Found during oil change

[Lnwing]

My son changed oil in his 96 Grand Am/2. 4 engine, and found a small metal pin/roller stuck to the magnetic drain plug. It's about 1/2" long x 3/32" diameter. Kind of resembles a roller from a needle bearing. Any ideas as to where it might have come from?

The oil level sensor has been coming on intermittently, regardless of the actual oil level. Could that sensor have come apart and dropped that pin?

The only major work done on this vehicle was a water pump, and that was over 50k ago. Yes, major, because the water pump is in the timing cover, and it's a real PITA to do. I couldn't find anyone but the dealer who would replace it. Anyhow, is there anything in that front cover that could have lost a pin like that?

My son is on the road quite a bit, and this has us spooked.



Thanks for your help.



Lynn

 

[AABEN]

I thank you would find out more if you went to GM site. == Good Luck

 

[Wingate]

Not sure about those little engines, but I would first see if its ferrous... see if it sticks to a magnet. This can usually help narrow your search for its origins. Second, is it a machined finish on both ends? Or does one look different from the other? Sometimes this can help determine whether or not its the entire piece, or just part of the issue... Good Luck.

 

[Bernie]

My son changed oil in his 96 Grand Am/2. 4 engine, and found a small metal pin/roller stuck to the magnetic drain plug.

Well, what was it? Did you just trade the car in?

 

[Lnwing]

We never did figure out what it was, so he's just driving it... has thousands of miles logged since then, and no problems.

 

[Wingate]

Did you replace the oil level sensor??. . It jsut dawned on me that the oil level sensor probably has a small float attached to the end of it to indicate oil level, That pin could be the hinge pin for the float... . Would explain why your oil level light is on.

 

[diesel_dude]

Is it like a small dowel pin, the kind used to align two components, such as gear housing to block?

 

[cojhl2]

Not large enough to be an alignment dowel, I would be afraid it is from a bearing somewhere. Are the cam followers roller type?

 

[Lnwing]

We did replace the oil level sensor, but didn't see anything on the sensor that looked like the metal dowel pin. Still driving it!

 

[Wingate]

I would just turn my head and try and forget about it. .

you've already got more out of that car that most people ever did.

Maybe it was the flux capacitor that charges up the bovine emaculating valve!!!... That would be MY story!

 

[cojhl2]

I would just turn my head and try and forget about it. .

you've already got more out of that car that most people ever did.

Maybe it was the flux capacitor that charges up the bovine emaculating valve!!!... That would be MY story!

And if the engine gets noisy just turn up the radio??:-laf

 

[JoshPeters]

If I remember right (10 years ago or so) I replaced a water pump on one of those PITA engines.



I think there was a dowel like your suggesting for indexing the water pump. The only memory of that dowl I have is because it was carroded into the pump and was holding the pump to the gearcase. I don't remember seeing if the dowel passed through into the gearcase though.



Possibly on the install the pin got pushed into the case and was just hanging out there till it vibrated loose and fell down into the oil pan.



Just a thought... .