How to retrieve something dropped in defroster vent???

In the process of fixing my loose tilt steering column, the dashboard makes a nice flat surface to set all the little bolts, pins, and other peices. However, if you plan to hit the column with a rubber mallet, you should remove all of those parts from the dash. Long story short, one of the tilt pins made it's way into the defroster vent!! :flamemad:

I've tried a telescoping magnet from above, magnet from below - no dice. I'm hoping that if I turn the vent from defrost (current setting) to heat, the door will open and it will fall out. Of course I'll have to start it (to get vacuum) without a lock cylinder, but that should be easy enough. Will it be that easy to retrieve it? This is on a 1990 XJ by the way.

Any suggestions on how to remove the pin from never-never land???

donut magnet on a string?

Don't think they make those magnets small enough to fit in the vent holes, pluse I don't have one. And once I drop it in there, how would I move it around to catch anything???

Any other tips??

Doh...

I dropped a stick-on clock down r/side center vent, when i get the dash back together i'm just going to dremel the thing out and j&b it back together.

gravity sometimes sucks... :flamemad:

Pick up a pin at a junk yard and leave the one in the defroster

Sideways drift. Years ago a friend bought a VW van that had seen use for some business or other. It worked fine but the defroster never worked worth a damn. Of course VW defrosters were never much but this one was pathetic even for a VW. Fast forward about 10 years, the van rots out, gets retired and cut up. When he cut through the duct to the defroster he found 40 pencils.

Put your heater in the floor only setting and rock the vehilce from the outside.

PAPXJ said:

Pick up a pin at a junk yard and leave the one in the defroster

Click to expand...

I may have to, it just takes a while to get the column that dissassembled, but maybe a hammer would speed that process.

And I'd have to pick up the special tool. I don't think the little bolt I used as a puller would stand another pull.

A sideways drift is out since I don't have a steering wheel currently.

Had something drop in the the vents on my 01. I was only able to get it out when I removed my dash to replace my evaporator. Sucked too, everytime I'd put the fan on high, the little piece would rattle around in there.

Well, turning the vent to heat didn't do anything. Off to the junkyard I go. Hopefully I can pull another quick and easy.