I was getting ready to clean the 04 QC 1500 w/hemi and saw a bolt sticking out from the drivers side wheel well. It was protuding from between the fender liner and rocker panel. I was able to remove it by openning the door and then I could see it just resting in the gap. I took it to the dealer today and the best they could do was say, "bring it in tomorrow". I was wondering if anyone knows how a bolt could get there? Anyone got a suggestion?

Here's a pic:


Thanks,
Rough

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It was probably dropped during assembly.

A good friend had a Toyota SUV, whatever they're called, and had this rattle in the sunroof area that was driving him nuts. Long story short, I pulled down the headliner while driving down the road with him and removed a loose bolt that was rolling around in the sunroof bay. He looked for 2 weeks, couldn't find it a home.

 

Errant bolts were once quite common, some by accident, some for spite.

I think anyone who has dealt with cars for long has a story or a few... one of mine was an extra bolt in the bottom of an automatic tranny pan.

It happens.

All the best.

 

Yes probably dropped there during assembly as I work for D.C. I see it happen all the time, sometimes we can grab it and other times it can be nearly impossible to get to. I see nuts dropped into the frame rails in the engine compartment through small holes. But you would probably never hear a nut rolling around in your frame. I'm sure all automakers have the same problem, and sometimes it can be frustrating cause you can't find the noise.[sm=headbang.gif]

 

that bolt will have a very touble some life if it doznt find a home quick!

 

Not any bolts, but I had a mechanic leave his Snap-On ratchet in one of my parent's cars.

 

you should leave it there! i think it builds character [sm=smiley20.gif]

 

LOL

I've got one in there too. [sm=smiley20.gif]

 

I used to work in the make-ready dept of a local buick dealer way back in 1987 and I used to come across all kinds of annoying things like loose bolts that caused noise, or ball bearings in the rear trunk channel so everytime you turned a corner you would hear a swoosh sound followed by a clunk. First time that happened it took a couple of days and locking another mechanic in the trunk to figure out where or what the noise was. The guys at the GM plant must have thought they were just the funniest people around, they used to tie coke cans by the pull-tabs(remember those) with a string in the inner fender wells or someplace good that would make a noise when you drove the car, but a total bitch to get at to remove... those damn union workers of yesteryear sure got their jollies in the strangest ways.

Now days they just dont bother building them well at all or they just "forget" to put the right amount or kind of fluids in and the PDI(pre-delivery inspection) guys are also too lazy to check for the factory's mistakes. Hell, most dealerships dont even have lifts in the make ready dept so they can check the undercarraige and the rear end or anything else that requires the vehicle to be off the ground. Basically if it doesnt have a handle or lid to it in the engine compartment or isnt directly accessible from the outside of the car, it isnt going to be checked.

 

Viper you have it all wrong, being a DaimlerChrysler worker I see what the problem is. It isn't the workers although their are some screwballs,the majority are hard working people working a lot of overtime,and doing their best to build a quality vehicle. It's the company telling the suppliers to cut cost by 10% one year and another 5% the next, what that means is that the suppliers now make a cheaper part that the hard working automakers put on a vehicle,which in 3 years time fails or falls apart!! Oh but D.C. executives fill their pockets with the profits they made for all the cutbacks!! See thats what's wrong with corporate America, everyone is out for themselves,to fill their wallet and don't care what happens down the road. That's why you don't blame the union workers for things that don't get checked under your vehicle, It's more than likely a job that's been eliminated by the company's!!! To save more MONEY!