1995, 3.8L, SW, EATC climate control

Good evening gents and the few brave ladies. I will not go into the embarrassing details, but something fell into the center dash/panel vent register and has slid all the way down into the inner bowels of the hvac box. I have tried to retrieve it with a mechanics magnet and grabber claw with no success. The object is a stainless steel thermometer that I was using to monitor the ac cold air. Contrary to the myth we have learned as children, there are some stainless steels that are magnetically attracted and I think this one is too.

Anyway, I was hoping someone might already know if there is a slick way for me to get at it without pulling the whole dash apart, etc., etc. Been there done that with the EATC electric blend door motor, which I hope hasn't been ruined again, this time due to mine and not Ford's stupidity. I don't really want to cut into the case as I don't want to cut in the wrong place, etc., etc. Since I've pulled the dash before, I'd rather do that first.

As it is now, I can get just a little heat to the windshield defrost, less to the dash vents and none to the floor heat. There is no problem directing the airflow, just the amount of heat. I do not hear the classic clicking sound from the heat blend door motor when the teeth strip, so I think that's ok........so far. With our latest below freezing temps during the day, it's no longer somewhat tolerable.... although it's nothing like riding a bull (you know, Taurus) in the winter like it used to be. :rofl: :loser: :crying:

After more consideration and no responses from our "ole reliable" and the masses, I believe I may be able to access what I want by removing the center floor register. Can anyone confirm or deny this, done it, pictures of this? What I've looked at is of no help. I'm hoping I can remove it without having to take the dash off , the grill, the tires,...... :banghead::banghead::banghead:

Thanks for your help!

Since you already tried the mechanic's magnet, I'm trusting what you dropped in there is ferrous. Maybe you can get some of those super strong rare earth magnets, place the magnet on the accessible side of the plastic, listen/feel for the magnet to "grab" the item, then slide it carefully over to the floor register. The trick will be getting it past the blend door. Who knows where it may have gone once it slide down the dash vents.

Do you happen to have access to a small borescope so you can go looking for it?

-Rod