lol

[Bluejmc2005]

Richard-D said:

That's the opposite side of the air filter to the engine. Any bits should be stopped by the filter before reaching the engine. You would be very unlucky for them to break and make their way through the paper element. They might end up in the air box the next time the engine gets a good Italian tune up.

Thank you, that's some reassurance at least! I guess that's where the air is taken for the engine up into the engine filter through the hose? I've ordered the tools suggested earlier so I'll try and fish them out tomorrow assuming I survive the night!

[Bluejmc2005]

richhead said:

the bit you have removed has the filter in it, looks like the hole is a cold air input from somwhere, probably behind the bumper or similar, you may even find the bulb on the floor.

Thank you and all for your help, if I could work out how to like all your comments I would! (Except you @digger lol)

[Bluejmc2005]

richhead said:

hoping you survive the night, will set up a gofundme page for the funeral

Lol if you don't hear from me tomorrow then you'll know the worst has happened!

[Bluejmc2005]

Digger said:

£10 from me - best make it a burial, & a bit deeper than normal. . .

Lolololololol

[Bluejmc2005]

loskie said:

try the vacuum cleaner attachment down the hole

Yeah tried that with the smallest attachment I have and no dice sadly