Almost 20 years ago, I dropped a 10mm combination wrench down in the depths of my Mazda B2200 pickup (the real Mazda). Looked for hours because it was my step dad's and never found it. Well, it didn't go unnoticed, even though he basically lived out of state... Well several years later, I pulled the engine to replace the crankshaft due to a worn timing key way and found it nestled down by the motor mount.
On my first day of my first mechanic job, I was assigned an intake manifold job on a GM 3.1. Well, when I was putting it back together, I dropped one of the coil pack mount bolts down behind the engine. Looked for a fair bit of time and didn't find it. Told my boss and he started stressing. Big time. Was afraid it ended up in the engine. Between him, the other mech and I, we wasted probably 3-4 hours looking for this stupid little bolt. I finally convinced him that there was no way the bolt could have fallen into the engine since both the upper and lower intakes were already in place. Dug a replacement up and went on with life. Never found it either. Come to find out the reason he was so gun shy was not too long before I was hired the other guy lost a nut and simply replaced it. When he went to start the engine, he found out pretty quickly where it ended up!
Working on a 1996 Chevy 4X4- replacing the engine (which had already been replaced) due to another shop's incompetence, I found a 1/4" drive locking flex head Matco ratchet with a Snap On 13mm socket attached, a 1/2" Matco combination wrench and a stubby Blue Point ratcheting 9/16 combo wrench... At least 150.00 worth of tools setting on the lower radiator support in front of the radiator! The same sloppy mech that did a horrible job replacing the engine also left his tools laying in the truck.
Personally, I very seldom leave tools in the customer's vehicle. I think maybe 4 times in 7-8 years. I've been lucky enough that I've always gotten them back- mostly due to hunting them down next time the customer comes back, though once a gal found whatever it was that I misplaced and brought it back...
On my first day of my first mechanic job, I was assigned an intake manifold job on a GM 3.1. Well, when I was putting it back together, I dropped one of the coil pack mount bolts down behind the engine. Looked for a fair bit of time and didn't find it. Told my boss and he started stressing. Big time. Was afraid it ended up in the engine. Between him, the other mech and I, we wasted probably 3-4 hours looking for this stupid little bolt. I finally convinced him that there was no way the bolt could have fallen into the engine since both the upper and lower intakes were already in place. Dug a replacement up and went on with life. Never found it either. Come to find out the reason he was so gun shy was not too long before I was hired the other guy lost a nut and simply replaced it. When he went to start the engine, he found out pretty quickly where it ended up!
Working on a 1996 Chevy 4X4- replacing the engine (which had already been replaced) due to another shop's incompetence, I found a 1/4" drive locking flex head Matco ratchet with a Snap On 13mm socket attached, a 1/2" Matco combination wrench and a stubby Blue Point ratcheting 9/16 combo wrench... At least 150.00 worth of tools setting on the lower radiator support in front of the radiator! The same sloppy mech that did a horrible job replacing the engine also left his tools laying in the truck.
Personally, I very seldom leave tools in the customer's vehicle. I think maybe 4 times in 7-8 years. I've been lucky enough that I've always gotten them back- mostly due to hunting them down next time the customer comes back, though once a gal found whatever it was that I misplaced and brought it back...