Help needed - broke plastic clips that attach to timing belt cover, how to proceed?

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Joined
Jan 29, 2024
Threads
5
Messages
138
Location
Santa Fe, NM
Today I swapped out my PCV hoses and a couple of vac lines including part number 1703050070 on my 2004 LX. 1703050070 consists of two pre-formed hoses that have a clip that attaches via a couple of press-in plastic tabs that go into two small holes in the cover:

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Unfortunately when removing the old hoses and the guide, the two plastic tabs broke off on the inside of the timing belt cover. I am concerned about those things being inside of the timing belt area. I have never replaced a timing belt nor am I very familiar with cover assembly. My questions are:

1) Should I remove the passenger side timing belt cover to remove the plastic bits that broke off, or will they be OK floating around in there until the next TB change?
2) If I should remove the cover, can I do so without removing anything else?
3) Anything else to keep in mind while pulling the cover if that's how I should proceed?

I am a little apprehensive to just start ripping stuff off the front of the motor, I don't want to damage anything or get things to a state where I can't put them back together so figured some input here may be helpful. Thanks!
 
Well, false alarm: I was able to get the cover partially off and it's a "blind" mounting area for the hoses, no passage to the timing belt area. Thanks Mr. T! Will leave this post up in the event someone down the road has an "oh s***" moment like me when doing their vac hoses.
 
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