A question regarding the tow hook
Discussion
Perhaps the consequences of removing it are so grave that there's no one left to talk about it? 
Sorry I can't directly help, but I do remember a discussion about it at some point in the past. It was either on this forum or the AMOC DB9 forum. So if you do some searching you might find it.
Sorry I can't directly help, but I do remember a discussion about it at some point in the past. It was either on this forum or the AMOC DB9 forum. So if you do some searching you might find it.
I don't have a picture; my tow hook cover is in a bag up on a shelf. I think my North American number plate holder uses the tow hook fitting to secure it.
As I recall the round plate just has spring clips around the circumference to hold it in place, and there's a notched spot on the underside so that you can lever it out.
Edit: assumed you were talking about the front tow hook.
As I recall the round plate just has spring clips around the circumference to hold it in place, and there's a notched spot on the underside so that you can lever it out.
Edit: assumed you were talking about the front tow hook.
Edited by yvr on Wednesday 16th May 15:55
yvr said:
I don't have a picture; my tow hook cover is in a bag up on a shelf. I think my North American number plate holder uses the tow hook fitting to secure it.
As I recall the round plate just has spring clips around the circumference to hold it in place, and there's a notched spot on the underside so that you can lever it out.
Edit: assumed you were talking about the front tow hook.
Could I impose on you to have a look and maybe take a photo? That would be extremely helpful.As I recall the round plate just has spring clips around the circumference to hold it in place, and there's a notched spot on the underside so that you can lever it out.
Edit: assumed you were talking about the front tow hook.
Edited by yvr on Wednesday 16th May 15:55
peterr96 said:
He won't....wrong car model.DB9VolanteDriver, here are the pictures I took. Not the spring clips that I recalled; more like Velcro. I have to admit I've made the assumption that this is indeed the cover for the tow hook as I've never actually seen it on the car (the front plate has always been mounted). It's about 2 inches in diameter, definitely tungsten silver, it's clear wrapped just like my front bumper, and I can't see any other place where it belongs.
Excellent. Thanks greatly!
I have the same 3 pieces of velcro on the back of my cover and attached to those 3 pieces is a full circle piece of mating velcro with the sticky paper still intact. It appears that this was never mounted.
But, I also have what looks like some bodged up pintle that fits into the tow hook receptacle. Now I can see that someone obviously glued this pintle to the back of the cover for some unknown reason.
Now, if I were to mount the mating velcro circle to the 'plate' that surrounds the tow hook receptacle, it appears to me that the cover would not sit flush to the surface of the bumper, but would instead be recessed, which would look terrible. Maybe that's why someone glued the pintle on as a makeshift way to correct that problem?
Any way, I'm sure this is all very confusing w/o photos, so I'll take a few and post 'em up to illustrate the problem I'm facing.
I have the same 3 pieces of velcro on the back of my cover and attached to those 3 pieces is a full circle piece of mating velcro with the sticky paper still intact. It appears that this was never mounted.
But, I also have what looks like some bodged up pintle that fits into the tow hook receptacle. Now I can see that someone obviously glued this pintle to the back of the cover for some unknown reason.
Now, if I were to mount the mating velcro circle to the 'plate' that surrounds the tow hook receptacle, it appears to me that the cover would not sit flush to the surface of the bumper, but would instead be recessed, which would look terrible. Maybe that's why someone glued the pintle on as a makeshift way to correct that problem?
Any way, I'm sure this is all very confusing w/o photos, so I'll take a few and post 'em up to illustrate the problem I'm facing.
No need for a front plate. Cap was loose and appeared ready to fall out, so I took it off and was wondering what the heck was the abomination glued to the back..looked very makeshift. And it has the velcro attached to the cap as well. So I wanted to understand how the cap is supposed to be attached as from the factory. Wait till you see the photos, then all will be obvious (I hope).
Here's the butchered cap with mating velcro ring...
Velcro ring mated to cap. Notice that the ring backing film is still intact as if the ring was never mounted from the factory....
Photo showing the approximate thickness of the cap when mated to the velcro ring...
Lastly, photo showing the black metal plate that surrounds the towing eye boss. Note witness marks on black plate that look like rubbing contact from the towing eye.
The basic problem is twofold. First, the distance between the bumper surface and the black plate is much greater than the thickness of the cap as attached to its mating velcro circle. So simply sticking the circle on the black plate won't work without some kind of spacer. More of a problem, however, is that the black plate is not parallel to the bumper surface. At the top of the hole, the plate is significantly closer to the bumper surface than it is at the bottom. So not only is a spacer required, it has to be tapered bottom to top.
Obviously the pintle which was glued on to the back was someone's attempt to deal with this problem, since it fits into the screw boss to the right depth such that the cap is flush with the bumper surface. However, it really isn't very secure, so I want a better fix.
I suspect that perhaps the car was towed and someone screwed the towing eye in too far, causing the black plate to be pushed back relative to the screw boss. As it stands now, the plate is approximately flush with the boss. I wouldn't be surprised if it should be proud of the boss so that it is the correct distance from the bumper surface to match the thickness of the installed cap.
I'll have to work something out.
Velcro ring mated to cap. Notice that the ring backing film is still intact as if the ring was never mounted from the factory....
Photo showing the approximate thickness of the cap when mated to the velcro ring...
Lastly, photo showing the black metal plate that surrounds the towing eye boss. Note witness marks on black plate that look like rubbing contact from the towing eye.
The basic problem is twofold. First, the distance between the bumper surface and the black plate is much greater than the thickness of the cap as attached to its mating velcro circle. So simply sticking the circle on the black plate won't work without some kind of spacer. More of a problem, however, is that the black plate is not parallel to the bumper surface. At the top of the hole, the plate is significantly closer to the bumper surface than it is at the bottom. So not only is a spacer required, it has to be tapered bottom to top.
Obviously the pintle which was glued on to the back was someone's attempt to deal with this problem, since it fits into the screw boss to the right depth such that the cap is flush with the bumper surface. However, it really isn't very secure, so I want a better fix.
I suspect that perhaps the car was towed and someone screwed the towing eye in too far, causing the black plate to be pushed back relative to the screw boss. As it stands now, the plate is approximately flush with the boss. I wouldn't be surprised if it should be proud of the boss so that it is the correct distance from the bumper surface to match the thickness of the installed cap.
I'll have to work something out.
DB9VolanteDriver, this might be a missing piece of the puzzle. 
I found it with the toolkit & spare bulbs in the back of the car when I first got it (same place I found the tow hook & cover). I'm guessing it's a "keeper" that fits in where the tow hook goes to stop dirt from getting in there. And it looks like a much better mounting point for the velcro cover bits. Of course this is all a guess, but what else could it be for?
I snapped the pictures as I was running out of the house this morning and didn't have the presence of mind to measure it or look for a part number. It looks to be about the right size.
I found it with the toolkit & spare bulbs in the back of the car when I first got it (same place I found the tow hook & cover). I'm guessing it's a "keeper" that fits in where the tow hook goes to stop dirt from getting in there. And it looks like a much better mounting point for the velcro cover bits. Of course this is all a guess, but what else could it be for?I snapped the pictures as I was running out of the house this morning and didn't have the presence of mind to measure it or look for a part number. It looks to be about the right size.
good morning I have a US version of a 2009 DBS, I am looking for the front tow hook location. My owner's guide says to remove the front license plate bracket, I din't have a front bracket, or plug? in the front bumper. But I do have the hook and the screwdriver per the guide. Any help on location? thanks
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