This is silly, but how the heck do you reattach the piston inside the glove box so it doesn't drop with a thud every time you open it? Some lube place must have unhooked it to check for a cabin air filter. It doesn;t appear broken, I just can't get my hand in there to hook it back up.

uder neath the glove box you should have 4 screws if not the little piston on the side has to come out and inside the glove box at the very end you should see 2 like clips that you pull out to unlock the box unit it should fall in your lap

Visit the on-line store, known as reliable-store, they have the repair manuals. I'm sure
you will get the solution of your problem.
TOYOTA RAV4 SERVICE REPAIR MANUAL 2006 2007 2008 2009 DOWNLOAD

check junk yards 10 bucks

Look up inside the right or left side of the dash where the glove box closes. There should be a screw that holds stop your talking about. Re attatch it. Unscrew the screw. If broke then use a small nylon strap n secure it to that screw n to the place on the inside of the glove box door.

Since this car doesn't have a glove box, you don't open it. Most 1994 cars used what used to be the glove box space to install the passenger air bag. Later cars solved the space problem, and the glove box came back.
Jeff

I asumes you mean the caben filter?

Open the glove box door and remove the items from the glove box.

2

Locate the two rubber stop knobs on the inside of the glove box. There is one stop knob on each side of the glove box.

3

Push the rubber stop knobs out to unhook the glove box. Lower the glove box completely to access the area behind it.

4

Remove the plastic filter cover by pressing the tab on the left part of the cover.

5

Pull out the first pollen filter, and then slide the other filter over to pull it out.

6

Install one filter (arrows facing down) and push it over to the right side of the filter compartment, and then install the other filter.

7

Replace the filter cover, and then lift the glove box back into position. Replace the rubber stop knobs to reattach the glove box.

If you are talking about the cabin air filter, this filters the outside air for the HVAC.
Hastings Filter (#AF1057) shows one for the 97-03 MY trucks.

Remove the screws that hold the horizontal filter housing cover from behind the glove box (no need to open the glove box);

Pull the cabin filter straight down (sits vertical behind the glove box inside the housing).

Install replacement and reattach the cover.

If you are talking about the cabin air filter, this filters the outside air for the HVAC.
Hastings Filter (#AF1057) shows one for the 97-03 MY trucks.

Remove the screws that hold the horizontal filter housing cover from behind the glove box (no need to open the glove box);

Pull the cabin filter straight down (sits vertical behind the glove box inside the housing).

Install replacement and reattach the cover.

it's located behind the glove box. Instructions are in you owners manual. basically you remove the glove box and remove a plastic cover to access the filter. make sure you install the filter right side up. under $10 at rockauto.com

I fixed this in a 2010 Rav4 by lowering the glovebox all the way and finding that the cover to the cabin air filter had fallen off and was jamming the hinge of the glove box. To lower the glove box, pull the glove box side walls inward until the lock tabs clear the sides of the opening and you can rotate it all the way down. Clear whatever is jamming the hinge and rotate the glove box back into position. Be sure the hinge is pushed all the way forward onto the corresponding pin before closing the glove box, otherwise there will be misalignment. There is also a plastic air piston on the right side of the glove box assembly that damps the movement of the glove box. Be sure the piston assembly is secured into the two corresponding locking pins (one on the glove box, the other on the glove box opening) before closing the glove box.