This is how I do it with minimal damage.Push down on the top of the door and look in the middle.You should be able to see where the metal latch comes out of the dash.You need to get in there with a screwdriver and start breaking small peices out of the glove box insert in the dash.Start from the metal latch and work out.You will expose the 2 screws that hold the latch in.When you have enough plastic broke you can use a philips screwdriver to remove the screws.Then the door will open.Then you will have to take the door apart to finish opening the latch.The only damage left when you are done is a little plastic broke behind the glovebox door.You don't even have to replace the insert for the glove box.You will just have to buy the door latch kit.

I have inserted some pics to help.The blue area is what needs to be removed.
Hope this helps.

Attached thumbnail(s)

Preventing this problem is possible as well, a very easy way of prevention is to make sure you can still open the glovebox when the pin in the switch breaks while it is locked.

Get yourself a little, thin, black wire, about 10cm.
Attach this to the pin which sticks out of the lock itself (a small piece of metal).
This piece is the part that get's behind the latch as mentioned above and actually locks the dashboard.
After attaching, lock the dashboard and let the wire stick out. When pulling the wire a little bit, the lock should open.
take a little of black tape and attach the wire on top of your glovebox, just in reach when needed. Cut off the rest of the wire (or leave it inside).
You can always open the glovebox now when the lock doesn't work no more!

This issue is a very common problem on the 850/x70, so be smart and use this trick shortly! :thumbsup:

:clap:

Drawed some images I had stored as well to show my intentions:

Attached thumbnail(s)

There also is another way to open the glovebox.

You then need to exchange te cover afterwards....

Drill a 2mm hole 2cm of the top edge of the cover and exactly in the middle of the cover. You then can reach the lever (on which to ty the wire in the instruction above) from the outside with a small screwdriver. Press it through the hole and it will open.

you can replace the cover or fill the hole with something and paint it in the colour of your dash again.

On the 850 Series (UK version) measure 4 and a quarter inches from the left hand side of the lock and 7/8 of an inch down from the top edge of the lid and then drill one 4mm hole in the outer cover only.
Then use a small screwdriver to release lock and open lid. Effect necessary repair and then plug hole with a small rubber grommet.

Here's some fixes

Volvo 850 glovebox fix
Volvo 850 glovebox fix 2
Volvo 850 glovebox fix 3

(IMG:http://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/images/glovebox_wire.jpg)

Thanks for the guides, guys!

AB, don't remember you having a problem with your glovebox. :grin: Anyway, useful info here. The glovebox in my 850GLT gets stuck when left in the hot sun & will refuse to be opened until it's cooled down!

It's not mine. No, i dont have anything on the glovebox yet (hopefully never!)

Anyway, WELCOME, Uncle Cap!
:)

best no damage method (except, of course the latch)-

1. stick a large screwdriver in to hold glove box open at least 1/2 inch
2. get a small plastic hacksaw blade holder (I'll try to post a pic later)
3. put a 6" metal sawzall blade in it
4. be patient, I think the latch is hardened steel, it takes a while. also remember afterwards to remove your glovebox lightbulb til you get a new latch.