G'day.
Our 4-year old European car has always been good but last week the glove box can't be latched.
Ask the company and it appears the only way is to get one from Germany for $1,200!!!
Has anyone has any experience and have a good (cheaper) solution?
I am threatening to put in a childproof latch soon……
Thanks in advance for sharing.
Why would you need to know that!? :)
Apparently in some parallel universes.every car is the same. All issues related to all cars can be fixed the same way. This is one of those cases.
!
And in New York City, there is a special team of investigators and prosecutors. These are their stories.
A solution exists in this universe. It's called the cable tie. Will fix anything
A crankshaft front seal cost $75 at Audi while the same part no. cost $40 at VW and $35 at VW commercial van/trucks
Many cars share the same part, Op may be able to find it cheaper elsewhere. Or just remove the glovebox the car will work just fine.
The problem here is not parts compatibility, it's information deficit.
Many cars share the same part, Op may be able to find it cheaper elsewhere
Cool but for that to happen wouldn't we need to know the make/model of the OP car?
@JimmyF: Mate, it's a European 4-year old car.
The guy is asking for a replacement glovebox not black market organs. It's not rocket science.
We'd like to know if he's talking about an E63 AMG or a Golf Diesel
Its one of those European cars. You know the ones.
The high-yield investment type?
Do your best, silicone the rest.
Non-compliant
Good from far, but far from good.
I smell non compliance!
Tech Screw
Instructions unclear. Glovebox installer now pregnant.
Photo showing the mechanism would be good. Can troubleshoot from there.
Did you look at the latch mechanism?
Is the bar/throw operating normally?
Is the catch/recess clear?
Can any adjustment be made to either to allow proper alignment?
Spend a couple of minutes looking into to find out where the issue is, and then troubleshoot from there.
Lucky we are all mind-readers here at Ozbargain and can diagnose the cause of the problem with little to no information!
Did he marry you because of your forensic writing abilities?
Cheap solution, install a door catch, or otherwise magnetic catch.
Something similar to:
https://www.bunnings.com.au/taskmaster-zinc-double-roller-ca…
or
https://www.bunnings.com.au/taskmaster-25mm-magnetic-catch-c…
If you don't want to use the screws, just use some epoxy glue (araldite or similar):
https://www.bunnings.com.au/selleys-24ml-araldite-super-stre…
Apply the epoxy glue, and just use some tape to hold it in place until the glue cures (ensure the area where the glue is to be applied is wiped down first with isopropyl alcohol first to ensure good bond strength).
Depending on how hard you want to make it to open, either install one centrally on the door, or otherwise two (one on left and one on right side of door).
A quick cheap fix, that is concealed within the glove box (so not readily visible).
@Malik Nasser: This would be more robust, so it won't happen again.
https://www.bunnings.com.au/pinnacle-100-x-10mm-galvanised-s…
Lockable.
If I can fix it will you leave him for me?
'He already checked all that'
has been heard by so many people, so many times. And then they check all that. And find the problem.
Did your car not come with five years’ warranty?
What make is the car?
I would be making a huge song and dance in the showroom if it was not fixed for free.
Warranties don't cover consumables. Like tyres that wear out and need replacement in normal usage.
A broken glove box latch should most definitely be covered under warranty.
And you have to remember that dealers can only fit new replacement factory parts. There's absolutely nothing stopping you going to an independent car repair business, and them getting a working second-hand part from a wrecker and fitting it.
Have you googled whether 3rd-party replacement is available. My car's washer pump failed. The dealer and a mechanic said they can source a new factory washer tank and pump, and fit it, for $290. The internet supplied me with a chinese made equivalent pump for $24.
i think that depends on how its broken.
if you had taken to it with a crowbar i dont think warranty will cover it, but if its a manufacturing fault or something that is suboptimal then sure, warranty should be checked.
I had a faulty glovebox fixed under warranty on a skoda Superb, so never say never.
Euros normally have 3 years warranty.. don't know if any that gets 5 unless you pay for extension
Merc has 5, Audi has 5, I think bmw is now 5
Good to know. But that wouldn't include OPs car as hers is 4 years old and Merc started in March 2020, Audi in Jan 2022 and BMW Nov 2022.
It's good to know the euros are picking up their warranty period to be at a more acceptable length.
If her car isn't the German trio.. I'm not sure what the solution is .. I mean we have Peugeot, Citroen. (Renault is South Korean practically), Porsche, Volkswagen, skoda, Alfa Romeo… lol so who knows what warranty will be like for her mysterious car
@maverickjohn: And then you have ACL / goodwill too (unless it is legit wear and tear as you said, but with normal use and care I wouldn’t think this would fail)
VW now has 5 too, well they do on some models anyway
And Skoda has 7 years warranty, and they are better built than the VW equivalents.
You sure bout that?
Alfa Romeo - 5yr unlimited km
Audi - 5yr unlimited km
BMW - 5yr unlimited km
Citroen - 5yr unlimited km
Cupra - 5yr unlimited km
Jaguar - 5yr unlimited km
Land Rover - 5yr unlimited km
Mercedes - 5yr unlimited km
Peugeot - 5yr unlimited km
Renault - 5yr unlimited km
VW - 5yr unlimited km
Volvo - 5yr unlimited km
Skoda - 7yr unlimited km
Only 3 yrs are Fiat and luxury brands; Abarth, Alpine, Aston Martin, Bentley, Lambo, Lotus, Maserati, McLaren, Porsche.
And from your other comment:
(Renault is South Korean practically)
Not true. Only the Arkana and Koleos are made in South Korea. Captur and Megane RS are made in Spain, vans and upcoming Megane E-Tech in France.
As you can see from the subsequent comment I made. I acknowledged the update in warranty and also mentioned when the transition took place.
@maverickjohn: Yep some upmarket brands lagged behind. But the generalisation wasn't true, eg. Renault has offered 5 years since 2011, mentioned in this review too, and has had promotions over the years offering 7 years on the Koleos as you might be aware.
@Techie4066: I own a Renault koleos and BMW 2 series. The Renault is a 5 year car but as mentioned hardly a euro. It is a South Korean make with a Nissan X trail mechanic.
My BMW had 3 years warranty when purchased in 2020. Hence where my comment originated. I knew Audi and Mercedes were the same when I bought it. Again why I made the call. But obviously they have increased it since then
@maverickjohn: Cool, but I want to clarify that Renault's quality/warranty doesn't have much relation to Korea. Renault has offered that 5 years since 2011 - since then the Clio and Megane have sold here in decent numbers, not one of which was made in Korea. The Korean-made Arkana has a Renault-Daimler engine, Magna Powertrain gearbox and Garrett turbo. The Captur with the same drivetrain is not even one bit Korean, and many components are made by Hella or Valeo. Design and development of these vehicles is done at the Technocentre in France.
Thats not what the law says.
THe law clearly says the period of warranty is what would be considered reasonable.
I think most would agree a glove box mechanism should last at least 5 maybe 10 years.
Our friend should be calling the ACCC.
Definitely an indicator that it's time to trade her in.
Unless its a Beema, then no indication.
The car or the wife?
which ever costs the most to service.
How dare you assume the gender.
We have to guess the car model so might as well guess the cars gender.
If you can't repair (unlikely), source from an automotive dismantler.
Good idea, will check thanks.
Exactly. Just inspect and replace the broken latch or bracket. And if the hubby can't do it, just drop it to a mechanic. Most should quote you labour+parts on the spot.
Very commonly people like to reach over and slam gloveboxes shut, eventually cracking the little metal pieces the latches are made from. Made to withstand a beating over time, manufacturers change them to make them stronger, neater and cheaper. And as they are better at implementing design faults than improvements, many fail in short order. My first local car and all its bretheren for decades, suffered from this sort of problem as the bracket the latch grabbed would bend back each time someone slammed it. Eventually this mild steel rod just fractured. Just like so many Falcon doorhandles (both metal and plastic) for decades before and after that, hey @YourakHunt_AU!
Since then most latches have valet modes and are recessed so you don't snag things on them when the door is down… all this, and weight reduction inevitably means you may be able to break a modern one just as easily as you could back in 1972. Progress is truly blinding in the auto industry!
eventually cracking the little metal pieces the latches are made from.
Usually the bit that cracks first is plastic.
No surprise from 3uro car
It’s always really easy to recommend a solution without knowing what it is.
If you’d posted what model there might be a simple solution someone knows - like putting some lubricant in the latch.
I specialise in 4YO European car glove box repairs. Parts and labour are free on Mondays. But I can't do yours cos 'no make model' on this application form. Sorry, but my bookings stretch a long way out.
Try the 4YO European Glove Box Dismantling Group.
Just tell them you're looking for a glove box for a 4YO European car. They'll know which one. They're good like that
Make and model would be great to determine a fix.
Go to screen. Find glovebox. Enter PIN. You don't know it because its a rental car and the PIN was set by the previous renter? OK, you need the PIN that lets you set the glovebox PIN you want. OK, you don't know that? Well, give up on using the glove box.
Oh, sorry, that's Tesla.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-09-16/rented-a-tesla-for-a-…
Glove Box Won't Unlatch
Next forum topic without car details
I thought it was an amusing story of how the designers of a product could make something really simple, like opening the glovebox, totally ridiculously complicated.
The Glovebox contains the USB port for the camera data. So owners 'lock' the glovebox so people can't access the drive etc.
You don't have to set a pin to open the glovebox. by default there is no pin.
threatening to put in a childproof latch
Entertaining the dealer?
Super glue it
duct tape it
European car
Found the problem
So, build a new car and attach it to the erstwhile co-operative glove box?
s/build/get/
Did you fill the latch fluid reservoir?
THIS? Dm me and I can send you the fluid for $50 delivered. It will be yellow.
Now you're just taking the piss out of the situation
:) I am not taking it out. I will be filling it in.
37 year veteran chief mechanic of European vehicles here. The problem probably stems from the glove box latch. Hope that helps.
Is OP to ashamed to give the make and model? Is this a high yield investment gone bad?
Probably a shitbox Opel or SAAB
I'm going with Pew Got
I'd love to see a 4yo SAAB.
As already suggested - warranty item.
What actual car is it?
I'm pretty sure people do this on purpose to get everyone all riled up 😂
u're very welcome.
I am guessing a Merc, BMW or Audi.
Or VW or Skoda or …
Based on previous responses… it's RED
Knowing that hubby is good, perhaps he can check the make and model for you.
Wife's judgement on good mechanical aptitude, is clearly as good as hubby's mech ability is , which is as good as wife's ability to take a hint?
Collective ability to pick the right car? Yeah, nossogood.
Depends, is it the Mk2 or the Mk3. The model year is on a cross over so it could be either. It’s hard to tell with the price, because the Mk2 glovebox is usually about $1100 while the Mk3 is about $1300.
And the other thing is, is it the luxury or the premium trim level? Because the premium will fit the luxury, but not the other way around on the Mk2, but on the Mk3, the luxury will fit in the premium, but the cabin filter blocks the luxury glovebox for going all the way home.
There is a service action for the Mk4 glovebox, but this only affected some Mk3 models that have a late Nov onwards build date.
And of the gloveboxes affected, it’s only the cream ones, the bone, the ivory, the off white, the beige and the linen should be ok.
what make and model?