07 xjr...my nephew was playing around in the car and now the glove box opens with a 'bang' instead of opening slowly and quietly. Any idea what might cause this?

 

Mounted behind the glovebox is a damper assembly. It's a one inch diameter plastic tube that is about five inches long. Inside is a plastic piston with a string tied to it. Next to the piston is a spring. The string runs through the middle of the spring, out the end of the tube and then turns forward and attaches to the right side of the glove box. Either your string broke, it became detached from the glovebox or maybe the plug/end of the damper came off and the spring came out. Pull the panel out from below the glovebox and have a look.

 

I will take a look tonight. Thanks!

 

Jag4.0, you got the description of the damper down to a T. In my case the string was too long. Maybe the crimp slid down the string? I knotted the end and put it back in. All good!

 

video on you tube: Also, best material is 80 lb test Siderwire Zilla Braid for monster fish, it's not wire, it looks like braided nylon fishing line, and it's made of Cordura nylon fibers reinforced with Dyneema fibers. It is about the same diameter and flexibility as the original material.