I lost my engagement ring in the defrost vent, please help!
I lost my engagement ring in the defrost vent on the dash under the windshield of my car. I have already tried getting wire and feeling around for it, and I could not hear anything. I have looked with a flashlight, and cannot see anything either. I have disassembled the top vent cover , took a part off under the glove box, took out the glove box to check the A/C filter , none of which helped. I've also tried compressed air. Can someone please help give me advice? We cannot afford to pay hundreds or thousands of dollars for someone to take off the dash or take apart the car.. I am in tears
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
The good new is, your ring is still there, but unfortunately it is not easy to get to. Dash work can be some of the most challenging jobs to perform. If your ring fell into the vents on the driver side, it will be harder to get to, not that it is going to be easy. If it fell into the defroster vents on the passenger side, I would begin by removing the blower fan motor at the passengers feet. If your luck, the ring will fall through into that cavity. Use a small mirror to inspect all of the crevices.
For the vents on the driver side, I would begin by removing the upper dash cover. This may give you access to the defroster vent on both sides. If these two ideas don’t work, you will unfortunately have to disassemble the dash.
I am sorry for this challenge. Just remember, it’s not lost, you just can’t reach it yet. It’s a good story to tell in the future. If you check all of the parts I’ve mentioned and still can’t find it, have a certified mechanic help you out with the disassembly of your dash.
Good luck.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :
Front Windshield Defroster Fixes
Sometimes, turning on the defroster may also automatically activate the air conditioning. When a front defroster stops working, it`s usually a faulty switch or blend door if air comes out of the other vents or a bad blower motor if no air comes out of the vents.
Windshield defrosters blow air from the heating and ventilation system onto the windshield through vents at the forward edge of the dashboard. Most vehicles have a setting for directing all air to the windshield for maximum defrosting or splitting the air between the windshield and floor level.
First, find the timer in the refrigerator and put your screwdriver in the small gap below the timer. Next, turn the timer anticlockwise slowly until you hear a tick. After that, the fan will stop working, meaning that the defrost button has been reset.
Use a Vacuum: Take the hose of your vacuum and insert it as far as possible into the duct. Turn on the vacuum and move the nozzle around. Check the vacuum canister for your lost item. You can also try putting pantyhose around the vacuum opening and secure with a rubber band.
The blower motor is responsible for sending air through the vents of your car. Over time, blower motors can become damaged, or completely fail. In which case, air will no longer come out of your vents.
However it`s best to have your air recirculation turned off. The main downside of the air-recirculation button is that it traps humidity inside the car, which results in misted windscreens, especially when the air is cold outside and in wet weather.
Hot and dry air can hold much more water than cold and wet air, so the fastest way to defrost your windshield is to make the air around it as hot and dry as possible.
The big surprise about defrosters is the system that drives it… the air conditioner. It is your air conditioner that helps to get the moisture out of the air (and off the windshield). When you turn the defrost on, it`s your air conditioner that kicks in to help get all that moisture out.
Warm (not boiling) Water
If you pour warm water over your windscreen the ice will melt quickly and you can remove any excess slush with an ice scraper.
Defrost. There are usually two Defrost buttons. The trapezoidal shaped one is for the front windshield and invokes a strong blast of defrosting air. There may also be a Max Defrost button that diverts all resources to defrost and from the rest of the cabin.
What is the defrost setting on a microwave? Many microwaves have a defrost setting that lowers the appliance`s power between 20 to 30 percent. This allows the microwave to defrost food without cooking it, which allows you to thaw frozen food more quickly than in the fridge.
Dirty/Clogged/Old Filter
A clogged filter can cause a high-pitched whistling, loud thumping, or buzzing sound. It can also cause the AC to cycle on and off more frequently. If the cause is a bad filter, replacing it is simple and should result in quieter air vents.
More specifically, the high-pitched sound you can hear is usually a sign that your system is experiencing low return airflow. This happens when your air conditioner`s blower doesn`t have enough air reaching it and is trying to pull in more, increasing pressure and velocity.
A lost item can potentially block airflow, collect dust and debris, or even cause a smell of burning material if the object gets too close to the furnace.
A lost item can potentially block airflow, collect dust and debris, or even cause a smell of burning material if the object gets too close to the furnace.
Many times, wild animals, such as birds or even squirrels, enter your home in order to avoid the summer heat or stormy weather outside, and they end up becoming trapped inside. When a small animal becomes stuck, it most likely entered your home through one of the various vents or ducts of your HVAC system.
You can replace your vent covers with something more decorative to add flair to your space. You could also replace your existing covers during a renovation project to achieve a cleaner and more efficient look.
Many times, wild animals, such as birds or even squirrels, enter your home in order to avoid the summer heat or stormy weather outside, and they end up becoming trapped inside. When a small animal becomes stuck, it most likely entered your home through one of the various vents or ducts of your HVAC system.
Not only does it force your HVAC system to work harder—shortening its lifespan—but it also results in frozen air conditioning coils, overheated furnaces, cracked heat exchangers, and leaks in duct systems.
What Happens if Water Gets into My Vents? Air ducts are like the veins of your home; they transfer humid air and cooled air throughout the building to and from the HVAC and air vents. If there is water buildup in the ac unit, it will seriously compromise the home`s indoor air quality and overall safety.
Not only does it force your HVAC system to work harder—shortening its lifespan—but it also results in frozen air conditioning coils, overheated furnaces, cracked heat exchangers, and leaks in duct systems.
What Happens if Water Gets into My Vents? Air ducts are like the veins of your home; they transfer humid air and cooled air throughout the building to and from the HVAC and air vents. If there is water buildup in the ac unit, it will seriously compromise the home`s indoor air quality and overall safety.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
I lost my engagement ring in the defrost vent, please help!
ANSWER : The good new is, your ring is still there, but unfortunately it is not easy to get to. Dash work can be some of the most challenging jobs to perform. If your ring fell into the vents on the driver side, it will be harder to get to, not that it is going to be easy. If it fell into the defroster vents on the passenger side, I would begin by removing the blower fan motor at the passengers feet. If your luck, the ring will fall through into that cavity. Use a small mirror to inspect all of the crevices.
For the vents on the driver side, I would begin by removing the upper dash cover. This may give you access to the defroster vent on both sides. If these two ideas don’t work, you will unfortunately have to disassemble the dash.
I am sorry for this challenge. Just remember, it’s not lost, you just can’t reach it yet. It’s a good story to tell in the future. If you check all of the parts I’ve mentioned and still can’t find it, have a certified mechanic help you out with the disassembly of your dash.
Good luck.
Read Full Q/A … : I lost my engagement ring in the defrost vent, please help!
Problem with AC/heater – 2005 Ford Explorer
ANSWER : Hello. The problems you describe with the front system may either be a faulty control switch or faulty vacuum motors for the air blend doors. The problem in the rear is likely the rear heater control valve, which regulates the flow of hot coolant to the rear heater core and air duct system. The clicking noise may be a broken vacuum motor for that valve (integrated in the valve).
I would recommend having a certified mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, come to your location to perform an inspection of the heater and suggest the needed repairs.
Read Full Q/A … : I lost my engagement ring in the defrost vent, please help!
My AC is only blowing through the defrost vent and rear defrost doesn’t work.
ANSWER : Hi there. The blend doors on your vehicle are operated by a vacuum hose. Check the vacuum lines to the engine and see if any of them are broken, has a hole, or is disconnected. Check the vacuum hose on the blend door and see if it has came off or broke. For the rear defroster, check the switch to the defroster and make sure that it has power to it and power coming out. If there is no power to the switch, then check the fuses and see if any of them are blown. The rear defroster has a blend door that opens and closes that is electronically. If the fuse is blown, either the switch has failed or the blend door motor has failed. If you need further assistance with your vehicle, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you with your defroster vents not blowing air.
Read Full Q/A … : I lost my engagement ring in the defrost vent, please help!
Need help finding the name of the plastic ring that holds the shifter in place
ANSWER : Hi there. The part that you are looking to replace is called a shifter seal and there is also a shifter spacer. The spacer is the plastic ring that hold the shifter in place. The metal shifter seal is the thin wavy seal that goes on the top of the shifter. If you need further assistance with your vehicle, then seek out a professional, such as one from YourMechanic, to help you with your shifter to have this addressed.
Read Full Q/A … : I lost my engagement ring in the defrost vent, please help!
AC Blowing from vents and defrost
ANSWER : The air conditioner blend door is controlled by an electronic actuator and if the door is not in set position then you may have a defective actuator and need to replace it. The door operation should be in the manual mode to make sure the actuator is defective or there is a blend door stuck from something getting down in vent door. Sometimes a pen, paper clip, or pencil can fall in the defroster vent and can lodge in the door and not let it seal. If this is the case, then the evaporator case may need removed to get out the item out of the case door. I would have a professional scope out your AC system firsthand and determine what fixes will help.
Read Full Q/A … : I lost my engagement ring in the defrost vent, please help!
Hi Peter. Can you help me please. I have a 2002 Jeep liberty sport. I have owned this wonderful little truck for 10 yrs with littl
ANSWER : If you don’t periodically remove the spark plugs from the cylinder head (100,000 miles is typical), the plugs can essentially weld themselves to the aluminum head of the engine and then when you do belatedly service them, upon removal the spark plugs threads in the head will be damaged. So, there are actually a number of reasons why replacement of spark plugs is not optional. At 100,000 plus miles there is probably additional required maintenance, or at minimum inspections, that should be performed, too, in order for you to obtain the maximum useful service life from the vehicle. If you desire spark plug replacement, please use YourMechanic’s service page for spark plug replacement and the responding certified mechanic will get this taken care of for you and advise you as to other maintenance required on the vehicle. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.
Read Full Q/A … : I lost my engagement ring in the defrost vent, please help!
Can someone please describe the steps to changing the hose assembly and o rings on 2000 Ford Ranger?
ANSWER : Hi there. Trying to describe this process is very difficult on our platform, as imagery is best to help articulate some of the parts and tools used. It would be best for you to either search online for a video, or purchase a service and repair manual for your 2000 Ford Ranger. Best of luck.
Read Full Q/A … : I lost my engagement ring in the defrost vent, please help!
could it be the fuel pump please help… please
ANSWER : Hi there. Usually when a car has a hard time starting as you’ve described; it’s more related to ignition system issues as opposed to fuel flow. When a fuel pump is broken, it fails to deliver fuel – period. It’s possible that the fuel pump relay is faulty as well. Since there are several issues that could be causing your troubles, it’s probably best to have a professional mobile mechanic complete a car is hard to start inspection first; before guessing on an incorrect repair and spending bad money.
Read Full Q/A … : I lost my engagement ring in the defrost vent, please help!
