Dropped a key down front window vents

[stevecornwall]

Hi

You know that feeling when something happens in slow motion and you shout "noooooooooooooooooo" that's what it felt like when a yale key sailed gracefully through the air and into the air vent in my van ....... I can't see it (craning neck/using camera/torch)  ... tried a magnet ... nothing (yet) just wondering where the "out" is for the vents - could the key drop all the way to the bottom and be retrievable ?

It's a 2017 CITROEN BERLINGO L1 625 LX BLUEHDI 100

Any advice and diagrams and slight ribbing gratefully received .

PS - Is the vent deliberately designed to accept objects ! 

[evdama]

Vacuum?
The key may be brass and just laugh at the magnet.
Might have got to the cabin filters under the dash in the footwell but that is a b to dismantle.

[Guanock]

Just forget it and get another key cut, it won't do any harm in the heater system.

Geoff

[Gryffindor]

Tip the van upside down and give it a good shake.

[Sol]

The vent pipes all go to the lowest point, the fan housing under the dashboard on the driver's side. You might get it back.....but may be more hassle than its worth! Go to http://www.catcar.info, select English language, Citroen, then put your VIN number in, go to the heating and ventilation section and the pipe layout will be revealed.

[evdama]

Tip the van upside down and give it a good shake.

Just turn up the stereo real loud 
Drown out the rattle

[Chris666]

Many years ago I placed £6 in coins onto the dash of my Saxo, the very next bend those coins disappeared like the cruellest episode of Tipping Point.

It was costly and I learned from it

[stevecornwall]

Great comments - thanks - will try tipping upside down

Magnet ordered , girding loins to tackle undoing stuff ....

[Zander]

I had this very problem with a fob for a barrier… I worked the heating vents and could hear it falling down the vents. It ended up at the bottom of the heating system. Had to strip the dash out (gear selector section, under the steering wheel, glove box) I took the time to change the pollen filter since I was there anyway! There’s a drip tray at the bottom of the matrix for the AC evaporator, Unscrew that and you can gain access to the flaps that control hot or cold. Mine was sitting the in against the AC evaporator. I could almost reach it but not quite… so In the end drilled a hole in the side of the box and put a magnet through. Got a bit of plastic from a bottle and glued in place, been fine ever since.
Recommend setting aside an afternoon for it as it might even stretch into the evening. 

Three tips: 1. there’s a bolt for the drip tray at the very back against the bulk head, very awkward. 
2. There’s a centre line dividing the passenger side from the drivers, so if you can’t see it on one side, it’ll be the other. 
3. BE CAREFUL OF THE HEATING LINKAGES. I accidentally broke mine and it was a pain real pain to fix.

[Vanneria]

Hi

You know that feeling when something happens in slow motion and you shout "noooooooooooooooooo" that's what it felt like when a yale key sailed gracefully through the air and into the air vent in my van ....... I can't see it (craning neck/using camera/torch)  ... tried a magnet ... nothing (yet) just wondering where the "out" is for the vents - could the key drop all the way to the bottom and be retrievable ?

It's a 2017 CITROEN BERLINGO L1 625 LX BLUEHDI 100

Any advice and diagrams and slight ribbing gratefully received .

PS - Is the vent deliberately designed to accept objects ! 


I've a DEPSTECH borescope, you can attach a magnetic attachment to the camera. I've used it for retrieving screws, bolts, nuts etc. But is it worth the 100 quid outlay or is cutting a new key cheaper?