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My 2008 LS leaves a copious amount of rubber on my fingers every time I try to use that switch. I bought the replacement gear then tried to figure out how to use it. It seemed very complex so I didn't finish the project. Wow! This video inspires me to go get it fixed. Thank you kindly for your expertise and instructions.
Great writeup. Thanks for taking the time to share it. As others have commented, the worst part for me was removing the tar-like old cover that had completely deteriorated. I've just moved to a new location and didn't have all of my tools. So I didn't have any kind of solvent spray to break down the black gummy sludge. Fortunately I'd just bought a bottle of gumout gas treatment and I was able to use it to wipe off the yuck. But that part of the job took about an hour and left me with black stick stuff all over my fingers.
Now, if only someone would make a suitable and affordable replacement for the driver and passenger door armrests that are also "melting" into a gummy coating. I can't believe Lexus didn't do proper materials testing for these parts. That's been the biggest disappointment in this brand for me.
Thanks for the posting. Most difficult part was prying the cover off after 11 years of being attached. The top 3 pins aren't discussed (under the chrome. After loosening up the nuts, you have to pop these plastic pins out and then you're home free.
the emergency opening thing.. i can pop it... someone who has done it please explain in detail, asl i supposed to just pop the whole thing loose or how does it come off.. i had to stop because i could not pop it off.... thanks guys
Thank you for this post. I was able to figure out all but one thing myself until I reviewed this thread. Call it a "blockhead" moment but I didn't remove the license plate first =P. Awesome writeup with pictures. I chose to keep the working switch and just replace the cover - that was 2 hours of cleaning that ooey gooey mess from the switch housing.
Now if I could figure out how to change the license plate bulbs =P
Have a 2009 and 2010 ES350. Both had trunk buttons melt in the terribly hot CT weather! Sure, there is no problem wiht this part. They wanted to charge $100 for a new complete unit. Some tape and some Liquid Seal and good as new. Sometimes you need to admit you had a poor supplier product!
Instructions were perfect. This definitely made the job a lot easier. I found the part on Amazon for $10.99. Took me about an hour to complete mainly because the rubber portion of my truck button had basically turned to tar and I had to scrape and clean all the melted rubber from around the lever. Works perfect now and looks great. Thanks for the step by step.
Last edited by KingYoshi; Sep 28, 2020 at 08:47 PM.
bought my car with the trunk lid button gummy. Living here in canada im surprised it was in such bad condition with our frozen winters. this tutorial was A1
Bought a new button for my LS600hL as I thought if I am going to the trouble of disassembling the boot lid, I might as well just change the whole button and not just the rubber cover. Its such a let down that all these Lexus models get this gummy/melted boot button. Makes the car feel cheap and not looked after. Thoroughly recommend anyone with this issue to change over the button.
Process is pretty straight forward and not to difficult.
Thank you!
Repaired LS460 2008
