HOW TO: Gummy Trunk Button Fix
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: TX
Gummy Trunk Button
I'm new to Club Lexus and have a "Gummy Trunk Button" on my '07 LS 460. Not as bad as yours. Mine is sticky but not deteriorated. The dealer wants $449 to make the repair (part & labor). I chocked. Question: What about covering the rubber with black plastic tape (like electrical tape)? I know that is not a proper repair, but would it work and buy me some time? Like one to four years.
Peter
Peter
Moderator
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,761
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From: Atlanta, GA
I'm new to Club Lexus and have a "Gummy Trunk Button" on my '07 LS 460. Not as bad as yours. Mine is sticky but not deteriorated. The dealer wants $449 to make the repair (part & labor). I chocked. Question: What about covering the rubber with black plastic tape (like electrical tape)? I know that is not a proper repair, but would it work and buy me some time? Like one to four years. Peter
Rookie
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 86
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From: Maryland,Lagos
Lead Lap
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 589
Likes: 14
From: LA
Try to get it replaced under the extended warranty. I had mine replaced under my Lexus care. I just told them that when it sticks I can't get my trunk open and that it is a hazard when it doesn't function. They know that it's bad quality.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 48
Likes: 1
From: Florida
I had my sticky trunk switch replaced yesterday under my extended warranty, same as Gotcha350 did. I told my service advisor that I could only get the trunk to open after as many as 5 or 6 attempts.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: CA
2007 GS 350 same gummy issue
I'm new to Club Lexus and have a "Gummy Trunk Button" on my '07 LS 460. Not as bad as yours. Mine is sticky but not deteriorated. The dealer wants $449 to make the repair (part & labor). I chocked. Question: What about covering the rubber with black plastic tape (like electrical tape)? I know that is not a proper repair, but would it work and buy me some time? Like one to four years.
Peter
Peter
It has only started to decompose so I'm going to just stop using it. Given that my remote and inside trunk release are still workable, I'll just use those instead. My personal experience with plastic fasteners is that they become brittle over time and they are mainly designed to be inserted and not removed. I would likely snap off several of them anyways.
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Driver School Candidate
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: TX
Gummy Trunk Button - Sticky Interior
I too have a 2007 LS 460 with a gummy trunk button. I covered mine with electrical tape and seems okay. If I were to complete the repair, I would purchase the part online, like ebay. Often it comes from a dealer at a lower cost. I would not attempt the repair myself but take it to my upholstery guy for installation. Would be just as good and cost less.
On another point, I have noticed that my interior (dash and door panels) become sticky on hot days. I live in Plano, TX. The car is paid for and in great shape otherwise. This is the kind of issue that makes me consider changing brand as Lexus seems to have left us twisting in the wind over obvious factory/ design defects. At the very least Lexus should make these replacement parts available at a more affordable cost and a brake on labor. These are failures do to manufacturing defects.
On another point, I have noticed that my interior (dash and door panels) become sticky on hot days. I live in Plano, TX. The car is paid for and in great shape otherwise. This is the kind of issue that makes me consider changing brand as Lexus seems to have left us twisting in the wind over obvious factory/ design defects. At the very least Lexus should make these replacement parts available at a more affordable cost and a brake on labor. These are failures do to manufacturing defects.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 3,486
Likes: 60
From: CA
I too have a 2007 LS 460 with a gummy trunk button. I covered mine with electrical tape and seems okay. If I were to complete the repair, I would purchase the part online, like ebay. Often it comes from a dealer at a lower cost. I would not attempt the repair myself but take it to my upholstery guy for installation. Would be just as good and cost less.
On another point, I have noticed that my interior (dash and door panels) become sticky on hot days. I live in Plano, TX. The car is paid for and in great shape otherwise. This is the kind of issue that makes me consider changing brand as Lexus seems to have left us twisting in the wind over obvious factory/ design defects. At the very least Lexus should make these replacement parts available at a more affordable cost and a brake on labor. These are failures do to manufacturing defects.
On another point, I have noticed that my interior (dash and door panels) become sticky on hot days. I live in Plano, TX. The car is paid for and in great shape otherwise. This is the kind of issue that makes me consider changing brand as Lexus seems to have left us twisting in the wind over obvious factory/ design defects. At the very least Lexus should make these replacement parts available at a more affordable cost and a brake on labor. These are failures do to manufacturing defects.
http://m.local10.com/blob/view/-/311...nt-Program.pdf
https://www.carbuyingtips.com/articl...ty-repairs.htm
Last edited by Gbp; Sep 2, 2015 at 02:36 PM.
TIP... Buy the $50 OEM part...
I bought the $10 replacement rubber handle only off eBay, and it literally took me an hour extra to take the "gum" off the button. I thought I could just rip it off, but it was like try to clean epoxy glue off. It was too much waste of time to save $40. In the end it worked and looks great, but still time wasted.
The whole job took me 2.5 hours.
TIP #2.. have 10mm DEEP SOCKET ..
There are 2 or 3 bolts that would've been 10 times easier to work with a deep socket. I had to "MacGuyver" my way around... Again, not worth my time.
TIP #3.. try to work during the day.. I worked in the garage at night with the garage light towards the front of my car. I had a flashlight, and the situation wasn't ideal.
TIP #4.. If you have car trim/panel removal kit, it'll help a lot. I have a $3 or $5 one I bought from Amazon, and it's very nice.
I bought the $10 replacement rubber handle only off eBay, and it literally took me an hour extra to take the "gum" off the button. I thought I could just rip it off, but it was like try to clean epoxy glue off. It was too much waste of time to save $40. In the end it worked and looks great, but still time wasted.
The whole job took me 2.5 hours.
TIP #2.. have 10mm DEEP SOCKET ..
There are 2 or 3 bolts that would've been 10 times easier to work with a deep socket. I had to "MacGuyver" my way around... Again, not worth my time.
TIP #3.. try to work during the day.. I worked in the garage at night with the garage light towards the front of my car. I had a flashlight, and the situation wasn't ideal.
TIP #4.. If you have car trim/panel removal kit, it'll help a lot. I have a $3 or $5 one I bought from Amazon, and it's very nice.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
From: CA
Just did the repair. The difficult part was the bezel on the emergency release handle. Once I was able to remove the bezel, the cover came off. I had to push hard on the studs to remove the panel. You also have to remember to put the panel back in place before you replace the camera and key lock.