Magnets and car electronics

[Johnone]

So, my car has one of those small storage compartments above the ashtray, but the door of it has some how come undone, and now randomly flips open when I drive the car.

Was thinking about doing a quick fix by superglueing 4 small magnets (such as can be found underneath those portable chess pieces) in order to solve this problem.

I know (or think) such small magnets can't have an effect on the car's electronics, but I just want to check here to make certain.

Just out of curiosity, how large must a magnet be to interfere with the car's electronics?

And, is there any other way you guys would go about fixing it without using magnets?

 

[Hemi300c]

Rather go to a hobby shop and get the same magnets the put under scaletrix cars. Very small and very powerful.
I don't think there will be any issues with magnets

 

[RiaX]

replace the part? provide a picture to describe the object in question in more detail so we can brain storm more efficiently

 

[Johnone]

replace the part? provide a picture to describe the object in question in more detail so we can brain storm more efficiently

Why replace it at a cost when I can fix it for free?

Interior looks almost like this, with the small door above the gear lever giving the problems.

 

[Masataka]

Had the same issue on my Toyota - they use some cheap glue substance to keep it stuck there, which wears over time.

Getting some of those flat magnets should work quite well, although I don't think the flap will sit flush.

 

[Keegan]

you can use those valcro stripes as well, if there is place to stick it.

 

[Thugscub]

Open a broken hard drive there are very strong magnets in there, use them.

 

[GarethC]

Open a broken hard drive there are very strong magnets in there, use them.

He wants to be able to open it

Those small magnets will work fine and have no affect on your electronics. Just use one or two on one side, and just a thin sheet of metal on the other side. Super glue works a treat for keeping these in place. If you want it to line up flush, you can even drill small holes for the magnets, depending how much you want to alter on the car.

 

[RiaX]

Valcro ftw, cheap easy to do effective

 

[Johnone]

He wants to be able to open it

Those small magnets will work fine and have no affect on your electronics. Just use one or two on one side, and just a thin sheet of metal on the other side. Super glue works a treat for keeping these in place. If you want it to line up flush, you can even drill small holes for the magnets, depending how much you want to alter on the car.

Valcro ftw, cheap easy to do effective

I was wondering whether the flap would line up flush with the magnets. Maybe I'll try the velcro idea first and see how it works out.

Thanks for the replies guys!

 

[GreyBush]

Velcro is so tacky... use two of those floppy fridge magnets.

 

[RiaX]

no if you neat about it it wont be tacky, but the fridge magnets might not hold strong enough

 

[chrisc]

No, you have got it all wrong. Time to trade-in the car.

 

[GarethC]

Fridge magnets will hold fine.