Technical Glove box won't open

[lather]

OK, so I know this seems to be a common problem, but I thought I'd better check to see what the latest is on it.

This morning, I went to get something out of the glove box, and it opened fine. However, when I came to open it again a few minutes later, it wouldn't open. The handle moves OK, and there's a small amount of movement at the side by the handle (a couple of mm), but the left-hand side of the glove box seems stuck solid with no movement at all.

The car is a 53-plate post-facelift Mk 2 1.3, and IIRC has a catch at either side of the glove box, not a central catch as is described in some of the older threads here - but I could be wrong there, as it's not something you tend to pay much attention to. (If I am right, fishing about in the middle of the door with a screwdriver to trip the catch probably won't work!)

So I'm wondering if this is a known issue with this type of glove box, what the cause could be, and what the solution is. The only suggestion I've had so far is from my dad, with his usual response to any problem of "get a crowbar on it". However, as there's the airbag above the glove box, I don't think this is a very sensible course of action!

Any tips or suggestions? Need to get this sorted ASAP as SWMBO is panicking about not being able to get her stuff out of there...

 

[flisko]

it got a catch in the middle, get a screwdriver in it and pry apart

 

[PuntoHowTo]

You will have to pry the glove box open, there are two pieces of plastic that make up the glove box, internally there is a part that covers the catch mechanism. This is ultrasonic welded together so not really serviceable, if you can cut the plastic apart you might be able to fix the piece of white metal that transfers the Movement of the handle to the catches, but to be honest, look on eBay for another glove box in the right colour, far easier and less hassle

 

[lather]

I've had the chance to take a closer look at things and play about a bit, and it is a centre catch - using a small screwdriver, I've been able to move the left-hand side too, while the middle stays put.

I did try the old suggestion of using an old credit card to try and trip the catch, but that didn't work, even pushing the card in as far as I could. I could feel something that seemed to snap back into place as I moved the card to the side. However, I'm not sure if that was the catch, or if the card was sliding into a gap below the airbag or something like that, rather than going down to the catch. It did seem a bit wide to be the catch, so I'm a bit suspicious as to if it was, or if it was just the card moving past something else and I was actually feeling the card snapping back straight after being bent slightly.

I've just been wondering, before trying things like a screwdriver, if an L-shaped bit of stiff heavy-duty wire could do the job. Any thoughts on that?

And if I do end up having to try the screwdriver, any tips on the best size to use so as to cause the least damage, the best point along the door to put it in, and the best angle to use?

 

[ChrisbadPunto]

So now it happened to my Punto too :-(
Anybody managed to open the glove box without damaging it too badly? If so, how did you manage to open it?

Cheers

 

[PuntoHowTo]

Opening it was no problem, just apply a slowly building force until it pops, be careful of using tools that leave marks on the plastic.

 

[s and b]

you can open these when locked but i cant remember how
was it by sliding the locking mechanism down or did the hinges come off?
anyway once off get the glovebox on the workbench and carefully break the 2 sides apart with a knife
once apart you will see the basic mechanism and whats broke
i think i used to repair with a bit of wire but its years now since i worked on puntos
once repaired glue back together and fit

 

[ChrisbadPunto]

Just some feedback. I've managed to open it using two screw drivers. Then took the lid apart to get to the mechanism. The little metal lever inside the lock mechanism was broken. Made one from a piece of sheet metal, put everything back together and it is working like new again.
Thanks for everybody's input.

Cheers

 

[fiatpunt0]

Hi, any pictures of the process to make a new part ?