Pit of no return (evaporator duct) Golf Jetta MK5

How hard is to reach the bottom part of the central top duct where the evaporator is located?

I believe I dropped something in there but I can't get used to my endoscope camera.

I can easily dismantle the whole radio and hvac console.


And both bottom lateral plastic panels.

how small of an item is it? could you use a shopvac to suck it up?

Yes, it can be sucked. It's a small plastic piece.

But as I have no idea what is inside that duct I am afraid to damage something or suck something important :|

Attach tape to a hanger and go fishing or reduce a vacuum line hose attached to a smaller vacuum line to suck it up.

Thank you so much for your tips but without any light inside the duct or not knowing where to go it's like walking on a maze blindfolded.

I will try this approach only if it is impossible (or a PITA) to reach the duct from the bottom.

So, how hard is to reach the duct from the bottom?

(VW really enjoys building their cars around the Evaporator/Heater-Core/Central HVAC ducts.)

Well next time install tape over barriers you don't want stuff to fall into.

Jack@European_Parts said:

Well next time install tape over barriers you don't want stuff to fall into.

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I was being honest when thanking you for your tip

The part I am looking for is a broken plastic piece/clip from the top vent that broke and felt while I was removing the central top air vent.


So, using tape was impossible. I could close the flap but at the time I didn't even know what was below the vent.

I heard the clip falling so I dismantled the whole central console (Radio/HVAC) and those lateral bottom panels to get a good visual from below.

After that I found nothing... So, my next guess is that the clip felt of into the central HVAC duct.

That's why I said: "it's like walking on a maze blindfolded". Because I don't even know if the piece is there.

I didn't look immediately for the broken plastic piece/clip so it could even been shoved below the carpet (left or right side) while driving but my guess is that it is in the central HVAC duct.

To conclude, this is not only about the broken plastic piece/clip. I like to know how to dismantle cars because it helps on repairs. Leaving a car in the mechanic to replace the evaporator and in the process the mechanic breaks the entire dash is not my kind of repair.

This was the first time I looked closely to all the parts of the top vent dash assembled out of the car...

... and I realised that if the clip broke while removing the top air vent it is impossible for the broken piece to get into the duct because the duct is still attached to another inner part meaning that the only possible way to reach the duct is from the front central air vent.

So, maybe the broken piece is below the carpet.

Well before removing plastic parts such as this, the RTFB should be observed and I like to take a heat gun to make things a little more flexible when prying.

Ever consider your pry location was incorrect?

Use the force Vasco and feel for things.........it is not something a Wookie has or can do but in time a Jedi can be made if closing ones eyes and working blind with the feel or the force.

Jack@European_Parts said:

Ever consider your pry location was incorrect?

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Cast the first stone who never broke a plastic clip.

I break them on purpose....it isn't a mistake anymore.

Jack@European_Parts said:

I break them on purpose....it isn't a mistake anymore.

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Let me explain better.......Uwe just hit me with the paper look.....

Yup that's how I see it, because I take full responsibility when I break one too, so there is no other reason for me or anyone to blame.
It is part of the job, something's just are not going to come out nice & no matter what, in those situations I break them and just install new.

Sometimes "time" versus the pain of contortion or a rattle going forward, are just not worth it for me or ultimately the customer.

OP : That vent top there should be reinstalled with strip calk ........it doesn't rattle, it secures great and you can't see it & it is reversible.