I just noticed that my IS Shifter Sliding Cover is showing the hole...I am sure this is not normal. Therefore I think something went wrong...any idea? Also is this repairable?

 

That piece is fairly easy to remove; here is a link to a video (I haven't watched it since I'm meant to be working right now...), but it shouldn't be much more complicated than the manual transmission version. Either the piece of trim came loose or it broke; either way, replacements are plentiful on ebay.

 

This happened in my LS460. Sometimes you have to search hard for the two parts you need. One word of caution. The plate itself is plastic and over time it becomes brittle. Be super careful when unscrewing and screwing the frame that the shifter cover slides in. One of mine shattered when I was screwing back in and I was using the smallest manual screwdriver that I had to minimize how much torque I could apply. Don't even think of using a screwgun.

 

https://www.lexussouthatlantaparts.c...&searchString=

 

From this diagram it looks like the IS only has one part for the slider (359758) The LS had a second part. They break where the slide plate starts to curve.

 

Thanks a lot CL warriors!

Turns out son's Xmas gift - an Amazon Gift Card came in handy.

The replacement is arriving Sunday!

 

Easy fix, $20 and 2 minutes of time. Here's the item on eBay and a DIY video.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/201718451961

You Tube

 

Mine is ready to be replaced, if I can get my behind off the chair!

 

Just purchased the same one myself. SICK of looking at it missing! LOL!

 

So what happens if something gets dropped down into the hole where the shifter is???

 

I would think it wouldn't do much. The material is so briitle is will just crumble. If you have access to a compressor. You could probably blow it out. If the material is new. You should probably fish it out.

 

Just did this fix in my IS 350C. Went with this one for $9 and took about 15 minutes. Dealer quoted $170 for it lol.

Console removal: Slider replacement: