I'm not sure you HAVE to take it out, but since you aren't obviously seeing another way AND you can get acess to the light if I remember correctly, then at least you have A way! Just follow the pics -- it ain't that hard. It takes at most a couple of hours, if you are slow and methotical like me.

 

Yes it is this way. Lol thank you for the sarcastic optimism. I'm encouraged to do it you being that I been working allot lately and haven't been off. Than you friend! GodBless!

 

OK so I took everything apart in the trunk and got to the part where the license plate bulbs are SUPPOSE to be and I can't find them. I got this little lens reflector piece taken apart and still can't access the bulbs. IDK what to do at this moment. Where are these darn bulbs so I can replace them with these led ones. I just don't understand how to physically access the bulbs smh. Please help CL. OK apparently I pulled out the cable from one of these little lighting housings and now I know for sure this just went wrong. I disconnected it and have no clue how to put it back in let alone take apart this little plastic thingy to access a physical bulb. Please help my friends. Any suggestions

 

All, my apologies for bringing up such an old thread ... I've been trying to get the switch out of the trunk lid to replace the rubber cover. I removed the two Phillips-head screws, but I can't seem to pull or pry it down to remove it. Has anyone replaced the cover without doing the interior trunk lid disassembly? The post above by KevGS460ML makes it seem like the rubber cover can be replaced without going through the steps to disassemble the inner trunk lid trim.

 

I didn’t have to remove the trunk liner. I only removed the button itself although I don’t remember exactly how it was done. Apparently ServerTech gave me instructions on how to do that, but that’s long gone too. Sorry...

 

Mine came off soooo many years ago and well...ive just left it alone. It works just fine bear

I wonder if that aftermarket lasts longer then the oem

 

In case someone else stumbles on this thread and has a similar problem ... the button definitely can be removed from the outside, without disassembling the inner trunk liner. My car's button cover had "melted" so badly that the rubber had adhered the button to the trunk panel (the cover wraps around the button, so the back side melted and sort of glued the button to the lid), so even with the screws removed it was pretty well stuck. I pried mine out working carefully, and was able to completely remove it in about 10 minutes or so. Prying from the sides was the most helpful, but I did have to pry some from the "front" of the button because the rubber had adhered basically all the way around the switch sides. I spent probably 30-40 minutes cleaning up the switch using "Goo Gone", which is a citrus-based cleaner, and that worked pretty well. The new cover went on pretty easily, and I now have a working trunk button ...!

I bet the amount of time required to remove the inner trunk lid trim is about the same as the time I spent cleaning the button, so I'd call it a wash. If your button cover is badly melted like mine was, I'd say get a new button and trade the messy part of the job for cleaner disassembly work. The replacement cover definitely works, though, and I don't think anyone could tell that it's not from the factory. It looks like someone also made a on it. I used the iE Works product and am happy with it.

 

@CAK 500 THANK YOU SO MUCH! I registered for this site just to post my appreciation! Contrary to other posts, I think it's impossible to replace the switch without dissassembling (mine was broken), but it is potentially possible to just replace the rubber. This youtube was helpful :
For those that need to replace the switch (not just the rubber), I ordered this replacement trunk switch on amazon for a 2007 GS350: and it works like a charm.

I also had to buy some new license plate screws (M6) as well as new screws and U clips to replace the 2 10mm nuts removed in step 9 due to corrosion/rust.

 

I did mine but it required disassembly of the trunk. Took maybe 30 mins.

 

I recently ordered the part to replace it and we actually followed the steps stated here but now neither the old melted button or new button work. Could it be a fuse or did we screw up something. It seemed easy... until it didn't work at all.

 

First thing to check in this case is to make sure the button to disable trunk access (located in the glove box) is not pushed. When it is, you can't open the trunk using the button on the trunk or the button in the flip down panel, but you can using the remote or the physical key, if I am remembering this correctly.

 

Thank you. We did that check that. We actually put the melted button back in and it works fine. Wondering if it was the part from Amazon. We returned the part and may order another...right now we have electrical tape on the button.

 

Thank you so much!!

 

Just noticed mine melted on my 2012 ES - rubber had been hard and wrinkled before. Noticed CAK 500 from NC, and others from Texas and Florida. Suspect heat related. Anyone have the dealer repair and at what cost? I'm not too handy and a bit timid to tackle this myself. Saw OEM replacement on Amazon so suspect this is fairly common.