My rescue did not come with any glove box screws and after grabbing a few from the junk yard I understood why. The plastic screw holes in the back of the glovebox lid were all destroyed.

Is there any solution to this? The box edge is slightly warped so the side with the light switch is about 1/4 inch too far forward. The door still closes but I am afraid to replace the light bulb because then the switch might not go in far enough.

Could I glue some washers to the back of the glove box, one in each screw hole? Will that work? How about hot glue to build an edge around the hole with enough to let the screw pass through easily?

Suggestions, please.

BTW, how does one replace the light bulb???? The black cover does not appear to come off.

I used the epoxy/teflon tape trick on both the Volvo glovebox and BMW cabin air cleaner housing, which had also stripped out.

(Steel screws into threaded plastic? I suppose they needed to cut corners somewhere, and besides even more squeaks and rattles, how many would notice? Must save them $10/car over doing it the right way.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqRsLGa8w0w

-BTC

'98 V70 T5 201K mi., 5-speed manual, original clutch, third evaporator, third windshield, heated velour cloth comfy chairs, factory HD suspension (1998 only), Bilstein HD, front IPD stabilizer bar, Volvo strut tower brace and skidplate, XC grill, C70 jewel E-Codes, V-1, Lidatek, IPD stuff, JB Weld, Original Duck Tape, zip-ties, Mobil-1 since new.

'08 BMW 328iT 6-speed manual; considerably fewer miles...

I've had good success using large nylon or metal fender washers at TrueValue and 5min epoxy.
--
The Family Fleet '90 745 16v; '90 745 GLE; 96 855T; 99 XC, collectively approaching 900,000mi and going strong.

I just looked at my glovebox here, and popped the white plastic cover off the
lamp, and that lamp is buried.
Cant you just remove the 6 torx screws and get the whole glovebox out where you can work on it, and change the lamp?

According to Volvospeed, the glovebox must come out. Then the black plastic cover over the light gets pulled toward the front of the car to expose the 2W bulb.

But first, I need to figure out a way to secure the glovebox. Because all of the plastic is gone from the rear of the screw holes, I think that a washer and hot glue to glue the washer to the back of the box might work.

Temps back into the low 90Fs again, perhaps I will wait until it gets a little cooler.

The climate control works again!!! At least I get fresh air into the cabin, even if it is not AC'd.

Ordered struts, endlinks today.

Near record cold expected in the Northeast Friday morning, fall and winter are nearing!

Been in your situation, if I recall correctly I followed your idea of washer and hot glue, but substituted the hot glue with gorilla glue. About 8 years ago I thought taking the glove area apart was a good idea, in order to wire up a sat radio and 8 guage power wire through the firewall, seemed the glove box was an easy out....ran into the same type of problem you had, employed a bolt/nut and glue fix and had no issue. As you are likely aware though Gorilla glue is not a simple in and out process and its quite strong so be mindful! I do seem to remember using tweezers, such as to hold the edge of the nut while the glue situated.

I do miss the days of both previously owned 1998 volvos....a while back I saw a mid or late 90's 850r wagon, OEM burnt orange paint - what a sharp looking car!