Help! Diamond ring disappeared between drivers seat and center console!

[Martymcmarty]

Update:
Lost wedding ring between drivers seat and center console
We removed the 4 bolts to the drivers seat with a body shop’s 15mm (5/8inch) impact driver. A standard impact driver and a long lever arm socket wrench were tried without success.

We tilted the seat back, removed a black solid plastic grate and a module in the way, revealing a large potential space, before seeing and recovering the ring. We replaced the bolts using lock tight and the heavy impact wrench again. With two people it took 15 mins. We ordered a pair of universal car seat gap fillers from Amazon and will try to keep our wedding bands on our fingers.

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[moosehead]

Sooooo, no divorce @Martymcmarty?

 

[KY Serenity]

The gap fillers from Amazon described previously are nice but do not conform to the gap as nicely as the Drop Stop. These soft pads alter their shape to more fully seal the gap between the seat and the console.

 

[Whale Blubber]

The gap fillers from Amazon described previously are nice but do not conform to the gap as nicely as the Drop Stop. These soft pads alter their shape to more fully seal the gap between the seat and the console.

I've got these and they work well, but in my experience the automatic movement of the driver's seat when switching to/from park cause that side to slip out of place unless I hold onto the end of it with my hand while the seat moves.

 

[Chewy734]

I lost an opened Jolly Rancher once, and found it in tact a few weeks later… so there is hope. ?

 

[flameshretoos]

Attach a thin hose or sock to the end of the vacuum cleaner. Gently vacuum the area around the crevice. Sometimes it helps to pull the ring back out without pushing it in. If you have a flexible gripping tool (often used to reach small objects), it can be a great option for fishing out the ring. If you can't find one, a salt and pepper wedding ring https://bravermanoren.com/collections/salt-and-pepper-diamond-wedding-ring would be a great substitute. A new purchase always lifts your spirits)

 

[robd]

I couldn’t have guessed that my first post on these forums would be to thank everyone here and on Reddit for information on how to find and retrieve a missing ring. We were about 24 hours into ownership when my wife’s ring fell into the abyss.

We were on a road trip picking up the R1T so after getting home we unbolted the passenger seat, removed the plastic panel on the floor and with an endoscope located and retrieved the ring.

My only tip (can’t recall if it was said above, is to tilt the seat back forward so that the entire seat tips farther back giving you more access. Also, don’t be discouraged when you first try to unbolt the seat with a small socket wrench. The bolts are really torqued tight - I needed a breaker bar to loosen them.

Big thanks to everyone who posted about this!

Edit: added a photo of the raised seat and plastic panel

 

[tps5352]

I accidentally dropped my ring between the driver's seat and the center console. In trying to retrieve it I pushed it further into a crevice where the carpet actually splits. Anyone have any ideas on how I might get it? Or does anyone know how to remove the seat?

I haven't read all responses, so this idea may have already been mentioned?

*****​

Every once in awhile a cheap item, purchased on Amazon or eBay, turns out to be the best.

Having dropped all kinds of stuff between the front driver's car seat and center console in another car, when I got my Tesla Model X in 2021 I purchased two of these on eBay (sold as a pair):

Drop-Stop* Gap Filler Cushion​

They are nothing more than a very simple sewn cushion (outer artificial leather; inner fabric batting of some kind) that have slots to fit over the safety-belt lock and fit between the seat edge and center console.

Works great! Black color, so matches 70% of car seats. Fills the hap. Food, coins, keys, pens--nothing falls between the seat and console anymore.

Totally removable. Soft and flexible; they expand or contract somewhat to fit the average gap.

Only complaints? The leatherette material squeaks against the seat or console material when the seat slides forward or backwards. However, I don't even notice it anymore. It may be good--like an OSHA beeping safety alarm when a truck backs up?

On newer ones they may have changed materials to stop this? If you know someone clever with a sewing machine, these would be easy to fabricate out of cloth and batting.

They appear to still be available on eBay. No more lost jewelry.

Probably a good idea to measure the R1 gap first and check before purchasing.

Disclaimer: I am not associated with this or any company selling these things. Just a satisfied customer.
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* I can't be sure it was the actual Drop-Stop brand. Might have been another kind? Whatever; it works. (Maybe I'll check tomorrow and see if there is a tag?) Box is long-gone.

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