I need your advice on getting license plates off the old car.

[undeterred]

Sad story- old car died a week after I bought 4 new tires. Turns on, doesn't move, I think its the transmission. Got 150k on it so it had a good life.

Happy story- got another car this week. Really nice, sitting in the driveway right behind old car.

Problem. Thought transferring plates would be easy. The screws on the front plate look like they would turn with a flathead screwdriver, but they seem to be rusted on. Somebody recommended PB blaster but I'm afraid of wrecking the plates. Don't care too much about wrecking the car. Will get $300 from Junkmycar.com after I get the plates off.

Screws on the back license plate look like you need a tool to grab them on the outside. I tried a pliers and got nowhere. They are just stuck. What kind of tool???

Any suggestions? Remember... I can't move the car.

Thank you wise DUers and Merry Christmas!!

[Kali]

1. might be able to cut them off with a hacksaw

if you have time get some penetrating oil (or even just some vegetable oil) and apply generously then LET IT SIT - over night if you can - time is the real trick - reapply the oil and let it sit

then try to unscrew (probably need a wrench on the back or a pair of vice grips) - if it still won't turn try tightening - sometimes that will loosen things - then back it off again. if nothing else two pairs of vice grips ought to at least break the bolts and you can get some new ones.

I have plates held onto vehicles with baling wire, so don't stress about perfection. even if you tear the holes you can drill or punch new ones and use wire.

[undeterred]

2. I put 3 in one oil on the back ones overnight and it made them

slippery - but the pliers really weren't getting a good enough grip anyway. Will look for a wrench.

Thanks for your suggestions.

Edit: The front one is half off- might be able to saw the other half off. Don't remember having this much trouble in the past!

[Moondog]

3. 3 in One is not "penetrating oil" - look for a product called

"Liquid Wrench" which is penetrating oil. In the meantime, since there aren't many stores open today, if you have some WD-40 lying about, wipe the excess 3-in-One off with paper toweling or whatever, and shoot some WD-40 onto the "frozen" bolt/nut joint. Keep it reasonably warm if you can. After about an hour, give the nut a couple of good raps with the screwdriver. This may break it loose. If this does not do it, go with Liquid Wrench.

Can't figure out what you mean re the back license plate connectors. But try the same technique on the back ones as well. If they aren't "frozen" (basically, corroded), whatever you have may work. Failing that, take a photo or draw a picture of whatever it looks like on the "business end" and take it in to a hardware store and ask for their help.

[Mopar151]

17. PB B'laster is the real deal

Or some industrial stuff called Kroil.

On your front plate, find a screwdriver that A) fits the slot on the platee tightly B) has a square shank or wrench flats on the shank. Then you can hold the screwdriver into the slot with "the force of a thousand buffaloes", while applying rotating force with a wrench (or locking pliers, aka Vise-Grip).

Assuming that the fasteners on the back plate have a hexagonally shaped head, measure across the flats of the hex to dedtermine the size. The most common sizes are 7/16" (interchangable with 11mm) 10mm, or 3/8". It is best to use the closed end of the wrench, as it engages all 6 corners of the hex, versus an open end wrench , adjustable, or pliers, which only engage 2 corners - making it all to easy to round off the corners of the hex!

[david13]

4. Dremel. Zing! Then some new boltts. dc

[BlueJazz]

5. Bingo! ...or a drill

[Ptah]

6. For the back plate you need the correct size wrench. They look like this:

[undeterred]

9. But what is it called?

[Ptah]

14. A combination wrench

I has an open end wrench and a box end wrench combined.

[undeterred]

24. This looks like it would work but it doesn't.

The screws actually have the number 8 in the middle. I have a toolbox with a bunch of those wrenches in it and one of them says 3/8 on it so I tried it. Its just not quite big enough.

[GoCubsGo]

7. Hammer and sharp chisel

A friend of mine got some old plates off of my vehicle that way. A few good, hard whacks on each screw broke them in half.

[undeterred]

12. A hammer?

Who knew a hammer could be used for taking off license plates? :shrug:

[GoCubsGo]

26. You use it to whack the chisel. n/t

[Ptah]

8. For the new car, use phillips head screws:

[flvegan]

10. PB Blaster won't hurt the plates.

The paint is another story, possibly. But if you don't care.

Have you tried shouting at them?

[undeterred]

11. I don't care about the car paint any more.

No I haven't shouted at them. Does that work?

[flvegan]

13. It has to work.

I've seen a vast number of shadetree mechanics spend many minutes shouting at things that aren't working properly. I figure it must work or so many folks wouldn't do it. Worth a shot.

[undeterred]

15. Occasionally I go to lunch with co-workers

who are afflicted with road rage. They shout obscenities at other drivers who can't hear them. The other drivers do not change their behavior a bit.

If they did I might actually be tempted try it myself, but since I've seen no effect at all, I'm pretty sure it just promotes indigestion.

And we're talking about living beings here, not inanimate objects. :shrug:

[RandomThoughts]

16. What is sad, and far worse then that.

Is what sometimes some people do see is someone actually saying something kind, and someone else thinks it is road rage, that is the worst part of it.

And what I meant in the post about Casandra syndrome, not about seeing the future, but about many acts of kindness.

That is why I find the good in things, because I think most people really do things not out of snide snicker, but out of better thoughts, and most people only see the blockers getting them to think they are saying things bad.



You also talk about 'effect' that is a key component that is part of many thoughts.

Here is the question, would you do what you think is better, even if it has no effect, or would you do worse if that is the only way to have an effect?

It is a choice, even without effect, going to do what makes sense.

Or

I am a Jedi, like my father before me!!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6odktXD31s


Side note, History channel promo says 'everyone is born to play some role' or 'fufill your destiny' It is possible 100s of people could play some role, and a free will choice helps them get there to do that also. Or to make it easier, if it is known someone will make some choice, they can be given the skills needed for that choice.


And not fighting includes standing for what you believe in my view. I don't think it is about trying to 'side with what you think is the winner' since you don't know anyways, so might as well do what you think is best, and try to learn along the way.

Side note 'doing best' is not some self thought of perfect righteous action, in my thoughts it includes a balance of self also, since it does not make sense that a person has to be unhappy to do best.


hence why it is also about education, since people on opposite sides, both think the same thing about themselves and the opposite. So listening, learning, and empathizing should let the sides see they are on the same side against the same thing. I think the problem is those scared to learn, or regretful since if you learn you were wrong there are ego and guilt blockers, hence the need for being able to accept forgiveness. It really all makes sense.

[dimbear]

18. If you have any access to the inside of the bumper, cut those

dudes off with a hammer and a cold chisel. Takes two minutes tops. A cold chisel, not a wood chisel.

[HopeHoops]

19. Flame thrower - obvious answer, I know.

Seriously, a small propane torch with a narrow relatively small flame directly on the bolt head will probably do the trick without damaging the plate. Heat it up until it glows just a bit and then get right at it with your tools. The one on the back probably wants a hex nut driver (socket wrench will do).

[undeterred]

20. How about a cigarette lighter?

I don't think I'm going to be buying a torch today. :hi:

[HopeHoops]

22. Not nearly enough heat and you can't direct the flame. The thorches aren't expensive.

Any K-Mart, hardware, or auto parts store would have them if you want to avoid Lowe's and GOP Depot.

[Orrex]

21. Simple answer

Take the bumper off of the old car and bolt it onto the new one.

[undeterred]

23. Best idea yet!

Slightly different colors, but maybe I could start a trend.

[undeterred]

25. And the winner is:

My neighbor, who got the back plate off with his metric socket wrench set in about 30 seconds and the front plate off with the big flathead in about 15 seconds.

:applause:

[Old Troop]

27. WD40 cures just about anything (including the common cold).