My fiance got mad at me and throw her $15000 diamond ring in my 2000 Maxima GLE and the damn thing bounced around and found its way into the driver side defrost vent of the front windshield! I'm talking about the vents immidiatly under the windshield.I've tried everything! I have removed most things in the front panel but no luck yet. I think I need to remove the entire dashboard and look into the vents! but I cant figure out how to get the thing out. Can someone please help me get the dash out? Is there another way to get into the vents? Where do they go anyways? Please help me I'm desperate!

 

Your not talking about the front vents right next to the windshield?! Those lead to the outer part of the firewall into a big crack which is nearly impossiable to get to.... You will have to dremal it if it went far enough in....

 

That is what I'm talking about! How do I dismantle it? What Do I dremal? The way I see it the car is only worth a few thousand dollars with 170,000 miles. I'll do anyhting to get the ring out!

 

Holy crap. This is the best thing I've read on here.

Good luck.

 

Seriously man, rethink the engagement. I know you'll curse and swear at me, but just think what's best for you.

 

Subscribing

 

oh **** dude.. that sucks man. I agree with KeithD, if she cared she would have never thrown that ring in the first place. There is a way to take the dash out but i have never done it. I mean there have been people on the org who have sold an entire dash assembly.

I dunt know if this will work but try checking the Air cabin filter. It might be in front of there because doesnt the air have to filter out before it goes through the vents? Can anyone confirm this? Or is this just for the main 4 vents on the dash? The ring might have fell through but the in-cabin filter might have stopped it. Its worth a try man..

 

hope you introduced her to chief slapahoe!

sorry to hear it, that's intense

 

Try posting here and see if anyone can help. Maybe check the 'sticky's' for some how-to-info.

http://forums.maxima.org/forumdisplay.php?f=10

Swee

 

i think you got a lot of thinking to do my man

Good lucking with locating the ring dont want to let 15K down the vent just like that.

 

Download the FSM from www.phatg20.com
It will tell you how to take apart the dash and w/e AC components you need to.

 

Well, good luck.

I guess you car is worth alot more now?

 

Kevlo
That phatg20 site you are talking about looks nothing more than an advertising site. Am I missing something hear? How would I find a FSM there?

 

Ashvin,

PM "nsnrider". He is parting out a 2000 SE and I know that he got the dash out somehow. Ask him how he got it out, im sure he would help you out. Good luck with it man.

 

That's too bad about the ring. I say let HER figure out how to get it out. If she can't/won't tell her the engagement is off. Then you can get it out and take it back for a refund. Dayam...a 15K ring? Wish I had kind of $$.

 

here is a more accurate link:
http://www.phatg20.net/modules.php?n...ownload&cid=73

scroll down to the 2000 one...its a .rar file so u might need a special program to open it....so here it is:
http://www.rarlab.com/download.htm
good luck

 

Damn man that suck *****. I hope you get that crap back and drop the women, if she had cared she would have never thrown that ring.

 

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=507246

 

This is sad, but funny at the same time.

Good luck tearing your car apart for that. You might as well install a new heater core while you are at it.

 

holy crap that sucks.. what are the chances of that ring getting in there? she must have been real P.O.ed to throw a 15k ring. has she at least apologized?

good luck though man.

 

your car just went up 15k in value... jk

that sux, hope you are able to find that ring. GL.

 

Dont sweat it bro..im sure youve been wanting a new ride. So just take it and do a dealer trade for a new MAX..or whatever you want. youre sure to get at least 18 grand for it now..but dont forget to give her a for good measure!

 

Oh my bad. I forgot it was .net

 

Pull the windsheild is much easier. or break your windshield and get it replaced thru insurance and when he pulls the winshield then you can look down and get the ring.
If not I think the defroster goes down inside the firewall... but Iam not 100% sure.

 

^^^^Damn that sig is annoying!!! ^^^^

 

Heh.. no foolin. If she wants the ring, tell HER to get it out.
If she doesn't, then boot her *** to the curb and don't look back.

If I was a chick and a dood bought me a $15k ring, I'd **** all over myself.

 

And FYI, the defrost vents go nowhere near the firewall or under the hood. it's all a bunch of plastic ductwork under the dash. it's a royal PITA to get out, but can be done in a weekend with regular hand tools.

you have to pull the center console first, then rip apart the glovebox, stereo/AC area and gauge cluster, then you can start removing the dashboard. once you get that out, you've still got several hours of removal to get to the defroster vents, but you can eventually get to it without doing any real damage.

Just remember.. you KNOW it's in there.. so don't give up till you find it.

 

Thats crazy..Good Luck and Hope you find it.

 

Thanks to almost everybody for the helpfull input! (smart *** comments not exactly funny right now, I'm sure I'll be rolling on the ground once I get the thing out, but try to resist and save them for now please!)
AS for progress, I'm one step away from getting the dash out! I need to get a Tamper Proof T50 Torx rench to remove the passenger side airbag and then it should come out.
I've been studying the FSM of the heating and cooling system and Matt is right the DEF vents DON"T GO INTO THE FIREWALL!
Once I get the damn dash out tonight the search is on!
Thanks guys!
Ash

 

Way too jump in with both feet. Keep us up to date.

 

This made it to the G35Driver forums.

Good luck getting the ring. I like the "break the windshield" idea personally, if you can't get to it by taking the dash out.

Oh, and do yourself a favor...get rid of that girl. No matter how mad she might be, once you take off the ring and throw it at the other person, that's symbolic - she just told you "it's over". Read the signs and move on. She just dealt you the ULTIMATE slap in the face. I doubt your relationship will last long if she has a temper like that.

Good luck

 

You bought her a FIFTEEN THOUSAND DOLLAR RING?

 

I'll be the first to ask...what exactly was she so mad about?

 

Oh good question....I'm feelin' nosy.

 

Ha I can't believe some of you said get rid of the girl because of this. Clearly proves you guys don't know women too well

 

I'm a n00b in relationships and I think it would be safe to assume that throwing a FIFTEEN THOUSAND DOLLAR ENGAGEMENT RING at your to-be spouse is ummm quite a sign of non-appreciation. That's just my opinion though.

 

good luck man. this is like the saddest thread evar.

 

She through it in a car. You guys act like she threw it in the garbage disposal or over a bridge.

 

hell yea man!WTF

 

clearly your wife/gf wears the pants in your house