Glove box and centre console wont lock/unlock!

[Mr nanotech]

So the other day I parked with roof off and decided to lock up the interior. Well the centre lock wou wouldnt turn which didnt worry me. I put my stuff in the glove box, turned the key. Locked.... Tried to unlock it now and it wont turn!!! What do? I need to get my belongings out but dont want to break my car. Any advice?

[sticky nicky]

It might sound simple but have you tried the key in the glovebox both ways? Try the key one way and if it doesnt turn pull it out, turn it and then put it back in and try again.

[Mr nanotech]

Hahaha yeah that was my first thought too. I figure start with the simplest fix and then work backward.

It just doesn't want to budge for some reason.. Neither of them. Tried jiggling, turning it with different lengths of the key inserted, tapping the lock to free up anything blocking it.
Still nothing. I have one more alternative and I'll try it tomorrow, which is to try my spare key JUST on the offchance it works (you never know).

Otherwise I have no clue! Oh and I'll also have a crack at spraying lubricant into the locks as well to free them up. I almost never use them so possible they may have seized up.

[lee]

My centre console lock seized up shortly after I got the car. Fortunately for me, they seized when I had it open. No amount of lubricant, wet or dry, has been able to unseize the lock. If I find something, I'll let you know

[Red Dragon]

Try applying a little pressure to the glove box while turning the key, some times they do not fully engage

[ralt]

Hi.
If you are still having trouble try inserting key in lock turn the key and at the same time tap the key lightly with a hammer.

[Mr nanotech]

Yeah still having trouble... Tomorrow I'm going to put some wd40 in the lock then some graphite. Hopefully that should help but other than that I think I'll be having to break the lock lol

[hks_kansei]

Yeah still having trouble... Tomorrow I'm going to put some wd40 in the lock then some graphite.

DON'T DO BOTH!!!!

if you wet the graphite it's just going to gum everything up and might make it worse.

I'd suggest the WD40 first, spray it in, the pressure from the can should force it into all the bits.


I'll have a look at Pam's car, there might be a way to pick the lock and open it.

[deviant]

Glovebox...Can you not just unscrew it from the hinges? you will have to get on your back and stick your head under the dash but there is a metal rail along the lower edge of the dash that the hinges screw to. If you can not get to the hinges themselves that metal rail can also be unscrewed.

[Mr nanotech]

Okay it's fixed!

Now try and work this out. I tried my other key and it turned first go. But the thing is, I put both keys together and looked at them. The teeth, length... EVERYTHING is the same. As far as I can with my naked eye, they are identical. Which would make sense because they both work in the doors and ignition barrel... so why not the interior?

It's weird. The ONLY thing I can think of is that one key must have a slight bend in it at some point and mustn't be fully depressing the pins in the lock, or possible a tooth is worn on the key. But that said, you'd think it wouldn't work in the doors or ignition/boot either right?

Well problem is over now and I've reverted back to using the spare key as my standard.


Headache over.

[taminga16]

If you feel that the key was the problem then get another made now, you will then be covered if it happens again.
Greg.

[geofiz]

Sounds like the old Master key vs Service key syndrome.

The idea behind it it you can lock youre valuables in the glove box and give the "service key" to the untrustworthy mechanic / service technician, safe in the knowledge that they cant open youre glovebox. Crazy I know, but was very common not that long ago.

[Mr nanotech]

That would make a lot of sense! It's been doing my head in why this key wouldn't work but still operates the locks. Thanks for the info buddy