Dropped keys down defrost air vent near the windshield

Tiny
AVCSKYLINE33
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  • 2000 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA
  • 2.0L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
  • 245,000 MILES
Okay, I had a piece of paper that I needed to put right against windshield from inside the car because it was a parking permission slip for this hotel I am staying in, the paper is small and kept slipping. Long story short I was multi tasking and had keys to the car in my hand when I fell into dash (muti tasking here, had two duffles and was thinking I would quickly lean in and be done). I then dropped my car keys into the vent on top of dash! There no vent grill on one side (driver). How am I to get them out? I cannot drive anywhere for help, I do not know who to call, and I have torn up my car by pulling out every plastic thing possible around the vents, stereo, and ashtray. I even pulled the front of glove box off, which did not help because now all I have is a glove box with no door. I have crawled down below steering wheel and on passenger side where blow motor thing is on the center piece (because yeah I tore that panel off too). My car looks hella broken into, I have Googled many topics that have not helped and still no keys! Please help!
Monday, March 26th, 2018 AT 1:15 AM

9 Replies

Tiny
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Is there anyway you can reach a magnet down into that defroster vent and retrieve them keys?
Is there any auto-parts stores near there that sell magnets?
If you do not know, give me the address of that Hotel and I will Google it and see if there are any auto-parts stores within walking distance.
If you just want to continue removing parts, I assume the keys fell down the vent shown here as #3 into the defrost duct, shown as #20.
Here are the instructions for removing that duct:
Defroster duct

Replacing:
Remove and install instrument panel. Refer to 70 - INTERIOR TRIM
Loosen instrument panel cross member
Note installation position.
There is a lot involved in removing that instrument panel and the book says about 4.5 hours as well.
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Monday, March 26th, 2018 AT 8:33 AM
Tiny
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Thank you for the instruction and a picture as to where! I think I will go for that magnet lol. Wow this is crazy. As for where I am staying, I am at the Microtel Inn and Suites in Norcross, the address is listed below. Thanks again!

2150 N Norcross Tucker Rd, Norcross, GA 30071
Address
A.V. Christensen
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Monday, March 26th, 2018 AT 9:28 AM
Tiny
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You have an Oriellys, Autozone and a Ross Tool near you.
Oriellys appears to be about 500 feet north west from you.
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Monday, March 26th, 2018 AT 2:38 PM
Tiny
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Thank you! I found that out myself and have already walked over, bought a very long and bendable device with a magnet as big as a button on the end. So, update, it seems I am just not having it very easy with this. I came back with the magnet thing and went down and instantly caught the keys! I want to say they were about a foot, maybe a few inches more down. Went to bring them up and they got caught on the part where the inside of vent begins to angle and there are parts that bowl out some. Keys went a little further down and I snagged them again to have the same thing happen three more times, last time I even had tools ready to reach and grab them before they got to the spot it narrows. Okay, this is the crazy part because I am now confused and need your assistance further please. When I went down into vents again I thought I had the keys again because I heard them but as I started to pull up I did not hear them or feel the same weight so I pushed tool kinda at a sideways down angle towards passenger seat (last few times I was coming in from passenger and down at angle towards driver seat) when the tool seemed like it was bending but not going down anymore. I went to pull it up and out and just start over but it would not budge. Summary? I think I may have now got the magnet tool thing stuck or worse it stuck itself to something really big and it will not let go. Whatever it is it is heavy and very much attached to my car. :)
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Monday, March 26th, 2018 AT 5:26 PM
Tiny
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The magnet should not be that strong that you cannot get it unstuck.
Try wiggling the tool some more and pull, it must just be stuck on something without being stuck because of the magnet.
Maybe you should get back to O'Rielly's before they close and buy a telescoping mirror so you can hopefully look down that vent and see what is holding up that tool, get it back out, then look to see the keys and figure out the best way to get them out.
Maybe even pick up a bendable claw tool, too.
Maybe a flashlight also if you do not have one.
If the keys fell down so far, see if it might come out any floor vent even if you have to move the blend doors to allow the keys to go ahead and fall further down, but make sure you have lost all hope of bringing them back out from the top first.
If there is a floor vent right there in the middle of the dash underneath, see if reaching the magnet in from there will contact anything that sounds like keys.
Other than that, how far are you away from home that a tow truck can get you there just in case?
Is it legal in that state to use a tow bar if you have a friend with a truck and trailer hitch? Or even using a tow rope?
Then when you get it home or to a shop if you have to remove the instrument panel.
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Monday, March 26th, 2018 AT 5:33 PM
Tiny
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I really am clueless to this mystery because I just came back in from jiggling, moving, and crawling under dash too with a light. Oh, I really do not want to remove the instrument panel, I already have my front cover, front vents, stereo, and panel over the gear shift hanging, lol. As for towing, that may not be possible. I think I may run back to O'Rileys for that mirror and claw! We will see if that may help. Thanks again, you have been of great help to me.
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Monday, March 26th, 2018 AT 6:48 PM
Tiny
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Good luck to ya, it is getting late here on the east coast and I will probably be heading off to bed real soon. I know you are at a hotel, so I will see how you are doing tomorrow morning around 10:00 am or so.
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Monday, March 26th, 2018 AT 7:07 PM
Tiny
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Thank you. Your fabulous and have been really handy! Now I have two magnets, one with a light and a mirror too, lol. Hopefully when you check on me in the morning I will have keys!
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Monday, March 26th, 2018 AT 8:45 PM
Tiny
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Any luck?
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Tuesday, March 27th, 2018 AT 7:44 AM

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