Key dropped down drivers front windshield defog vent, easy way to get to?

The previous owner told me that they accidentally dropped one of the ignition keys down the drivers side dashboard windshield defrost/defogger vent.

I haven't tried to see down there yet to see if I can see it, but wondered if anyone had any easy tips or experience for what it is going to take to get to that vent area to possibly get the key out?

Thanks

If it was on a keyring try fishing for it with magnet on a string?

Great idea! I have some very powerful HDD magnets at work that already have a hole drilled through them if I recall. They are very small but very powerful. I don't know if it was on a ring, but I'll give that a try!

Be careful using a high energy magnet. If it finds something with more mass than your key, you may not get it back!

Yep, totally am with you. I've pinched my fingers between two of those HDD magnets before and tore my skin right off!

I'll definitely give the magnet a try.

I had some good tricks with my Oldsmobile 98 when I'd service the HVAC for getting to most of the ductwork with minimal hassle, so was just wondering if anyone else had gotten into that duct area on the Riviera before and had any tricks to suggest as well.

Thanks,
Al

The top dash pad comes off fairly easy. I would think that might get you some access to the defroster duct.

al_roethlisberger wrote:

I've pinched my fingers between two of those HDD magnets before and tore my skin right off!

Ouch!

watch yourself Al

Sooo..... I had dropped an email to the previous owner, asking them if the key had a key-ring on it, but unfortunately they didn't reply.

I had picked up some very high-test fishing line from a buddy, and had an old HDD magnet from work all ready to go, but just hadn't gotten around to "going fishing" for it.

Well, my turn signal flasher was acting up, so I removed the kick panel under the drivers dash area, and as soon as I unscrewed the three bolts and lowered the front lip of the black plastic panel.... the key was lying horizontally right there, like someone had laid it there. Funny.

No telling how it actually fell THERE versus the defroster vent story, but interesting.

As an aside, I am continually pleasantly surprised how well Buick tried to deaden sound and conceal wiring, etc on this car. That panel is HEAVY plastic with a foam deadening material on the back. There is no necessary reason to have this functionally, other than to keep the underside of the dash "clean" in appearance and to keep things quiet. Even my Olds Regency didn't have a panel covering the dash wiring, and my 95 Roadmaster doesn't either. Very nice.

Al