Got the Gooey Rear Hatch Button Cover Replaced

[sloscheider]

Finally had a couple warm days and some free time up here in Minnesota. After some cursing, wailing and gnashing of teeth I got the old screws out and cleaned all the black goo from the rear hatch button on my 4Runner. I resorted to electrical contact cleaner to get the plastics around the switch cleaned up but now I can open the hatch even when it's -20 outside (at least I hope I'll be able too)...

The dealer gave me an estimate of $200 for the job - got the part on Amazon for $12

Given this is a cheap common part available on Amazon I have to believe this is a common problem. It doesn't appear Toyota has laid claim to it though.

 

[Catfishvodka]

Any chance you could share link to part?

 

[UrbanRunner651]

+1 for the link.
I'm due to replace mine since the rubber is melted/sliding off. Still opens fine in the extreme cold though.

 

[gimlithepirate]

Finally had a couple warm days and some free time up here in Minnesota. After some cursing, wailing and gnashing of teeth I got the old screws out and cleaned all the black goo from the rear hatch button on my 4Runner. I resorted to electrical contact cleaner to get the plastics around the switch cleaned up but now I can open the hatch even when it's -20 outside (at least I hope I'll be able too)...

The dealer gave me an estimate of $200 for the job - got the part on Amazon for $12

Given this is a cheap common part available on Amazon I have to believe this is a common problem. It doesn't appear Toyota has laid claim to it though.

+2 for the part link! Mine is kind of falling apart, and for that price I'd love to fix it.

 

[Berty_K]

+2 for the part link! Mine is kind of falling apart, and for that price I'd love to fix it.

Heres what I used. No more mess every time I open the trunk

Liftgate Switch Cover w/Screwdriver & Screws for Toyota Prius Scion 4runner Camry Lexus Rear Hatch Button Trunk Door Release Repair Kit 84905-47010 84840-21010 Amazon.com: Liftgate Switch Cover w/Screwdriver & Screws for Toyota Prius Scion 4runner Camry Lexus Rear Hatch Button Trunk Door Release Repair Kit 84905-47010 84840-21010: Automotive

 

[TheDailyDownshift]

This was literally the first thing I did when I got my truck. Best $12 I ever spent

 

[SW 07LTD]

I did the same last week. What a difference! However, if I could make a suggestion, I would recommend to replace the entire switch, not just the rubber pad. You're removing it anyway. While I was spending time cleaning off all of the melted rubber, I wish I had just gotten a whole new one and would've been done in 1/2 the time. Do a search for Dorman 901-725. I'm not sure if that is the OEM or aftermarket. Various sites have it anywhere from $40-$55.

 

[riceandpho]

I did the same last week. What a difference! However, if I could make a suggestion, I would recommend to replace the entire switch, not just the rubber pad. You're removing it anyway. While I was spending time cleaning off all of the melted rubber, I wish I had just gotten a whole new one and would've been done in 1/2 the time. Do a search for Dorman 901-725. I'm not sure if that is the OEM or aftermarket. Various sites have it anywhere from $40-$55.

have to agree with this guy a little, i did the rubber only replacement and that was messy, if i had to do it all over, i pay the extra for the new oem assembly, no mess and no fuss.

 

[Ralph Blake]

I cut a piece of thin rubber it stuck to the mess and covers it, works great when pressing on it.
Update I also used heavy foil tape over the rubber this really kept it covered and so far I can open it with no black junk on fingers.

 

[Rodrigo]

have to agree with this guy a little, i did the rubber only replacement and that was messy, if i had to do it all over, i pay the extra for the new oem assembly, no mess and no fuss.

Replaced the hatch button cover over the weekend, and definitely would have saved a ton of time by replacing the entire switch. Tools and hands covered in the black rubbery goo. Cleans ok with Lysol wipes though.

 

[sloscheider]

I cut a piece of thin rubber it stuck to the mess and covers it, works great when pressing on it.

Sorry for the late reply folks... yes, the link provided by Berty_K is what I got from Amazon. I don't have much spare money so it was worth the 20 minutes I spent cleaning up the old switch.

In my case with Minnesota's cold weather under about 25 degrees F the gooey rubber froze and I couldn't get the hatch to open at all so just putting a new layer of rubber over it wasn't an option.

 

[spdrcr29]

so it was worth the 20 minutes I spent cleaning up the old switch

Just did this on Saturday. You're lucky that it only took you 20 min. It took me over an hour to get all that gooey black mess cleaned up! Night and day improvement though and happy with the result!

 

[RPC]

Did the rear hatch switch on my 2008 today, found this thread helpful.

OEM part available on Amazon for $40, also picked up a cheap set of door panel trim removal tools for another $5.

Several videos on YouTube of this job being done, my 4Runner has been garaged since day one and I still broke a couple of clips on the emblem trim piece (one of the tabs that hold the lock and the top-most body clip).

Easy job, time was about a beer.

 

[LarryV]

Did the rear hatch switch on my 2008 today, found this thread helpful.

OEM part available on Amazon for $40, also picked up a cheap set of door panel trim removal tools for another $5.

Several videos on YouTube of this job being done, my 4Runner has been garaged since day one and I still broke a couple of clips on the emblem trim piece (one of the tabs that hold the lock and the top-most body clip).

Easy job, time was about a beer.

Great find. For $30, I will replace the whole switch.

 

[Ralph Blake]

Post removed.