Hi, i am havign problem removing the front license plate from my 99 civic hatch. the license plate is secure onto a black plastic plate, which is both then secure to the car's bumper. any help is apprecaited

 

a wrench and turn left.

 

yup, tried that already, the bolt ti self is loose. but somehow it still stuck to the car, when i bend it slightly i can see a plastic tube connectign to the bumper from the plastic plate. the plastic palte being this(actual car iamge)

 

The bolts have rusted to the metal nuts molded into the bumper, and then they break loose from the plastic and just spin. I suggest to grind the bolt heads off then attach the new plate with wood screws driven right into the bumper.

 

Are there actually metal nuts molded into the bumper? Mine doesn't have those, but I suppose it depends on what country the Civic was made for. When I had a front plate, I had to use a standard bolt and nut.

Try taking the front bumper cover off and see what the back side looks like? 5 plastic clips above the grille, 2 screws on the sides above the tires, and maybe 4 small screws on the underside.

 

dito i would pull the bumper off and then see what you got to do to get ahold of the rear nut or cut it out or something....

and if your going to replace the liscence plate with a new one then just use some standard bolts, washers on the back and a nut to secure it back to the bumper than just slap the bumper back up thier...

its fairly common problem.

 

had the same thing happen to me

I hacksawed the bolt between the license plate holder and the bumper

I then bought an oversized self threading stanless steel machine screw and use the same hole that I just hacksawed the bolt from and the screw bit into something - not sure what but it has held for the last few months and the plate is level. I thought this was the best solution because I didn't want to drill any more holes in the bumper than I had to.

hope this helps.