2007 prius trunk hatch release rubber piece melted

wshpoon · 11-04-2009, 03:19 PM

Hi,

When I try to open the trunk, the rubber piece that you touch in order to open the trunk seem to have melted. My fingers turn black every time I try to open the trunk. Does anyone know what that rubber piece is called or the part number so that I can replace it? The dealer wants to charge me around $200 to do it, but I'd rather save the money and do it myself.

Has anyone else experienced that or is it the hot Florida weather that's the culprit?

TIA

-Wazir

Patrick Wong · 11-04-2009, 04:08 PM

This is a new one. The switch costs $71 plus shipping at Champion Toyota, Houston:
Champion ToyotaWorld

$200 at the dealer is not bad considering MSRP for the switch is $94. Good luck.

richard schumacher · 11-05-2009, 10:12 AM

That is odd. Has it ever been exposed to some harsh chemical?

alanh · 11-06-2009, 08:34 PM

Yeah -- it gets to 115F here, and mine hasn't melted. I'd suspect the chemical contamination.

epithumia · 11-11-2009, 11:04 AM

Mine has melted as well; it does get hot here in Houston, and I can't think of how it could have been chemically contaminated unless I drove through something that had no visible effect on the rest of the car. We don't even use it all that often.

The dealer wants $317 to replace it, which is somewhat hilarious. I believe this is a defect issue and am going to at least try to get them to fix it under the overly expensive warranty I was dumb enough to buy.

Also found out today that the stock tires need replacement after only 38K miles. Not really happy about that either.

richard schumacher · 11-11-2009, 02:12 PM

The very air in Houston is chemically contaminated :_> At least you'll get some value out of the extended warranty.

Judging from reports here most people get less than 38K from the stock tires.

edthefox5 · 11-12-2009, 01:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wshpoon

Hi,

When I try to open the trunk, the rubber piece that you touch in order to open the trunk seem to have melted. My fingers turn black every time I try to open the trunk. Does anyone know what that rubber piece is called or the part number so that I can replace it? The dealer wants to charge me around $200 to do it, but I'd rather save the money and do it myself.

Has anyone else experienced that or is it the hot Florida weather that's the culprit?

TIA

-Wazir

Yup...... Tampa here and my 07's melted too. Hadn't opened the trunk for a few months and first time it felt like grabbing on to a candy bar. It sure got hot here last summer didn't it? Brutal.

Please post and let us know how the replacement went. Thanks.

bedrock8x · 11-12-2009, 01:48 AM

One of my solution to melting plastic/rubber is to cut a piece packaging tape about the same size and tape over it.

11-04-2009, 03:19 PM	#1
wshpoon Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Boca Raton Posts: 1 My Car: 2007 Prius Model: N/A Package: Navigation Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	2007 prius trunk hatch release rubber piece melted Hi, When I try to open the trunk, the rubber piece that you touch in order to open the trunk seem to have melted. My fingers turn black every time I try to open the trunk. Does anyone know what that rubber piece is called or the part number so that I can replace it? The dealer wants to charge me around $200 to do it, but I'd rather save the money and do it myself. Has anyone else experienced that or is it the hot Florida weather that's the culprit? TIA -Wazir

11-04-2009, 04:08 PM	#2
Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Green Valley, AZ Posts: 4,060 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: N/A Package: #9 Thanks: 21 Thanked 213 Times in 184 Posts Friends: 44	Re: 2007 prius trunk hatch release rubber piece melted This is a new one. The switch costs $71 plus shipping at Champion Toyota, Houston: Champion ToyotaWorld $200 at the dealer is not bad considering MSRP for the switch is $94. Good luck.

11-05-2009, 10:12 AM	#3
richard schumacher Destination: Eschaton Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: United States Posts: 5,516 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: N/A Package: #6 Thanks: 100 Thanked 93 Times in 66 Posts Friends: 0	Re: 2007 prius trunk hatch release rubber piece melted That is odd. Has it ever been exposed to some harsh chemical?

11-06-2009, 08:34 PM	#4
alanh Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 1,043 My Car: 2007 Prius Model: Package: #5 Thanks: 49 Thanked 49 Times in 34 Posts Friends: 0	Re: 2007 prius trunk hatch release rubber piece melted Yeah -- it gets to 115F here, and mine hasn't melted. I'd suspect the chemical contamination.

11-11-2009, 11:04 AM	#5
epithumia Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 1 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Re: 2007 prius trunk hatch release rubber piece melted Mine has melted as well; it does get hot here in Houston, and I can't think of how it could have been chemically contaminated unless I drove through something that had no visible effect on the rest of the car. We don't even use it all that often. The dealer wants $317 to replace it, which is somewhat hilarious. I believe this is a defect issue and am going to at least try to get them to fix it under the overly expensive warranty I was dumb enough to buy. Also found out today that the stock tires need replacement after only 38K miles. Not really happy about that either.

11-11-2009, 02:12 PM	#6
richard schumacher Destination: Eschaton Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: United States Posts: 5,516 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: N/A Package: #6 Thanks: 100 Thanked 93 Times in 66 Posts Friends: 0	Re: 2007 prius trunk hatch release rubber piece melted The very air in Houston is chemically contaminated :_> At least you'll get some value out of the extended warranty. Judging from reports here most people get less than 38K from the stock tires.

11-12-2009, 01:48 AM	#8
bedrock8x Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: California Posts: 595 My Car: Other Hybrid Model: Package: N/A Thanks: 4 Thanked 14 Times in 11 Posts Friends: 2	Re: 2007 prius trunk hatch release rubber piece melted One of my solution to melting plastic/rubber is to cut a piece packaging tape about the same size and tape over it.

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