Glove box sagging and not dampened...

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Lexus Land Cruiser

Lexus Land Cruiser

10 Year
Joined
Aug 31, 2015
Threads
17
Messages
208
Location
Nomad's Land
First, isn't the 2004 LX supposed to have a dampened glove box? Mine is not. Just slams open if not held. Additionally, it gapes about a quarter inch when closed. Tried tightening the two hinge screws and the two holding the U-shaped piece it latches too, but still... gape.

PO or the shop(s) they took it to were clearly in there before as there's a lot of stress damage to the plastic back that blocks access to the ECU et al. I'm wondering if a sloppy job was done reassembling the glove box that led to this and if it can be refurbished. Thoughts?
 
Ive noticed this with almost every single LX on the market. The glove boxes never seem to close all the way, leaving a very noticeable gap. I tried to google it and it doesn't seem like its has been discussed commonly which is odd because it seems sooooo common.

Interested to see if you find a solution.
 
The glove box should be dampened. There is a little cylinder setup on the left side of the box where a string comes out of it. Can only see it with the gbox door off. A string goes from the damper to a post on the glove box. On mine, the string had broken off. I simply tied a new string to the old string and reattached it to the glove box post. Now it opens very slowly and closes very smooth. You might get lucky and just find that the string became unattached.

What have you done to your 100 Series this week?

Check out the pic in one of my earlier threads. You can see the damper unit. It's on left side just above the yellow flexloom.
 
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n55luvr said:
The glove box should be dampened. There is a little cylinder setup on the left side of the box where a string comes out of it. Can only see it with the gbox door off. A string goes from the damper to a post on the glove box. On mine, the string had broken off. I simply tied a new string to the old string and reattached it to the glove box post. Now it opens very slowly and closes very smooth. You might get lucky and just find that the string became unattached.

What have you done to your 100 Series this week?

Check out the pic in one of my earlier threads. You can see the damper unit. It's on left side just above the yellow flexloom.
Click to expand...

I noticed that structure, but couldn't figure out it's purpose on initial inspection. I bet the string is busted. Does the string come out of the back of the cylinder (side facing the engine)? Will have to get back out there when it warms up and suss it out. Any recommendation on "string"?

Ramathorn15 said:
Ive noticed this with almost every single LX on the market. The glove boxes never seem to close all the way, leaving a very noticeable gap. I tried to google it and it doesn't seem like its has been discussed commonly which is odd because it seems sooooo common.

Interested to see if you find a solution.
Click to expand...

My thoughts exactly. I searched prior to starting a thread, but nothing. Conversely, my grandmothers '06 LC has a perfectly aligned and dampened glovebox. Seems these things are rather delicate.
 
camino70 said:
I've been meaning to ask what that string was for. I noticed it when adding cabin filters. I need to go back and try to reattach. What exactly does it attach to?

Glove box string

Glove box string

  • Media owner camino70
  • Date added
Click to expand...

Beat me to the pic. It should attach to the left-hand drawer guide, from what I've found.
 
camino70 said:
Since my string if still attached to plastic, does that mean the plastic broke off from the box?
Click to expand...

THAT is a great question. Per this diagram and pic, it would appear it's attached to the string, but maybe just snaps to the glovebox?

$_57.JPG


$_57.JPG
 
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I was inside my glove box (reconnecting the light wires that were off from PO). I noticed my glove box sags too when closed. I don't think I have the dampener piece at all (not just a string broke).

My question is: if I order the dampener will it help close in the gap from the dash to the glove box while closed or does it only solve the "problem" of the glove box not slowly opening? I'd be willing to buy this dampener if it solved the big gap I have while it is closed and a little rattling I get from my glove box while driving, but don't think I really care that much about having a "fancy slowly opening glove box" if you catch my drift.

I've still not really found any good information on how to close the gap between the glove box and the dash anywhere.
 
I'm wonder if this should be a TSB on the glove box gap? My 04 has the same gap. And, there is a lot of play in it when pushing on the glove box while closed.
 
My '00 is tight and still dampened... weird.
 
well shoot...if you have the damper and it is tight makes me want to put damper on and see what it does.

There really doesn't seem to be any adjustment options on it so damper seems to be the only factor I don't have.
 
I had this happen on my old Infiniti. Basically a 200 lb gorilla strips out one or more of the holes that the screws go in to when they are replacing the cabin filter / servicing the AC fan / etc.
Since the holes that are stripped are part of the dash itself and not the smaller glove box, I think there's no reversing it. But anything can be fixed with enough time / money so if it's bothering you just find out where the failure is at one of those screws and get at it.
 
The string is attached to the plastic thing, and the plastic thing clips to the glove box .

It's best to attach the plastic thing to the glove box when the glove box is unscrewed from the dash
 
michaelharrisco said:
well shoot...if you have the damper and it is tight makes me want to put damper on and see what it does.

There really doesn't seem to be any adjustment options on it so damper seems to be the only factor I don't have.
Click to expand...

I don't see how the damper will help with glove box gaps. It doesn't help hold the glove box closed. It just adds a tiny bit of assistance when opening and closing.
 
n55luvr said:
I don't see how the damper will help with glove box gaps. It doesn't help hold the glove box closed. It just adds a tiny bit of assistance when opening and closing.
Click to expand...

yea I'm with you and had the same thought. I don't think I'm really going to worry about getting a dampener at this point (got plenty of other things I want to fix up).

beedo34 might be on to something and probably the root cause. I'll take a look at those holes in more detail, but probably right...no reversing it.

I think the rattle bugs me more than anything (ha).
 
beedo34 said:
I had this happen on my old Infiniti. Basically a 200 lb gorilla strips out one or more of the holes that the screws go in to when they are replacing the cabin filter / servicing the AC fan / etc.
Since the holes that are stripped are part of the dash itself and not the smaller glove box, I think there's no reversing it. But anything can be fixed with enough time / money so if it's bothering you just find out where the failure is at one of those screws and get at it.
Click to expand...

^^^^^ What he said ^^^^^^^^^

The gap for mine was that the screws had been forced into the lower part of the dash. Had to remove the box, get my head under there and see which holes should be used - Was apparent when seen. Then simply put the box and screws back into the correct location.
 
On my 2001 LX, the dampening seems fine but, there is a small gap on the far passenger side. No one else has noticed but, I have while fixing everything that I found wrong with it.
 
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