Gen 3 Montero Sticky Glove Box Handle Latch - FIX

[spacecowboy7777]

The grease within my glove box latches had thickened to the point that the latches barely work and sometimes don't work at all. For the top glove box, I could open it, but the latch would not return when releasing the handle, so the glove box would not latch closed after opening. And it was difficult to open, too. Luckily I was still able to open it at all. Hopefully you catch this problem before you get permanently locked out of your glove box!

To fix, first open the glove box and remove the latch:


Then remove the lock cylinder from the latch by prying out one of the plastic tabs with a pointy object:


Now spray carb cleaner or brake cleaner directly into the keyhole for a few seconds. For me, it loosened the grease almost immediately. I then worked it open and shut a few times with my fingers then spraying cleaner into it a few more times. Within a few minutes, it was turning without resistance and snapping back into place, just as designed:




To reassemble the latch/lock, just align like this, then slide in the direction of the red arrow. The ramps on the metal lock slide under the plastic clips and into place super easily:



Now just reinstall in your glove box and enjoy a less sticky latch!

Or just buy a new one from LusoOverland for $30 and save the hassle.

For google: 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006

 

[Michael Brown]

Good writeup. This is a common issue for these vehicles that most people encountered at some point.

The upper and lower glove boxes each have the same latch part. A key can be used for one, but if it gets permanently stuck you will need to drill access to the key hole on the other.

This cleaning should be done as soon as it starts to get sticky.

 

[spacecowboy7777]

Update: my cleaning/fix does not work long term. Now that the brake clean dried, the lock is even more stuck than before. I’ll try adding some sort of oil or lubricant and keep y’all updated.

 

[Michael Brown]

Cleaning should have worked. Silicone spray lubricant could work.
Replaced the old grease with some new green grease on a zip tie when I did mine.

 

[spacecowboy7777]

Pulled it out, sprayed it out again, then smothered it in mitsubishi blood. Then sprayed out again, then soaked in blood again. Then let all the excess blood ooze out for a few hours and wiped off the outside of the lock before reinstalling.


Look at the nasty brown that slowly drained out with the mistu fluid after I let it sit for a while:


Then wiped off the outside and excess real well and again let it drain, but this time lock side down for a few hours. I don't want blood leaking into my box.



It's been working great for the past week. I think this was the cleaning and lube that it needed.

 

[plh]

These probably had Rheosil grease or similar from the OEM.

 

[spacecowboy7777]

These probably had Rheosil grease or similar from the OEM.

Interesting, google says that's like a lithium grease with PFTE added? I like the idea of greasing the inside with a small ziptie

 

[plh]

Interesting, google says that's like a lithium grease with PFTE added? I like the idea of greasing the inside with a small ziptie

Indeed it is. Get it before there isn't any PTFE allowed in the world.