So something managed to drop down the defroster vent by the windshield...

[Zelek]

So I went to get my car inspected and passed, thankfully. Long story short, the guy put my keys which had a metal Mustang horse keychain on them on the dashboard where the defroster vent is. Well, that horse managed to fall down the defroster vent. I tried to move it around and work it out back through the vent with no luck. One of the rings broke and the keychain fell down even further into the defroster vent. Now I've got a Mustang horse sitting somewhere in my dash. It's at a very bad angle to where I can't get any kind of magnet down there to try and get it.

Any easy way to get this thing out or would it require removing the entire dash and just say screw it at this point?

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[Stone pony]

O crap......a magnetic on a spring type handle will most likely be your best chance. Other than that it probably going to be major. Several treads about the ac evap core removal on here to give you a ideal. Good luck.

 

[Zelek]

O crap......a magnetic on a spring type handle will most likely be your best chance. Other than that it probably going to be major. Several treads about the ac evap core removal on here to give you a ideal. Good luck.

I removed the defroster vent cover with a trim tool but I'm pretty sure the keychain went down further to the firewall.

 

[Stone pony]

How bout finding a magnet you could tie to some heavy string. I'm not sure dash can be taken apart to access the duct work without complete removal but again I'm not sure. Cardigan.com you can look through a manual. It's safe I've used it a couple times looking at wiring diagrams and trim removal.

 

[Stone pony]

https://www.mustang6g.com/forums/threads/a-c-evaporator-factory-defect.62682/page-95#post-2364249

 

[Cobra Jet]

Well, you’re better having a horse in there than Reece’s:

https://www.mustang6g.com/forums/th...the-front-defroster-vent.119328/#post-2498599

 

[GTowner]

So I went to get my car inspected and passed, thankfully. Long story short, the guy put my keys which had a metal Mustang horse keychain on them on the dashboard where the defroster vent is. Well, that horse managed to fall down the defroster vent. I tried to move it around and work it out back through the vent with no luck. One of the rings broke and the keychain fell down even further into the defroster vent. Now I've got a Mustang horse sitting somewhere in my dash. It's at a very bad angle to where I can't get any kind of magnet down there to try and get it.

Any easy way to get this thing out or would it require removing the entire dash and just say screw it at this point?

Yes get a flexible grabber like from harbor freight
and a LED illuminated Bore light for your phone
find the horse then figure out how to grasp it with the flexible grabber.

 

[Brazos609]

I got a $10 digital camera scope online and it came with a couple of tools that clip to the camera for just such situations.

 

[frank s]

I'm picturing this (magnetic metal?) thing sittin in an irregularly-shaped tube. I'd imagine the outside of the tube will be accessible from under the dash. If you can reach it, perhaps you'd be able to drag it back up the way it came down, with a strong-enough magnet.

These are quite strong and useful, $16 for ten, when I bought them:
Powerful Neodymium Bar Magnets, Rare-Earth Metal Neodymium Magnet, N52, Incredibly Strong 33 LB Strength - 60 x 10 x 5 mm, Pack of 10
by DIYMAG

 

[Zelek]

Thanks for the ideas everyone. Going to see if I can get some kind of scope and magnet. It fell between the gap on the front (towards the driver) of the defroster vent. It's definitely magnetic thankfully.

The good news is I don't hear it rattling around while driving.

 

[Zelek]

Update: This fell out from underneath my steering wheel and next to the footrest by the clutch. How did this happen? I took a 90 degree right turn from under a bridge at 30 mph. I laughed my ass off the rest of the way home.

Don't let anyone put your keys up by the window ever again!

 

[Rapid Red]

You were lucky grasshopper , if that had worked its way into the door that directs air flow. You would have sincerely been an unhappy camper.

The Mustang god has smiled upon you

 

[Cobra Jet]

Update: This fell out from underneath my steering wheel and next to the footrest by the clutch. How did this happen? I took a 45 degree right turn from under a bridge at 30 mph. I laughed my ass off the rest of the way home.

Don't let anyone put your keys up by the window ever again!

It looks like it found its way through the lower HVAC vents for the floor cooling/heating. The vents usually come out from behind the center console or under driver/passenger dash area.

Glad it’s out of the system now!

 

[StangTime]

Update: This fell out from underneath my steering wheel and next to the footrest by the clutch. How did this happen? I took a 45 degree right turn from under a bridge at 30 mph. I laughed my ass off the rest of the way home.

Don't let anyone put your keys up by the window ever again!

You got lucky. Let's see if this continues. Go buy a lottery ticket.

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