You can buy the button cover only now on ebay for about $5-15 bucks. The new cover is made of silicone, comes with new screws, and an angles screwdriver. No more taking the back hatch apart. Just unscrew the 2 screws and remove the old button cover. Clean up what you can and then screw on the new one. Should be a 5 minute job now.
Rear hatch opener melted!
- Thread starter ZandT4R
- Start date
supraholic
New member
I picked a new hatch button cover on Amazon: New IMPROVED GRIP Replacement Repair KITS for Lexus Toyota Scion Liftgate Trunk Hatch Back Door Handle Switch Release Opening Button Cover https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071DVJ6ZD?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf
Installed it today. Pretty easy jog—just be patient with removing/installing the screws as to not strip the Phillips head screws. Here are a few pics:
New button cover with angled screw driver:
Remove both screws then pry the button out of the slot; it’s clipped in with plastic body clips as you can see a couple pics below:
Now the fun part: peel and scrape off the old button. Wear gloves! What a sticky, nasty mess the OEM deteriorating button makes. Here’s the old button in a pile:
Oh, and notice the black washers above! I re-used from the original button; had to peel them from the old rubber.
Cleaned up the button as much as I could so the new button cover would go on clean:
When putting on the new button cover, it goes on just one way—you’ll see a more beveled edge on one side of the button and lines up with one side of the silicon cover; just look carefully and you’ll see what I mean. Here she is all nice and new!
Just snap the unit back into place, use washers noted above and secure with the screws. Took me about 20 minutes all said and done—would have been 5 min of it weren’t for the mess in cleaning the button.
-Dan
Installed it today. Pretty easy jog—just be patient with removing/installing the screws as to not strip the Phillips head screws. Here are a few pics:
New button cover with angled screw driver:
Remove both screws then pry the button out of the slot; it’s clipped in with plastic body clips as you can see a couple pics below:
Now the fun part: peel and scrape off the old button. Wear gloves! What a sticky, nasty mess the OEM deteriorating button makes. Here’s the old button in a pile:
Oh, and notice the black washers above! I re-used from the original button; had to peel them from the old rubber.
Cleaned up the button as much as I could so the new button cover would go on clean:
When putting on the new button cover, it goes on just one way—you’ll see a more beveled edge on one side of the button and lines up with one side of the silicon cover; just look carefully and you’ll see what I mean. Here she is all nice and new!
Just snap the unit back into place, use washers noted above and secure with the screws. Took me about 20 minutes all said and done—would have been 5 min of it weren’t for the mess in cleaning the button.
-Dan
AuSeeker
Elite Member
I picked a new hatch button cover on Amazon: New IMPROVED GRIP Replacement Repair KITS for Lexus Toyota Scion Liftgate Trunk Hatch Back Door Handle Switch Release Opening Button Cover https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071DVJ6ZD?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf
Installed it today. Pretty easy jog—just be patient with removing/installing the screws as to not strip the Phillips head screws. Here are a few pics:
New button cover with angled screw driver:
Remove both screws then pry the button out of the slot; it’s clipped in with plastic body clips as you can see a couple pics below:
Now the fun part: peel and scrape off the old button. Wear gloves! What a sticky, nasty mess the OEM deteriorating button makes. Here’s the old button in a pile:
Oh, and notice the black washers above! I re-used from the original button; had to peel them from the old rubber.
Cleaned up the button as much as I could so the new button cover would go on clean:
When putting on the new button cover, it goes on just one way—you’ll see a more beveled edge on one side of the button and lines up with one side of the silicon cover; just look carefully and you’ll see what I mean. Here she is all nice and new!
Just snap the unit back into place, use washers noted above and secure with the screws. Took me about 20 minutes all said and done—would have been 5 min of it weren’t for the mess in cleaning the button.
-Dan
Good job Dan!
IMHO if I ever need to replace mine I will get the entire switch with the cover, the cost is only a few more $ and I wouldn't have to deal with all that mess, and since the orginal switch is now over 14 years old I think it's just best to replace it and never have to worry about having to deal with it again.
MD4Runner13
New member
Happened to my 2013 this summer here in Maryland. Thought I was crazy for awhile. Glad I’m not the only one this has happened too!
TheDailyDownshift
New member
I just did this on my 07. The $11 kit on Amazon is a way better spend than $80 or whatever the dealer wants for a new switch assembly.
I replaced mine (2006 limited) with this $9 cover - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01NCO5187/ - it took a while to get all of the melted rubber off the old handle but it was simple to swap.
Im new to this thread and auto repair is definitely not an area of brilliance for me so please be patient if my questions seem a little extra clueless. My hatch handle also melted on an 80 degree day and there hasn’t been a day hotter than that one in weeks. I’ve most always had 4 Runners but this is the first 2013 and it’s only been about 6 months. The next day my maintenance light came on. Maybe a fuse or short that then also triggered the maintenance light? If so, will it cause more damage if it takes a few days to get repaired?
Thank you tons!
Thank you tons!
AuSeeker
Elite Member
Not sure of the melted hatch handle on a 5th gen but on a 4th gen this is an occasional issue but it's just the rubber cover and fairly easily replaceable and not an expensive part, but is a bit messy, so maybe it's the same on a 5th gen.
On a 4th gen the maintenance light is just a reminder that it's time to change the oil and filter, I would assume it's the same for a 5th gen, and there should be a mention of this and how to reset the light in your owner's manual.
That all being said you posted this question/post in the 4th gen forum section, I would suggest that you repost in the 5th gen section so the 5th gen owners can confirm what I suggested and or guide you with their first hand knowledge.
