Friend wanted to come over to help/watch some mechanic work. I was tossing him the bolts to clean with a steel wire brush and he took out the pan magnets to wipe them down. I then found out 10 hours later that he put them under some stuff instead of on the rag where all the bolts were. I thought he put them back in and in my excitement to finish the job, I didn’t double check the magnets and reinstalled the pan.
There was barely any metal on them (like, a few strips of tiny tiny metal but yeah), fluid was red/in good condition (2003 Toyota Echo). Can I just put a clean fluid tray (for any spills), take off one side of bolts, crack the pan open a bit and just toss the magnets in there? I have a rubber gasket so I think it’d be fine to reuse right? I really don’t want to take off all the plastic covers and then all the pan bolts again (and putting them back on x_x).
In response to your first question. Read the first line of my original response. I’ll restate it in a different way in case it wasn’t clear. If I’m loosening the bolts on the transmission pan, I’m removing them all and replacing the gasket. Saving myself a few bucks worth of gasket and fluids is not worth risking having to do it again. Best case scenario I saved $6-$20 by reusing the gasket. Not worth it to me. Do it right once (a second time) and then don’t worry about it.
If you’ve loads of time and want to risk having to be back under the car a 3rd time and having to buy a new gasket and even more fluid, be my guest.