I can't open the glove box

[dagoban]

I have a problem: the glove box lock is broken and because of that it's imposible to open the glove box. I can't run the car because the previous owner installed an electrical switch to start the engine of the car inside it . Does anybody know a solution?

Thank you very much

[murran]

I can't run the car because the previous owner installed an electrical switch to start the engine of the car inside it .

your joking! right?

what can you do? buy a gun and shoot the previous owner in the foot??

put your head under the dash and look for the wiring going to this switch pull it out and join it together or something?

what exactly did the switch do? (ignition/starter circuit?) besides show the lack of intelegence of the previous owner?!

[--ALPINA--]

shove your coconut under the gloovebox and unbolt the screws, let the the glovebox drop and slip your paws from underneath and use 2 screwdrivers to prise the locks open, ive done this many times on E30 models and are similar... failing that get your self another glovebox and ripp the old glovebox out.. and a new lock with a new set of keys, then take the old glovebox to the previous owner and konk it on his head thus causing major damage to his pulp and sorted!


j

[dagoban]

shove your coconut under the gloovebox and unbolt the screws, let the the glovebox drop and slip your paws from underneath and use 2 screwdrivers to prise the locks open, ive done this many times on E30 models and are similar... failing that get your self another glovebox and ripp the old glovebox out.. and a new lock with a new set of keys, then take the old glovebox to the previous owner and konk it on his head thus causing major damage to his pulp and sorted!


j

Thank you, at the end I solved the problem following your indications.

The problem was that one metal piece was broken.

I took some pictures.

[pistonheader]

congrats. the car lives another day then bit silly having the switch in there. although i suppose it will help prevent people stealing the car!

[tommi_e21]

i think you should scissor kick the previous owner in the face!

[petroscf]

What is more, it is the least clever idea to put such a switch there...The 1st place I would think of looking at for such a kind of "simple immobilizer", if I was to steal a car, would be inside the glovebox...

[irishe21]

My glove box is stuck closed today too, ill be heading up to the garage today and trying that unstewing option. Fingers crossed it works and thanks for saving me creating a new thread!

[Jeroen]

Yup, undo the screws at the back of the glovebox, then the box will drop enabling you to either pry it open or undo the two screws of the metal strip the lock goes into. Usually you can reach those as well. In both cases you'll be able to remove the glovebox without too much hassle, and without damage.

[Jay C]

Gutted!

I had mine fail to open when shut and prised and then hack-sawed the lock off! I now need a new glove compatment..... It's been 'gaping' open for bloody ages...

[irishe21]

That worked a treat! Thanks

Only thing is you really have to get your head right in the back to get the three back bolts then the one on the swing arm. Then I reached in with a pliers to undo the lock as the little latch had snapped off the opening mechanism! These threads are a great resource! Have to search the breakers for a new one now. Will an e30 lock work? There seems to be alot more of them around Ireland than e21's

[Jeroen]

Great! That latch breaking is the cause of 99% of the failures. Good you were able to open it up again, and as an alternative I believe undoing the two phillips screws holding the metal bracket (the one the latch goes into) works as well. Haven't had a failing glovebox for ages (knocking on wood) but I believe that's how I used to open them.