73 Glove Box Wont Open

[Blue Baron]

Please help! My glove box door wont open. Worked fine until this morning. It is unlocked and I can feel spring tension on the doorknob when I turn it, but something isn't working right. Any ideas for getting inside? Thanks!

[jac1976]

No expert here, but a few things to look at.

There is a retainer clip on the left bottom corner of the door to prevent the door from swinging all the way open. I doubt this is the culprit as I am uncertain that its shifting would prevent the door from opening, but may be worth a look.

The locking mechanism/tumbler can rotate with the knob if the collar nut is not tight enough. So when you turn the knob, although you may feel the "spring tension," the mechanism may not be fully opening. I would try turning slightly more than usual or than you are accustomed to and maybe moving the knob/door up and down in the vertical plane. Once open, make sure the collar nut is tightened.

You may also be able to access from the frunk, but the bolt from the lock rests in a recess and not through a hole. It is difficult to explain without pics, but if you imagine the lock on your front door where the lock bolt sits within a plate on the door frame when locked, your glove box lock bolt sits within a recess. I only point this out because you might otherwise be able to reach through the frunk and push the bolt out of the plate to unlock...that is, of course, if that is the actual problem.

Verbose, I know. Hope this helps or at least sparks some better advice from the forum.

[javadog]

Originally Posted by jac1976

You may also be able to access from the frunk,

No, you can't access it from the trunk (not a frunk, a Trunk. TRUNK! TRUNK! TRUNK! ).

Worst case, if you can't get in by playing with the lock, you can always cut a hole in the cardboard piece that forms the body of the glovebox to gain access to the back side of the latch mechanism and then replace it with a new one. Or, maybe a good used one, if the price has gone up since the last time I bought one. Look up the current price, first...

JR

[jac1976]

Perhaps there is no where else to piss in your house other than your cereal bowl?

[javadog]

Actually, I prefer to water an oak tree in my back yard, when I let the dogs out.

JR

[jac1976]

Using an oak tree in the front yard would make more of a statement.

[RSBob]

A trunk with funk is definitely a frunk. I just want to see if you will throw another tantrum. ��

[996 esquire]

On my 73, I drilled two 1/2" holes in the bottom of the box - one for a light, and the other for a long screwdriver. With a little patience and gently manipulation, you can slide the plastic locking tang back into the lock and open the door. Being somewhat anal about the holes, I was able to source another mousehair box from a salvage yard for $25.
Bill K

[Sunroof]

here is something off the wall!!
in my 1973 glove box, it was jamming against the light below and to the left of the glove box that came loose. The knob turned but the door would not open. Take a look and make sure the light is not loose in the housing.

Bob
73.5T

[Blue Baron]

Thanks for all of your suggestions. I'm still locked out. There appears to be a strap holding the glovebox in place. Maybe if I cut that strap I can remove the box from behind the locked door?

[javadog]

Yes, you could cut the strap. It is held in place with a screw that is covered by the door when the door is closed. So, if the cost of a strap is less than the cost of the cardboard "glovebox" then maybe that's the way to go.

JR

[RSBob]

Look carefully at the strap where it goes under the door and see if you can see a screw head - it may be tough to see - or - on my other cars, the screw was located at the back of the box. Do some hunting before cutting.

[Blue Baron]

I can see the screw, but only the "wrong end" of it.

[Jerome74911S]

If I remember properly, the strap that holds the box in place is welded to the body on one end, so replacing it would obviously involve some welding.

I cut mine to get the box off and fix the latch, then re-connected it by overlapping and riveting the cut ends together. I don't like this solution, but it works and was expedient at the time.