ClockWork
Banned
Dude!! That's why you have bad mileage!!!
Rear hatch opener melted!
- Thread starter ZandT4R
- Start date
Dude!! That's why you have bad mileage!!!
martini
New member
ronsta, Part# 84840-35010
I replaced mine over the summer since mine totally melted looked like stringy bubble gum. You can tell the new part is made of a different material than the old one.
Here's a nice walk though if you haven't seen it: How to: Replace Rear Hatch Opening Switch - Toyota 120 Platforms Forum
I replaced mine over the summer since mine totally melted looked like stringy bubble gum. You can tell the new part is made of a different material than the old one.
Here's a nice walk though if you haven't seen it: How to: Replace Rear Hatch Opening Switch - Toyota 120 Platforms Forum
ronsta
New member
By George I think you've got it!
Thanks, looks like a lot of work. Again I think Toyota should foot the bill for this, as in recall... (not lawsuit)
Lot of the problems are the dealers trying to make a buck and not Toyota's fault. How many times has any dealer followed servicing procedures by the book and done all the checks? Do you even know what kind of oil is being used by the dealer? A branded one or some recycled crap?
Don't let a small hatch opener cloud your judgement BMW's dealers are totally on another planet when it comes to servicing. You cringe to pay 46 bucks? Your oil change charge on your BMW is going to cost you around 300 bucks. I know, as I shopped for a BMW for a friend and ran down the costs ! And their reliability is way below than a Kia ! But if you want the badge, go for it.
But if that's what you like, best of luck and hope it works out for you.
NCSCOTT
New member
My 08 did this. I never fixed it since I traded it in this past September w/55k miles. It had been like that for over a year. Strangely the one on my 04 is still perfect 8 years old and 125k miles. I guess the earlier 4th gens got a better batch???
I thought maybe it was a result of getting sunscreen on it. We make alot of beach trips and always come home with white screen hand prints on the paint in various spots. Of course always getting in and out of the back while at the beach. I don't know. Just a theory.....
I thought maybe it was a result of getting sunscreen on it. We make alot of beach trips and always come home with white screen hand prints on the paint in various spots. Of course always getting in and out of the back while at the beach. I don't know. Just a theory.....
Derek
New member
I just purchased an '07 SR5 yesterday and I realized today that mine has this same problem. This is my third 4Runner ('04, '05, and now '07) and I never had this problem before so I can only assume it's a bad batch of rubber.
The sunscreen theory could also be true. I've gotten sunscreen on other plastic items like cups, frisbees, etc. and that stuff can destroy plastic like nothing else. Yet we put it all over all skin go figure.
The sunscreen theory could also be true. I've gotten sunscreen on other plastic items like cups, frisbees, etc. and that stuff can destroy plastic like nothing else. Yet we put it all over all skin go figure.
Derek
New member
Me too. The hardest part for me was getting the outside trim piece to pop off because the clip behind the Toyota emblem simply would not budge. And I was even using trim removal tools too. When I was lifting up on the trim trying to get it to pop off, I didn't realize the top edge was digging into the paint so I have a nice new down-to-the-metal scratch right above the Toyota emblem. Not much I can do now. At least I won't have melted rubber all over my fingers every time I open the tailgate.
jediwebdude
New member
Mine melted. Fingers turn black every time I open the back door. Instead of replacing the rig, thinking of putting a new piece of rubber over the existing goo. Besides, a new Toyota rubber latch will melt again and I'll be back to square one.
Yeah I replaced mine about a month ago and I'm really glad I did. So tired of that crap coming off on my fingers every time I opened the back. Took me maybe 20-30 minutes. I agree it seems to be made of a different material but maybe I just think the old one feels different cause the old one is melted. In any case, even if I have to replace it every 4 or 5 years I'm ok with that. It's not a hard thing to do.
Tigerfan95
New member
My 07 has the same problem, but only half of it has melted. Makes me wonder why the other side hasn't done the same.
Thanks for the writeup as well. Picked up an 07 V6 SR5 yesterday, and noticed this issue when i got home
If I remember right there's a plug you can pull out that makes it real easy.
A GOOD SOLUTION TO GOOEY SWITCH and SIMPLE
I have a 2008 Toyota Sienna with the same problem for a year. Read that the new swich is made of the same YUKKY material. Actually it is a black rubber sleeve and the Stealerships do not sell that just by itself. as it would have been too simple and they would have to sell it for about $5 instead of getting the vehicle in for servce. I owe credit to this IDEA to another Toyota blogger. It takes about 20 minutes and you do not have to change the whole switch.
I used a L shaped screw driver as there is not much due to the angle the screw is in. Once the screws are out you can pull the switch out.
Finally got the sticky messy Liftgate handle out. You do not have to replace with a new one. One thing to note the melted rubber make the actuall plastic switch part harder to move in and out. Once cleaned its much smoother. The rubber cover as you can in the pic is all melted and hardened. You can use a small blade and scrap all the melted rubber out. Try to get as much as possible with the blade.
Then use a rag and rubbing alcohol to get the rest out. Be gentle as you don't want to break the switch assembly as its made out of plastic.
I used two pieces of duct tape and stuck them together just to add another layer. I would have liked to used something better but thats all I had. May be Gorilla Tape. I then attached the duct tape to switch and trimmed so that it can be wrapped around the assembly and seal it. It doesn't seem like water would get into it.
The duct tape setup is definitely a lot better than the cheap rubber cover. Time will tell. :clap2:
I have a 2008 Toyota Sienna with the same problem for a year. Read that the new swich is made of the same YUKKY material. Actually it is a black rubber sleeve and the Stealerships do not sell that just by itself. as it would have been too simple and they would have to sell it for about $5 instead of getting the vehicle in for servce. I owe credit to this IDEA to another Toyota blogger. It takes about 20 minutes and you do not have to change the whole switch.
I used a L shaped screw driver as there is not much due to the angle the screw is in. Once the screws are out you can pull the switch out.
Finally got the sticky messy Liftgate handle out. You do not have to replace with a new one. One thing to note the melted rubber make the actuall plastic switch part harder to move in and out. Once cleaned its much smoother. The rubber cover as you can in the pic is all melted and hardened. You can use a small blade and scrap all the melted rubber out. Try to get as much as possible with the blade.
Then use a rag and rubbing alcohol to get the rest out. Be gentle as you don't want to break the switch assembly as its made out of plastic.
I used two pieces of duct tape and stuck them together just to add another layer. I would have liked to used something better but thats all I had. May be Gorilla Tape. I then attached the duct tape to switch and trimmed so that it can be wrapped around the assembly and seal it. It doesn't seem like water would get into it.
The duct tape setup is definitely a lot better than the cheap rubber cover. Time will tell. :clap2:
