So I changed transmission fluid in my wife's minivan today, and in the process one of my sockets fell into the great abyss under the hood. After spending about 1/2 hour trying to find it, I gave up.

I had three different sizes I was using..a 10mm, a 12mm and a 13mm. After I got everything cleaned up, wouldn't you know it...it was the 10 that was missing. 😔

 

I believe the 10mm is the worlds most lost socket. Seriously.

Buy two when replacing.

 

Bummed when that happens. I have several long-handled telescope magnets. Sometimes you can simply shove the magnet into areas you often times can't visualize and reach and often "BAM" - the socket, or nut, or bolt or whatever magically appears from nowhere & attaches to the magnet.

 

I agree. I dropped the 10mm into one of the cars a few years ago and never saw it in the driveway or the street, so I don't know if it dropped out somewhere or it's still in there. Maybe that's what I hear rattling when going over bumps?

 

I lost a 1/2" deep socket recently, also fell in to the engine bay. Looked everywhere, tried the telescoping magnet, nada. Bought a new socket at Lowes about a week ago. Yesterday I backed the car out to wash it and what do I see rolling down the driveway......... grrrrrrrrr............

 

Figures! 😫

 

It used to be the 1/2" socket was the one eloping with the missing socks.

 

Losta 10mm last week. Did some quick wrenching, my wife reported hearing a ting sound as she turned a corner. Pocket inventory revealed a missing 10mm 1/4” drive socket…..still miss it to this day

 

I still love this one...

 

I think I lost a 15 on top of my 5 liter Ford Explorer back some 18 years ago. That one is gone for sure.

 

My Snap On 6 pt 1/4" drive 10mm never leaves my sight. Bought in the early 90s....
Now, 3/8" drives are a different story. 🤣

 

I’d feel pretty safe betting that Snap On’s highest volume products are 8 & 10mm sockets and #2 Phillips bits. Starting 5-10 years ago, I think their socks ended up in the top 5, Can’t guess how many bags o’ sox marched off the truck & into the shop but it was a lot, everyone loves them.

​​​​​​….

 

The phenomenon is called "tool-eating car" and I've had dozens over the years.

Way back in the Stone Age when we had to lay on our backs in the dirt (or grass, or gravel😖😬, or leaves) to fix our broken cars, there was gonna be one socket that went missing. And it was usually gonna be one you used a lot.

Good thing all we had were cheap tools! I tend to be more protective of my better quality tools...

 

But alas, Bad luck sometimes turns into good luck and the lost items sometimes magically appear under my hood. Happened awhile back on my BMW when I was cleaning out the air dam underneath the oil pan and a electrical tester fell out. Not mine, well it is now, all I need to know is what you test with it. I also found a 10mm deep socket stuck in the radiator support in the Miata... Stuff does happen in reverse....Tedd

 

I have found a few tools in cars that I purchased. The oddest one was a 1/2" wood chisel in the back of a newly manufactured Volvo wagon. I thought it was strange that a factory worker would have leave a chisel in a car, but some time later I discovered the floor panel in the rear of the wagon was a sheet of plywood.

 

I found an allen key folder tool set in my lawnmower. Was blocking the right side steering (which I why I found it.)

 

 

I’ve got a baby 3/8” wrench on my Olds keys I found when rummaging through the seats when I first got it

 

On a whim, I decided to take a second look for my lost gem tonight when it was dark. I figured it would be easier to spot without the glare of the sun impeding my vision. So out I went with a 🔦, and within two minutes of looking, I spotted it nestled down at the bottom of the radiator. I quickly grabbed my trusty magnetic retrieving device and luckily it was an easy grab😀 My little lost rarity is now safely back home in my tool kit😁

 

If you look on Reddit in the subdirectory called “justrolledintotheshop” there’s a long running theme about 10mm sockets.

Pretty funny, but we’ve all spent time chasing sockets and parts on the garage floor.

Just a guess, but I’d be surprised if less than 20% of my car time was spent finding parts & tools

Chris

 

I was putting everything back together on my son's Equinox hatch yesterday (touch pad latch release failed), and I'll be damned if my 10mm socket didn't pop off the nut while I was trying to fish a flexible drive extender onto it. Thought of this thread immediately, blamed reading it for jinxing me into a possible lost tool that would forever rattle around in my son's SUV. Got lucky and it did not manage to wedge itself into an irretrievable location.

 

Lookit what Harbor Freight just came out with...😃 A 10pc 10mm essential socket set! 1/4, 3/8, 1/2 drive AND their own storage clip!

 

Oh great! Now I can loose all of them at the same time.

 

I've found some odd things, too. There was a cigarette lighter in my dual gate shifter.

 

I bought one, but when I got home, all I had left was the empty storage clip!

 

😁😆

The best thing is that for $16.99 if any go AWOL you just use the rest till they're all gone, then go buy another set! Lather, rinse, repeat!

 

 

Now that fits my lifestyle, will a penny work? I am frugal you know... Tedd

 

 

😆