I attempted to use the lock and it locked fine, but my near 20 year old key is so worn, it doesn't really unlock without some persuasion and banging.

I'm about to go get a new key made off the vin to solve this as it may help with the door locks, too in an emergency.


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I never lock my glove box. If someone has broken into your car a little flimsy lock like that won't stop them. They'll damage your dashboard to see what you felt was worth locking up.

Just FYI
I needed a new key cut for my Gen4. The locksmith cut a plain key and tried it in the locks before he cut a key with the engine immobilizer, in case he didn't get it right. He gave me the key and I keep it in my pocket. It's small, like a quarter, but it will do everything except start the car. It will crank it, but it won't start. I have hidden the courtesy key inside the car. If I ever lose a key when I'm out I just use the plain key to open the car and get the hidden key. It's also handy when I don't have the real key and you need to get in the car for something.

The glove box lock is just meant give you some privacy when you leave your car with a valet or shop or something. Basically just to "keep honest people honest," not stop anyone determined. The "valet key" will unlock the doors and start the engine, but doesn't work on the glove box.

...and that's why I have no idea how well my key works in the glove box - I park my 275k mile 4runner myself and don't keep anything so valuable in it that I have to lock it up.

I agree with what you say, but valet parking or not, I don't think it's wise to put anything of value in there. Those locks are probably easy to open and the valet key can be filed to allow entry. I asked a locksmith about it and he said it's one extra notch on the key that you can file off. I don't know if it's the same one for every key, but he said it wasn't difficult. Many years ago I had someone pry open a glove box and took my camera; lesson learned.

Like I said, it just keeps honest people honest. Filing the key takes time, they have to make it match the original key and the depth of that last cut is different for each key. They'd need to sit in the car and keep testing the key each time they file a little off.

Most valets don't have time to file a key, but they have time to grab a $20 bill out of your center console or ash tray or where ever. And it would probably take you longer to notice the $20 missing than it would take to notice the glove box being broken or your key filed.