jammed glove box question

[jaywish]

The box release on the 89 is jamed. only one of the two release buttons will depress.

I will start futzing later today. I seem to remember that the latch mechanism hooks to a u shaped rod bolted directly to the whole dash panel. So if i pop that, the dash is then broken and I would be somewhat screwed. Though I could be thinking of some other car.

I hope the latch mechanism just kind of wiggles out from whatever is stuck in there if I remove the bottom bolts but I am not sure how much I can force it before breaking something big like the dash board.

Anyone have a pic handy?

Thanks,
Jay

[jaywish]

Well I loosened the botom screws. Got my hand up in there jiggled things around and no go. There does not appear to be any object (foreign or otherwise) stuck in the works.

So if anyone can get pics of how it all looks that might help me to recognise what i feel in there and plan how to release it.

Also I looked in the service manual and could not find a picture of the mechanism.

[miamibob]

On a '87 GM IIRC there is a "C" clamp that pulls down from the bottom to release the whole lock. Don't remember any screws holding anything together hence you not finding much. Hope this helps!! Bobby

[gadget73]

its a C clip, but you need to get it to release first. You can probably take the hinge screws out of the bottom of the box door and slide the whole door straight down to get it to pop out of the bottom of the latch. Failing that, you may be able to rotate it somewhat to get the latch at a diagonal relative to the catch and pop it that way. The catch just screws in, so if that gets broken its not the end of the world. I have actually just snuck a small long screwdriver in there and tweaked the catch enough to get it to pop loose.

[GM_Guy]

With the screws out the bottom, you need to get somewhat rough with it as the latch has probably broke. You can try bending up a bit of stiff wire to hopefully fish behind the broken latch side and pull it through to try and force the catch in a bit while you manhandle the door with your other hand and get it to pop free.

Alex.

[jaywish]

This is good info. As long as I only break some components of the latch system that will be great. I had already removed the bottom screws so tomorrow I will try and pop it out with less fear of needing a new dash.

Thank you all,
Jay

[GM_Guy]

It is a risk, but about the only way to get in when the latch breaks.
When you get a replacement latch, you can remove the key tumbler (need the key) from the old latch and put it in the replacement.

Alex.

[87gtVIC]

I was lucky enough to find a latch at the junkyard that fit my existing key!

Jay if you have no luck finding a new latch I can send you one as I have a couple spares already. I just do not have the key to allow you to remove that mechanism and install you keyed one.

[jaywish]

Guys, Thank You All.

Pete/wagonman has one with the key so he will remove the old one and send it on down.

It box poped out without any aparent damage. The cast internal linkage on the door release mechanism is broken. I took out the cylinder but was not sure if it required being put in the locked position or just having the rear clips spread to release after all the other small parts were removed.

Jay

[gadget73]

i think its just a matter of spreading the clips. I've had it apart before but don't quite remember the specifics. Its not that hard though.

[jaywish]

As long as you do not lose any parts. I think I lost a spring. I still suprise myself by doing dumb things. Guess I should get used to it.

[packman]

I've had the same problem for over a year now. The glove latch that came with the car broke. So I removed it and screwed the door shut until I found the replacement in the JY. The replacement lasted a year or two before it died. This time both buttons died and I have no way of getting it open. I was thinking about drilling it out, but I may try GM_Guy's method first.


Packman

[GM_Guy]

Just remember to close the gove box slowly and gently by pressing on the key cylinder so you push it in evenly. I cringe everytime I see somebody slap a glove box shut from the side.

Alex.

[johnunit]

I've had two break, and given up. I currently have it taped so that the still-working tab can come out, but the broken one is held compressed. just pushed them both in and wrapped it all with a bunch of strong scotch tape, then cut a hole for the working side. Not perfect but it works.

[86VickyLX]

I just changed my latch. I got tired of the thing not closing right and being a bitch to open. I swapped the lock portion from my original and used that with the guts of a known good glovebox latch. No problems.