Removing ballpoint pen from defroster vent.

[ryan roopnarine]

if its movement is periodic, ie, it moves from side to side without falling down some other oriface, may i suggest a method that has worked OK for me. i carry the metal and magnetic grabbers that people upthread mention in my toolbox in my trunk, and would suggest trying those first. if you can't get one of those, take a length of moderately large diameter vacuum hose, longer in length than the dash so that it can't fall down the hole like the pen hook it up to a shopvac or other substantial source of suction by reducing with duct tape, et cetera. stick it in there, and put a decent length inward until you achieve contact. repeat the contact process until you can acquire it visually, and use a stick with a blob of tape to finish things up and pull the pen out. perhaps this will be helpful to you in some way.

[ryan roopnarine]

come to think of it......you could just put some adhesive on a piece of long vacuum hose, and insert/remove until it sticks.

[John D]

Or just spray some adhesive in the vent and go around a corner to make it stick - No more rattle! But probably won't get any more fries either...... Actually just try the coathanger with some good tape reversed.

[Dan in NZ]

I quite like the idea of spraying the vent full of adhesive to stop it rattling...

What almost worked: another ballpoint pen, with a big blob of blu-tac (sticky clay stuff for putting up posters etc). Theory was to push the blob betwen the two pens and draw the vent one out... However, the angle of pen #2 was too acute to stick down the vent. Will re-attempt tomorrow with a bent coathanger and said blu-tac...

[George M]

a twist on Ryan's suggestion....take a moderately powerful vacuum....probably could use a good portable vac and attach a small diameter plastic hose to the end...fashion an attachment with duct tape to the vacuum hose. Insert the small diameter long hose down the defroster vent. Believer this method would be more effective than using either a super magnetic which will tend to stick to adjacent metal and/or have better pick up capability than gumbo on a stick or coat hanger.
Good Luck,
George

[1992 BMW 535i]

How about taking a straw with some gum on the end and pulling it out that way?

[1992 BMW 535i]

Gee Dan, everybody knows you just turn the car upside down and shake.....=)

HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

[1992 BMW 535i]

I could lend you my high-school sweetheart, man I bet she could.....get that thing out of there. Talk about suction! Phew!

[George M]

I thought Don Gale was my evil twin separated at birth....maybe we were tripletts.
:-)
George

[1992 BMW 535i]

Hahahaha! Which one is Don?

Marc