Glove box stuck

[buenhec]

Has anyone worked on their glove box. The two latches are stuck in the :in: position. It wont close. I have to pry them out with a screwdriver. I tried lubricating with silicone wd-40 (dont want oil smell).

Does anyone know how to take it apart and clean the mechanism or change the springs. I have have hardly even opened it in 5 years. BTW, since the extended warranty expired 4 months ago, my glove box failed, the rear coil springs feel super mushy, and I have replaced three door lock actuators. I only have 81k miles!

 

[mo_mo]

Sorry to hear about your dilemmas.

I played around with the glovebox a bit and the following is 100% conjecture. It seems the left and right latches are connected by something fairly rigid (you can't push the left side in without the right side going in at the same time). I'm thinking that each latch is on a rack with a spur gear in-between each rack. Then add a spring on one of the latches to return them to the closed (out) position. You probably have something broken and binding the rack and spur gear setup. I didn't see an easy way to pull the front and back panels off of the glovebox door. Please post your findings and good luck.

 

[rigtec]

"Has anyone worked on their glove box. The two latches are stuck in the :in: position..."

Hi buenhec,

I have never taken mine apart but I have had to replace my wife's 'Camery' glovebox latch assm. The original latch assembly broke (cheap plastic), so I ordered a glovebox door (from a wrecker) for the '04 Camery and replaced just the part she needed ($35 bucks), and may I say... I was her hero for the rest of that afternoon :kiss: hahaha!

This one will fit your truck; "Scroll down to see parts 8 and 9": GLOVE BOX.. Fits: Toyota 4Runner | Tri-State Toyota Scion $12 and $20 dollars. Best and

Cheers!

 

[dsurls]

Ever get it fixed?

I've got exactly the same problem with my 2010 Limited, and I searched and found this thread. Did you ever get the problem resolved? If so, any advice or help would be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks,

David

 

[junxion8]

I've got exactly the same problem with my 2010 Limited, and I searched and found this thread. Did you ever get the problem resolved? If so, any advice or help would be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks,

David

Also looking for this answer

 

[4Funnr]

I've been having the same problem off and on for the last few winters. Now the darn glove box just lays open and refuses to close.

Any solutions beside replacing the whole front panel at a shocking cost?

 

[4Funnr]

Here I am almost a year later and I have STILL not found a solution. This janky thing either stays open or opens on each bump and hits the passenger.

I can't believe it costs $600 for a new glove box assembly just because a $1 part is broken inside the lid door.

Please someone save me.

 

[hurttin]

Here is the fix for the glove box that falls open and will not close

All Credit goes to Richie Fekecs on YouTube, I do not know if he is a forum member on here but his fix works perfect

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ut0Gh9O7E5Y

I left my glove box installed and Measured 7 1/2inches in and slowly increased drill sizes, to finish it off I used a rubber firewall plug to cover the hole and prevent any debris from getting in

 

[4Funnr]

oh. my. god. Thank you for positing this solution. I cannot believe this is the cause of the problem and how easily fixed it is. Really regretting all the oil I squirted into this damn thing now! LoL

 

[1jzgte]

less scary approach.. drill the smallest hole that would allow a WD40 or your Favorite lube w/ straw attachment. And just give it a few squirts and press the plungers in and out until it loosens up.

 

[1000MPH]

Thanks for the fix! How did I never see this thread before? I fixed mine for now by moving to the Cali coast where it’s always warm.

 

[toycan]

I just did this on a 2010 4Runner, with the glovebox door attached to the vehicle. The glovebox latches have been sticking in every time it gets under about -5c, for a couple years.

The video is great. Just a couple details to fill in for anyone doing this:

I put painters tape near where I estimated the hole would go. Measure 7 5/8 inches from the left side of the glovebox door, looking down at the black inside piece, measured exactly where the left and right spring loaded door tabs come out. This is about 2/16 further to the right from the middle. And just slightly higher than half way from the middle on the raised piece where the mechanism is hiding below.

I used a punch to mark where the first small drill bit would start the hole, to prevent wandering on the plastic. Don't hammer/punch the door off the vehicle.

I worked up to a 3/16 bit to fit in a micro philips screwdriver. You'll probably need to work up to a 1/4 bit if you want to fit a standard philips screwdriver in there.

Pull the stuck locking tabs out, then loosen the screw a couple turns and check if the tabs still get stuck when you push them in. Pull them out and loosen a bit more until they don't get stuck when you push them in. Then slowly retighten the screw until the tabs just barely spring back on their own.

I think loosening this screw too much and losing it in the door would make for a bad afternoon.

Now to cover the hole with some rubber/plastic firewall plug.

 

[henley]

That’s frustrating, especially with several things failing around the same time. I’d be interested to hear if anyone has taken the glove box latch mechanism apart successfully.