Rear Liftgate rubber button replacement? - Toyota 4Runner Forum

dmccarthy · 12-03-2015, 08:17 AM

I own a 2008 V8 4runner-limited and the rubber that covers the rear liftgate automatic button appears "melted" and has been for quite some while. It looks like when I combed the internet it seems like quite a few people have had similar issues. When I brought it up at the dealer they told me it was $350 to replace the button assembly. I can't find just the replacement rubber piece anywhere on the internet. Does anyone have any suggestions. It is getting very difficult to open the liftgate due to the issue and would like to replace if possible.

Thanks,

Darin McCarthy

S4TA · 12-03-2015, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmccarthy

I own a 2008 V8 4runner-limited and the rubber that covers the rear liftgate automatic button appears "melted" and has been for quite some while. It looks like when I combed the internet it seems like quite a few people have had similar issues. When I brought it up at the dealer they told me it was $350 to replace the button assembly. I can't find just the replacement rubber piece anywhere on the internet. Does anyone have any suggestions. It is getting very difficult to open the liftgate due to the issue and would like to replace if possible.

Thanks,

Darin McCarthy

I'm having the same issue with my Toyota Seinna which uses the same part. This is what I found on Amazon for about $35.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00..._dp_o_pd_S_ttl
I also saw someone nicely wrap the button in duct tape. Sounds bad, but you can't really see it.

rooost · 12-03-2015, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by S4TA

I'm having the same issue with my Toyota Seinna which uses the same part. This is what I found on Amazon for about $35.
Amazon.com: 2003-2013 Toyota 4Runner - Genuine Liftgate Release Switch - 84840-35010: Automotive
I also saw someone nicely wrap the button in duct tape. Sounds bad, but you can't really see it.

Thanks...that is way better than buying the $350 Assembly....and yes I had a blue paper shop towl stuck to mine..gets a little sticky down here

http://www.toyota120.com/forum/showthread.php?t=18231

Here is the writeup from toyota120

techno · 12-03-2015, 01:10 PM

You can not purchase just the rubber part, you have to get the whole switch and they are easy to find online. I replaced mine recently for the same reason. Took me less than an hour to do, including eating pizza at the same time.

bob3dsf · 12-03-2015, 04:26 PM

Ditto, It's pretty easy but I bought a set of trim removal tools from Harbor freight so I wouldn't trash the mounting studs.

Bug · 12-03-2015, 04:46 PM

Same thing happened to my '07 SR5. Tried the duct tape trick for a while until it became almost impossible to open, especially in cold weather. So, I ordered the switch assembly (part #84840-35010) from Toyotapartsdeal.com. Easy fix.

Mushroom_Cap · 12-03-2015, 09:09 PM

Had the saem problem with our 07 4Runner about a year ago. Rubber turned all gummy, eventually peeled off!

I separated the button assembly from the hatch. Two Phillips screws if I remember correctly. Now it is just hanging out still connected by the wire. Can't disconnect it if I remember correctly as it disappears into the hatch.

I scraped all the gummy rubber off. Cleaned it up with a bit of acetone. Gave it a light sand and cleaned again.

The I got a bicycle inner tube. Measured and cut a perfect sized piece to cover where the old rubber was. I glued it in place with super glue. It was a bit of pain, I had some scraps of wood and some clamps holding the whole mess together. After the glue set I removed the wood and clamps. Checked it over. Seemed fine but just to be sure I wiped a light bead of marine silicon around the edges.

Installed back in you'd never know it was "mickey mouse" fixed. The inner tube looks just like the OEM rubber that was there. It's been there for over a year and shows no signs of breaking down.

I originally was going to buy the part at the dealer but the price was insane. Like $400 seems to ring a bell.

dmccarthy · 12-05-2015, 09:01 AM

Thank you very much, I am going to purchase that. Perfect!

dmccarthy · 12-05-2015, 09:02 AM

Thank you for the instructions. I thought I would be the only one with this issue. This is going to help a lot!

S4TA · 12-05-2015, 08:37 PM

The part I linked to earlier is only $35. I have no idea why the dealers would charge $400. Half hour tops

BlackWorksInc · 12-05-2015, 09:19 PM

$350 is way too much...

I would guess at least .5hrs labor and $40~50 for the part at mark-up, so about $115~125-ish (IIRC my dealership's hourly rate is $150, so 150/2=$17 +30~40)

Honestly though you get a small screwdriver and remove the pad, I don't remember if the connector is clipped to the body or not; if it is... you just pop the plastic interior panel off and unplug it and feed the new one in.

gbouton · 09-11-2016, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mushroom_Cap

Had the saem problem with our 07 4Runner about a year ago. Rubber turned all gummy, eventually peeled off!

I separated the button assembly from the hatch. Two Phillips screws if I remember correctly. Now it is just hanging out still connected by the wire. Can't disconnect it if I remember correctly as it disappears into the hatch.

I scraped all the gummy rubber off. Cleaned it up with a bit of acetone. Gave it a light sand and cleaned again.

The I got a bicycle inner tube. Measured and cut a perfect sized piece to cover where the old rubber was. I glued it in place with super glue. It was a bit of pain, I had some scraps of wood and some clamps holding the whole mess together. After the glue set I removed the wood and clamps. Checked it over. Seemed fine but just to be sure I wiped a light bead of marine silicon around the edges.

Installed back in you'd never know it was "mickey mouse" fixed. The inner tube looks just like the OEM rubber that was there. It's been there for over a year and shows no signs of breaking down.

I originally was going to buy the part at the dealer but the price was insane. Like $400 seems to ring a bell.

Sorry for bumping an old post, but wanted to add that as an alternative to the bicycle inner tube 'fix', I just followed the same steps posted above, but used a new rubber cover that I bought on eBay for $19. It fit perfect and total DIY time was about 30 minutes, with most of that being clean-up of the old rubber cover remnants from around the switch mechanism (nearly liquified in my case). I used 3M Adhesive Remover instead of acetone, but it's probably the same thing. A few pictures I took during the process are below. I recommend putting some blue painters tape around the "button" area, and using latex gloves if your switch cover is really melted...mine went from being just slightly tacky to full-on melt-on-your-hand in just a few weeks, so catching this early definitely makes for a less messy procedure. A small "s" shaped philips head screwdriver and a bungee cord to hold the rear hatch down at a good working angle helped a lot as well.

-Graham