Any Advice, License Plate screws rusted on...

[2angelsinheaven]

We had to renew our tags yesterday and since it's been 5 years we got a new plate. Well we went to remove the old one since it's considered a "dead" plate now and the screws are rusted on.

We bought some liquid wrench and let it soak, tried again, nothing. Tried pliers as well.

Any ideas?

 

[freckles and boo]

If you still take your car to the dealer for regular service (yes, even after five years) they might change your plates for free. They have pneumatic wrenches just sitting around willy-nilly. Can't hurt to ask.

 

[JR6ooo4]

Sometimes applying heat will break the rust bond. But it is a lot of heat, like with a blow torch. Not something I would reccomend to a non professional. Flamable coatings on the plat and car and there is probably gasoline nearby.

Keep soaking the bolts. Display the plates where the police can see them and if you are asked you can tell them you are tryin gto ge tthe bolts loose.

Mikeeee

 

[cardaway]

WD40. If that doesn't work, drill them out. Get a drill bit that is just slightly smaller than the shaft of the rusted bolt and drill down the center.

This isn't something that would be a good idea anywhere else on the car, but on most cars this will not damage anything but the bolt. The bolt will end up very weak and break or you'll be able to stick something in the hole and turn the bolt.

 

[WDWVillain]

WD40. If that doesn't work, drill them out. Get a drill bit that is just slightly smaller than the shaft of the rusted bolt and drill down the center.

This isn't something that would be a good idea anywhere else on the car, but on most cars this will not damage anything but the bolt. The bolt will end up very weak and break or you'll be able to stick something in the hole and turn the bolt.

WD40! Love that stuff!

 

[maelstrom]

You should be able to use a drill to get them out.

 

[LadyyRedd]

How come you had to get new plates? I've had my plates on my car since April 1998 and they are fine.

Kimya

 

[figment52]

My first thought- buy a new car -lol.

Probably not the answer you wanted, but it was still my first thought.

At least others could offer practical advise.

 

[MickeyMike]

WD40. Spray on. Wait 5 minutes. Take screws out.

 

[DrCavin]

PB Blaster

http://www.pbblaster.com/store/moreinfo.cfm?Product_ID=1

 

[ducklite]

WD40. If that doesn't work, drill them out. Get a drill bit that is just slightly smaller than the shaft of the rusted bolt and drill down the center.

This isn't something that would be a good idea anywhere else on the car, but on most cars this will not damage anything but the bolt. The bolt will end up very weak and break or you'll be able to stick something in the hole and turn the bolt.

That was my thought exactly. I had to do this about 15 years ago (living in Syracuse will rust anything in one winter) and it took about ten minutes to drill out both bolts holding the tag on.

Anne

 

[2angelsinheaven]

Well we renewed our tags and since we had a charity tag and it was time for a new plate we selected a new one. Of course now I'm thinking we should have stayed with the original...lol