Lost a ring in the dashboard venting

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

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  1. UtenaRose

    UtenaRose New Member

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    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?
     
    #1 UtenaRose, Jul 15, 2025 at 5:48 PM
  2. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    It isn't likely to cause any problems, but boy howdy it won't be fun to get it back out.
     
    #2 Leadfoot J. McCoalroller, Jul 15, 2025 at 8:42 PM
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  3. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    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 ?
     
    #3 xliderider, Jul 16, 2025 at 1:35 AM
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  4. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    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.
     
    #4 Leadfoot J. McCoalroller, Jul 16, 2025 at 8:22 AM
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  5. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    The video endoscope will often come with an assortment of hooky things you attach right on the camera end.
     
    #5 ChapmanF, Jul 16, 2025 at 9:10 AM
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  6. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    A piece of double sided foam tape may work as well, depending on the size and weight of the ring. Plus, if you do manage to get the ring stuck onto the tape, you have to be careful when backing it out to avoid knocking it off and dropping it down an inaccessible area.

    SM-S936U ?
     
    #6 xliderider, Jul 16, 2025 at 2:38 PM
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