At risk of ridicule -- how to get paper out?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by EastR, Mar 20, 2017.

  1. EastR

    EastR Junior Member

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    I store papers in the compartment beneath the CD changer on my 2006. Today one of the papers fell in the opening between the top of the compartment (see arrow). Any idea how to get it out without taking apart the dash?
     

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    #1 EastR, Mar 20, 2017
  2. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    Ok, I've never owned a Gen 2, or the Gen 2 repair manual, but it sure looks like that compartment might come out much the same way the same compartment on a Gen 1 does. I made a video that shows that for a Gen 1. It's the first thing out in the video, no need to watch the rest.

    Look around for similar little clips on the bottom and see if it will pop out the same way:



    Just don't get too brute-forcey if it doesn't come out easily that way, 'cause there's a perfectly good chance it isn't exactly like Gen 1 and there's some other step. There's always the repair manual in that case.

    -Chap
     
    #2 ChapmanF, Mar 20, 2017
  3. andrewclaus

    andrewclaus Active Member

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    You have to first remove the panel under the steering column, then the two vent assemblies each side of the radio, then the MFD, then you'll have access to the radio. Search for dashboard removal, you'll find instructions and probably video.
     
    #3 andrewclaus, Mar 20, 2017
  4. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    Are you sure all that has to come out before the compartment the papers slipped over?
     
    #4 ChapmanF, Mar 20, 2017
  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    BTW: is this the fabled hidden compartment?
     
    #5 Mendel Leisk, Mar 20, 2017
  6. andrewclaus

    andrewclaus Active Member

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    Someone may know a way to attack it from below the dash, but I've never needed to.

    Except for the MFD which has four 12mm machine screws, and a phillips or two on the lower panel, it's all snap-on and takes minutes, at least the second time. I did a bit of radio work last year and got pretty fast at it.
     
    #6 andrewclaus, Mar 20, 2017
  7. EastR

    EastR Junior Member

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    Unfortunately the lost paper from a few months ago seems to have found a way into the vents/blowers. A loud clicking noise (see video below) now comes -only- when I turn the A/C vent fan on recirculate (not on outside air). It is intermittent but loud. I took off the dash panel today and still can't diagnose the location of the problem. Any help would be much appreciated!

     
    #7 EastR, Jan 22, 2018
  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    have you looked under the cabin filter?
     
    #8 bisco, Jan 22, 2018
  9. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    Put your hands in the fan (while the car is off) and see if you can get the paper. The fan is the big giant hole under the cabin air filter
     
    #9 JC91006, Jan 22, 2018
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  10. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Somehow it doesn't sound like paper, though I could be wrong...
     
    #10 Mendel Leisk, Jan 22, 2018
  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    baseball card?
     
    #11 bisco, Jan 22, 2018
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  12. EastR

    EastR Junior Member

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    I will try to look under the fan. Somehow it must have been pulled in from the small compartment below the MFD. It’s a piece of paper about 5”x7”. Could also be something else but the noise has gotten more frequent over the past month.
     
    #12 EastR, Jan 22, 2018
  13. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    if it is not in the fan area, you might have to dismantle the dash.
     
    #13 bisco, Jan 22, 2018
  14. EastR

    EastR Junior Member

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    No luck on reaching inside the fan under the cabin air filter. Where the video is pointed toward the white plastic is where the vibration feels the strongest.
     
    #14 EastR, Jan 22, 2018
  15. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    it's probably caught somewhere, and flapping in the breeze.
     
    #15 bisco, Jan 22, 2018
  16. EastR

    EastR Junior Member

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    The strange part is it only happens when air is recirculating but not when set to pull air in from outside.
     
    #16 EastR, Jan 22, 2018
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  17. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    that is odd, it must be caught in the intake for the cabin air.
     
    #17 bisco, Jan 22, 2018
  18. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    You should head over to the audio section and look for people replacing the head units - that way you can see a DIY on how to remove the panels.

    I looked into my archives and this is the closest one I can find - see attached PDF.

    The passenger side can be removed mostly without tools like a screwdriver.
     

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    #18 Tideland Prius, Jan 22, 2018
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