You know those little transponders you need to get into the parking lot at work (or a gated community or whatever)?

I went in through a different gate that has the sensor on the other side of the driveway than the gate I usually use. It didn't pick up the transponder where I had it, so I waved the transponder out the window and the gate went up. I then tossed the transponder onto the dash to pull on through and... the transponder was gone.

My transponder had slipped between the dash and the windshield, and I can just see the edge of it if I press down on the plastic of the dash hard enough. All I had that could get in the gap was a chopstick -- but I couldn't successfully wiggle the transponder out. (The chopstick eventually slipped from my fingers and is now stuck in the gap, too!)

Any ideas on how I can get this essential item (and the not-so-essential chopstick) out of there?

All help is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

*edit*: 2002 Accord


Modified by MinistrOfJustiz at 8:16 PM 9/29/2008

 

The pass is probably under the dashboard stuck in the insulation. Poke around and you should find it.

 

As in, down by the footwell? I'm not sure what insulation you mean. I don't mess with the interior of cars much, I just poke around under the hood.

 

The firewall has carpet pad like insulation under the dash on the firewall. Go under there with a flashlight and pull it back and look up into the dash, you'd be surprised how much space is in there.

 

cant pick it out with a small pair of bent needle nose pliers?

And for future refrence, chop sticks are for food only, not workin on cars, lol

 

Simple, just pull the dash and retrieve your items. The dash is not that hard to pull off.

 

use a pair of chopsticks to grab it and remove it. takes about 2 seconds Danielson

 

Alas, there in the parking lot, the chopstick was the only thing I had. (The other one had been stuck in my wife's hair at some point.)

Everything seems to have moved down a bit with the vibration and all of driving home, so it looks like I'm going to have to go your route, RedneckDave.

How do I get the dash off? As I mentioned, I'm more of an engine guy -- I have never messed with anything inside the cabin except changing a blown fuse!