Rear RAV4 plate screws broke off. Use extra dimples?
May 27, 2024 4:17 PM Subscribe
The top pair of screws for my rear license plate snapped while I was removing them. Underneath I see two dimples, between the existing holes. Can I just drill through my plate and into those new dimples? Or must I do the rigamarole of drilling out the old screws?
It's a 2011 RAV4 in New England, so the screws were badly corroded into place.
I haven't checked the lower two screws, which my wife removed; I believe those broke off, too. (Indeed, I has a sad.)
Thanks for any experiences!
It's a 2011 RAV4 in New England, so the screws were badly corroded into place.
I haven't checked the lower two screws, which my wife removed; I believe those broke off, too. (Indeed, I has a sad.)
Thanks for any experiences!
Best answer: Don't drill through the plate. Move it over an inch and make new holes that still have the right spacing so you can use them next time with a new unmodified plate too.
posted by fritley at 4:35 PM on May 27, 2024 [1 favorite]
posted by fritley at 4:35 PM on May 27, 2024 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thanks!
Does it matter what kind of screws I use, or how many (two or four), if I am driving them into a plastic bumper?
posted by wenestvedt at 6:18 PM on May 27, 2024
Does it matter what kind of screws I use, or how many (two or four), if I am driving them into a plastic bumper?
posted by wenestvedt at 6:18 PM on May 27, 2024
If you can easily access behind the bumper, I'd use stainless steel bolts, fender washer, and nylon lock nut in the exact same locations.
posted by flimflam at 8:41 PM on May 27, 2024
posted by flimflam at 8:41 PM on May 27, 2024
A 2011 RAV4 doesn’t have any electronic doohickies in the bumper, but I would be very careful sending screws into a new car’s bumper unless it was in a spot specifically designed for it.
posted by rockindata at 4:47 AM on May 28, 2024
posted by rockindata at 4:47 AM on May 28, 2024
Response by poster: Thanks, all -- I went to the hardware store this morning and prowled around the aisle of tiny drawers full of parts, then headed home with the supplies.
For the front license plate, I bought two new speed clips plus new M6x25mm screws (which are a good 25% too long) to attach the plate to the existing black plastic mounting bar, and then I used two stainless steel, self-tapping, 1" screws to mount the bar on the bumper. It kind of bows outward a bit from the too-long screws, but I don't care.
For the rear license plate, I scooted the plate slightly toward the passenger side. I bought some stainless steel, self-tapping screws, one inch long. The upper-left corner went over the "extra" hole pressed into the plastic of the bumper, and I just drove in a screw. I started a hole into this little nubbins at the lower-right corner, which turns out to be a solid rubber blob designed to keep the plate from jiggling which I could go right through: that was the second corner. The upper-right corner offered an opening in the plastic bumper, but I couldn't drive a screw into the steel underneath -- so that one isn't actually secured. And for the lower-left corner I just drove a screw into the plastic bumper.
Ugly, but functional!
posted by wenestvedt at 12:56 PM on May 29, 2024
For the front license plate, I bought two new speed clips plus new M6x25mm screws (which are a good 25% too long) to attach the plate to the existing black plastic mounting bar, and then I used two stainless steel, self-tapping, 1" screws to mount the bar on the bumper. It kind of bows outward a bit from the too-long screws, but I don't care.
For the rear license plate, I scooted the plate slightly toward the passenger side. I bought some stainless steel, self-tapping screws, one inch long. The upper-left corner went over the "extra" hole pressed into the plastic of the bumper, and I just drove in a screw. I started a hole into this little nubbins at the lower-right corner, which turns out to be a solid rubber blob designed to keep the plate from jiggling which I could go right through: that was the second corner. The upper-right corner offered an opening in the plastic bumper, but I couldn't drive a screw into the steel underneath -- so that one isn't actually secured. And for the lower-left corner I just drove a screw into the plastic bumper.
Ugly, but functional!
posted by wenestvedt at 12:56 PM on May 29, 2024
« Older Houseplants for bright direct sun + growing in... | Place to bring my dog to avoid fireworks Newer »
You are not logged in, either login or create an account to post comments
posted by so fucking future at 4:22 PM on May 27, 2024 [1 favorite]