Stinkin PITA glove box latch

[graphikg]

I have searched but I need to find the best way to handle this. My glove box is stuck shut and wont open, and the latch has broken. I guess this makes time for a dash overhaul huh? At this point, I am willing to just rip thru the glove box and get another dash and glove box. But how do you open this damn thing?

[Jean]

Try and PUSH UP on the glove box with your knees and open it, if it doesn't work you can try and get the 3 REAR nuts for it's flange. Last resort is to just brake the latch into pieces with a screwdriver/hammer from the front, you can do it w/o damaging the glovebox itself.

[PeaveyBassist]

Its a pain...BUT... take the 3 nuts off the hinge in the back of it that attach to the firewall. Then youll need a flashlight and a phillips screwdriver. You will have to lay down in the floorboard and pull the glovebox down as far as possible so you can get your head up in there along with a flashlight and screwdriver. Then unscrew the 2 screws that hold the latch on the glovebox. Either that, or if you can, reach your arm up in there as far as possible without sticking your head back there and see if you can undo the latch that way. Hopefully that makes sense... If that doesnt work, Take a hammer and blow the glovebox apart. THEN undo the 2 phillips screws and buy a new glovebox/latch!

[thedeal]

Same thing happened to me. It took some finagling but i was eventually able to pry it open with a special lever and working the key in the handle just right. I was able to safely pry it open w/o damaging the glove box or the dash. Patience will persevere.

[graphikg]

Hopefully this happens only once every 21 years.

[mitch500]

1.unscrew 3 screws in the back by the fire wall
2.pull down quite hard
3. start pulling down on the front of the box by the latch.
4. you will see 2 other screws hiding in the crack.
5. keep pulling and bending the mettle tab the latch clips into..
6. once you see a little of the latch teeth that lock your box closed pinch them in.!
7. finished, done it about 4 times now

[learningcurve86]

I had to do this over the summer.. not fun to go in through the back, but once you get in it, its not too bad. better than some e30 jobs...

[Drewdown]

Sorry to bump an old thread, but I just had this happen.

So if the latch is stuck then that means its garbage? No chance of a rebuild?

[delatlanta1281]

Not really, you can split the latch in half once you get it off. The backs are usually the ones to go. Just get a good back and put the mechanism back together on the glove box.

[Drewdown]

Not really, you can split the latch in half once you get it off. The backs are usually the ones to go. Just get a good back and put the mechanism back together on the glove box.

damn, and I just replaced the latch last year when I got the car. When I got it there was no glovebox latch... probably for this exact reason.

How often do these things break

[MoparJ]

Mine used to get stuck all the time. I just opened the passenger door and slapped the shit out of the side of the glove box while pulling on the latch, and it opened every time.

Annoying, but it worked until I finally found another latch.

[noE30]

Ive broken 3 latches, I hate those fuckers. It's actually currently broke now that I think about it.

[CR325IS]

I need to do this bc I just bought a new car (88ix) and for all I know there could be gold inside the glovebox. It is broken and I haven't tried breaking into it yet but need to tomorrow. Thanks I'll let you know ifs need any other assistance.

[CR325IS]

Hopefully this happens only once every 21 years.

love this lmao