Glove Box Knob Not Working

[gank4]

I have a '74 911 Carerra and the glove box has stuck closed. I just put a lottery ticket in there, it was all working fine, now I can't open it.

The knob twists as normal and springs back but it just won't open. I have tried to force it with a paint scraper but not to the point were I could damage it.

Has anyone had this trouble in the past? I just want to check the lottery ticket. I might have won!

Tim

[kens_74_911s]

My 74 911 is in the same condition. Put a new lock knob on it. It worked a few times, now I am locked out. I just left it but will be looking to get it open. The hinge is welded on place. I tried to tap the hinge pin out but its pretty small dia. I may need to grind the hinge end on one side (it may be staked). Thought about trying to remove the band clamp that holds the box portion. I just didn't get under the dash yet, but think that may be a solution.

[gank4]

Thanks Ken,

I thought i might be able to drill out the centre of the lock and somhow open it that way. Then just replace the lock. They are about $150.

Tim

[kens_74_911s]

Tim, I was able to get mine open this morning. I do not have the lower dash panel installed so was able to get at the hinge area. I thought the hinge was welded on but it is not. Saw two flush metal buttons I thought they were blind rivets and ground the heads off only to find they are weld studs so there are actually small washer spacer and nuts I could have removed. Anyway it still didn't pull free. I figured maybe some spot welds and went to pry under the RT side weld stud. I could see the stud break free but the hinge was still attached. I ended up bending the lower portion of the hinge and the door popped open. (I think that action shifted the door to the right slightly) I was able to hammer back the hinge to straighten it. The hinge has two additional screws holding it that can only be accessed when the door is open. Also the band clamp is secured from inside the glove box when the door is open.

If mine did not open I was looking at putting a hacksaw blade to the back of the screw holding the band clamp making a slot for a flat blade screwdriver then unscrew the screw from the back side. The screw won't be able to push out but the clamp would be able to back off of the screw. A small blade screwdriver would finish it off. Once the clamp is off you can pull the glove box body and put something up in latch area to help push the lock tab in enough to open it.

One thing I found on mine is the alignment seems a bit off like the hole in the lid is slightly shifted to the left. I don't have a locking knob and that the latch paw was on left side so to release it had to be flush retracted and the mechanism does not go full flush (mine didn't) . I flipped the latch knob 180 so the locking paw is on the right side (more of a gap where it locks in body) and it works fine .

I considered adjusting the door, but its aligned well just seems to be a mismatch in the lid VS receiver hole. Do have to look into re attaching the front pad if I keep it.

Another way to get that band clamp out would be (after lower dash -pad is removed) to locate the band clamp screw from the bottom it’s about 2"in from Rt. side of hinge. Looks centered on the 3rd hinge leaf.

Then right above the hinge body drill a hole about 5/16 dia. through one wall of the hinge to access the band clamp screw (when the trim is re installed you won't see the hole)

You would see it on the glove box door but should not be to noticeable, if it ever happened again you would have a solution.

[Jerome74911S]

Note to anybody: If you remove the glovebox nob and then reinstall it flipped left-to-right, it will turn, etc., but not open.

I learned this the hard way. I cut the strap that holds the glovebox's box in place (under dash), removed the box, then was able to remove and reposition the knob correctly. I riveted the strap back together.

[kens_74_911s]

I took a look at that strap and thought the same thing cut it. I guess I lucked out . The removal of the underside right weld stud and pounding a flat blade screw driver between the hinge and dash tweeked the lid to the right enough to let the catch release. My first thought after it opened was to sand the plastic latch paw down a bit, but flipping the lock 180 (latch to the right) seems to have the trick. Tim, Thanks for the post it got me motivated to get this task off my list of things to do.

[Norm Faustino]

OK Ken, enough with the suspense already... DID YOU WIN???? After all, this thread started because of a lottery ticket.

[kens_74_911s]

It was Gank4 , Tim that started the thread after that ticket. He got me modivated to finaly spend some time to get mine open, and I posted how I solved it. I did find my 2007 registration papers in there, Wow has it been that long ...

Once he gets in I am hoping we split the winnings from the golden ticket and get invited to the Wonka factory.

[gank4]

Thanks guys. I have to get to work now but I'll try this on the weekend. I've been watching the news and there has been no unclaimed millions so I'm not getting my hopes up

Tim

[gank4]

Thanks Ken, I managed to find time to get to this job. I did it just how you suggested and it all went fine. The knob itself is stuffed as the tongue won't retract. Guess I'll have to order another. The lotto ticket was a dud.

By the way, why have you got that bumper sticker in the glove box and not on the outside?

Tim