Thanks to some helpful advice & digital pics from fellow dmcnewsers, I was able to solve my captive nut conundrum. After wasting my time trying to retrieve it with a magnet on a string, I gave up and decided to pull the quarter panel back. For posterity, here's the exact procedure that it took: 1. Peel back outer weatherstripping & remove screws securing quarter panel to body. I didn't have to remove the weatherstrip, but I'll have to reapply adhesive in a few little spots. 2. Remove bolt in wheel well securing quarter panel to rocker panel 3. Push outer edge of rocker panel down. It's held in with little clips & they should pop out easily. Ignore the service manual's instructions to remove the rocker panel screws (special thanks to Martin G for this tip!) 4. Remove final 3 screws securing quarter panel to body (formerly hidden by the rocker panel) 5. Pull quarter panel away from body, retrieve captive nut. You may also find your upper seat belt anchor cover in there too (I did). What a great time to reattach that! 6. Slide arm between quarter & body to replace the captive nut. 7. Reassemble. 8. ??? 9. Profit! This was actually a lot easier than I anticipated. I think it took about an hour from start to finish, including a trip into the house to get a band-aid. -Luke & 10270 To address comments privately to the moderating team, please address: moderators@xxxxxxxxxxx For more info on the list, tech articles, cars for sale see www.dmcnews.com To search the archives or view files, log in at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dmcnews Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dmcnews/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: dmcnews-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/