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Thanks to this thread I replaced my gooey trunk switch today. Take your time, use nylon trim tools, and clean up the old gunk with mineral spirits. Order luggage switch 84945-50010.
As you may be aware if you own a Lexus LS430, there is a handy little button right over the tag, and a little to the right that opens the trunk. But, as these vehicles get older, this rubber on the button seems to be getting sticky and nasty as it deterioriates. It gets nasty black stuff on my finger when I push it. UGG!! Has anyone else experienced this? Anyone fixed it? How?
if you use search you can find instant answers to most questions. For example I searched ‘trunk button’ in thread titles narrowed to the 3rd gen LS forum and found this thread among others
It's solvents that "melt" the rubber, normally those found in waxes and other car cleaning products.
Heat doesn't melt rubber, it actually dries and hardens it.
It's also possible that some other part inside the switch has broken and released a solvent (a grease maybe?) that has melted the rubber, but not likely.
You will almost certainly have to replace the button, and then rethink what products you use in that area.
It's solvents that "melt" the rubber, normally those found in waxes and other car cleaning products.
Heat doesn't melt rubber, it actually dries and hardens it.
It's also possible that some other part inside the switch has broken and released a solvent (a grease maybe?) that has melted the rubber, but not likely.
You will almost certainly have to replace the button, and then rethink what products you use in that area.
**** poor materials selection by design engineer. Plenty of polymers which would have held up.
2005 Texas car with the same issue
