Glove Box Removal/ Door Actuator

Tiny
JOHNTAYLOR444
  • MEMBER
  • 2006 BUICK LUCERNE
  • 4.6L
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 95,000 MILES
I can't get the glove box off. Removed 5 screws and popped open but the door hinges are attached by two pins that fit into the main dash. No obvious method to remove.

I'm hoping to get to vent door actuator as air isn't transitioning from face to defroster so no heat is hitting the front window.

Plus, I currently only have head on drivers side. May have more work but stepping through one component at a time. Happy to take suggestions.
Wednesday, November 26th, 2025 AT 2:23 PM

8 Replies

Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 15,233 POSTS
The pins should pull out. Then you remove the screws to lower the frame and disconnect the switch and lamp.
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Wednesday, November 26th, 2025 AT 3:18 PM
Tiny
JOHNTAYLOR444
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Thanks Steve. I came at it for about an hour from every direction. There's no obvious or accessible path to those pins. That's with everything else free except the door pins in the hinge. I've seen a picture where the insert/box is separated from the door, but that too has no obvious connection point and appears molded place.
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Wednesday, November 26th, 2025 AT 3:32 PM
Tiny
JOHNTAYLOR444
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Ok, I got the glove box out by removing the pins first with the door closed, and then removing the screws to pull the entire assembly out. Nothing straightforward in that sequence.I had to of course flip upside down on my back to work under the dash and push the tabbed end of the pin in reverse through the hinge.

I can see the vent door actuator easily enough but only the front screw seems accessible. Big piece of black plastic venting in front of me I'd like to remove if I could.

Advice welcome as not sure how to approach this.
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Wednesday, November 26th, 2025 AT 4:41 PM
Tiny
STEVE W.
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Which actuator are you trying to get to? The blend (temperature) door, mode (dash/floor/defrost) door, recirculate door (fresh air, interior). If it's the mode door you need the duct out of the way but that isn't that easy either as the screw that holds it can be difficult to access. Normally you pull the entire lower dash trim panel not just the glove box. GM pretty much hung the HVAC on the bare dash and added components around it.
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Wednesday, November 26th, 2025 AT 5:03 PM
Tiny
JOHNTAYLOR444
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Yes, trying to get at the mode (dash/floor/defrost)
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Wednesday, November 26th, 2025 AT 5:06 PM
Tiny
STEVE W.
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Yeah, the duct that is in the way is the lower floor duct. The problem is that the book instructions show a lot of extra steps. The last one I did was a heater core and I changed all the actuators while the HVAC case was out. These are the book steps. I think you might be able to remove the screw and shift the duct enough but it has been a while since I've been in one of those dashes.
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Wednesday, November 26th, 2025 AT 5:28 PM
Tiny
JOHNTAYLOR444
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Thanks Steve. If that mode actuator only has one screw I'll probably give it a go. I can't see the bottom right fitting. The top two holes are just posts the actuator sits on with the lower left screw visible. It won't be easy but I may be able to get to it.

Can you tell me if it indeed only has that one screw?
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Wednesday, November 26th, 2025 AT 5:38 PM
Tiny
STEVE W.
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It should have 3. One goes through the metal bracket and then 2 go through the plastic of the actuator behind the duct that you can't see.
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+1
Wednesday, November 26th, 2025 AT 8:52 PM

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