Opened the glove box on my 1997 XJR and it felt like it resisted/hang opening juuuust a little for a moment as I opened it, then it "let go" and opened all the way.

Closing the glove box and opening it again has the door opening fully with no resistance at all.

It almost felt like it could have had a "soft opening" function (like the sunglass holder or cup holder) that that let go and may not work anymore?

Or maybe it just hung up for a second and there is no such mechanism on the glove box door? I shined a flashlight up in the box and didn't see any gears, springs or cabling that would make me think there was some sort of mechanism to slow the opening of the door.

So that's my question: Does the glove box door have any sort of "soft opening" mechanism, or not?

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Had to look.

NOPE, mine just flops down, glovebox lid I am talking about.

I forgot for a minute (I do that) as the 2 S Types are soft opening.

 

Heh, thanks. Mine "flops down" too. Glad you have confirmed!

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Oh Al,

Some may flop open abruptly, but mine have damped opening. There is a device behind the box that slows it. It is a cylinder with a wire attached to the moving part. You must remove the glove box to get to it. There you go, something to do!

 

...oh, great I kinda suspected that may be true, hence my question.

I'll shine a light up there and see if mine has/had it and maybe the wire popped off or something.

But yep, something else to do. But that's an easy one, so I don't mind easy ones

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There is a soft open mechanism. I'll post a photo of it later today.

 

Bugga, another item on the list.

Thanks guys.

 

...here comes the mechanism, it's working like a syringe.
Left pic: box is closed, right pic: box is open

 

Ah hah.... I bet my "wire" had popped off then. As I suspected.

I'll get in there and take a look


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www.ebay.co.uk has two jaguar glove box check strap/damper on auction today.

 

BTW, took a closer look at my glove box today, and found that the little button/hook with the cable had simply popped off its mount to the door. I hooked it back on, and working like a charm again.

No idea why it popped out of its mounting hole, so I suspect it will do it again. But I'll take a look at it later. I'll try to remember to get a photo of where it hooks to the door for others' reference if this comes up for someone else.

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Here is a photo of where the 'soft open' cable attaches to the glove box door.