Can't Get Number Plate Off.. Any Ideas?

[aruck]

The screws on the rear plate on my Focus are just spinning round loose. I cannot unscrew them. Any idea what I need to do? Thanks

[Some Gump]

Flathead screwdriver under the screw head, pull from car. Unscrew at same time. My guess is that the focus uses round plastic inserts to screw into, that then spin. Don't shoot me if I'm wrong.

[Pothole]

side cutters.

[g3org3y]

Pliers? Twist and pull at the same time?

[cuprabob]

Drill the head off

[G600]

cuprabob said:

Drill the head off

That won't work, they will just spin with the drill.

[aruck]

Have even got the inner boot liner off now but the backs of the screws arent accessible! What a stupid design. No idea what to do now!

[Dog Star]

Got a dremel? Dremel the head off? Might wreck the plate though.

[Mr Happy]

aruck said:

Have even got the inner boot liner off now but the backs of the screws arent accessible! What a stupid design. No idea what to do now!

Some Gump told you, above

[stuwalsh]

Use double sided tape next time! Also looks much neater.

[aruck]

Mr Happy said:

Some Gump told you, above

That doesn't work unfortunately.

[aruck]

stuwalsh said:

Use double sided tape next time! Also looks much neater.

I did originally... they fell off because the focus has 2 bulges where the screws go so there is no flat surface for the plates to stick to.

[Toaster Pilot]

If the screws are really rusty and that's why they won't come out then pliers and brute force works a treat.

Stick the new plates on using thick sticky pads and I doubt it'll fall off, heat the plate, the pads and then the metal (careful, not too hot) with a hairdryer before applying.

[thinfourth2]

Just stick the new plate on top of the old one

or get out the angle grinder

[Toaster Pilot]

thinfourth2 said:

Just stick the new plate on top of the old one

Have you cleaned that bloody Micra yet?

[thinfourth2]

Toaster Pilot said:

Have you cleaned that bloody Micra yet?

I drove through some puddles

Does that count?

And i gave it a good kicking in tescos carpark which helps the lumps fall off

[Toaster Pilot]

thinfourth2 said:

I drove through some puddles

Does that count?

And i gave it a good kicking in tescos carpark which helps the lumps fall off

[Sir Bagalot]

aruck said:

stuwalsh said:

Use double sided tape next time! Also looks much neater.

I did originally... they fell off because the focus has 2 bulges where the screws go so there is no flat surface for the plates to stick to.

You were using the 1mm sticky pads.... Try using the 6mm pads instead like I did.....

[aruck]

I tried 6mm pads but they didnt work over these bumps. Any suggestions? Thanks

[Froomee]

Velcro £2 a metre at a hardware shop, stick a strip on each end vertically and it will stay there forever. Make sure the paint is clean first.

I used this for my focus I got rid of recently as I used to take the plates off regularly to clean behind it.