Lost a ring in the dashboard venting

Discussion in 'Prius c Main Forum' started by UtenaRose, Jul 15, 2025 at 5:48 PM.

  1. UtenaRose

    UtenaRose New Member

    Joined:
    Yesterday
    1
    0
    0
    Location:
    Chicago
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius c
    Model:
    Three
    Unfortunately, it’s that simple. A ring slid off my finger this morning and right up to the bottom of the front windshield, then slipped down into those vents…

    Is there any way to access/recover this ring?
    Is that ring going to be screwing anything up in there?
     
  2. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 12, 2018
    7,866
    7,336
    1
    Location:
    Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius c
    Model:
    Two
    It isn't likely to cause any problems, but boy howdy it won't be fun to get it back out.
     
    UtenaRose likes this.
  3. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 19, 2012
    8,057
    3,225
    0
    Location:
    Honolulu, HI
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Yeah, the Car Care Nut on YouTube has a video of a teardown of the entire dashboard assembly to get at something dropped down into the vent system that got into the diverter assembly. It was an involved, complicated process.

    SM-S936U ?
     
    UtenaRose likes this.
  4. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 12, 2018
    7,866
    7,336
    1
    Location:
    Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius c
    Model:
    Two
    Probably worth a shot with a video endoscope to locate it, and then possibly extract it with a flexible claw tool.

    Both of these tools are pretty cheap these days.
     
    UtenaRose and John in Vermont like this.
  5. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2008
    26,499
    17,363
    0
    Location:
    Indiana, USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    The video endoscope will often come with an assortment of hooky things you attach right on the camera end.