My wife and I work together so we often alternate who drives to work....neways we are leaving the driveway this morning and I notice my rear license plate leaning at a weird angle. I jumped out of the car to look at it and the part where the bolts thread into has broken off. They are two little square pieces that look like they were glued into a square hole in the rear surround. Has this happened to anyone else?? It is probably a simple fix with some epoxy, but it just struck me as weird as if someone tried to pull off my vanity plate. I will post some pics when I get home...
Strange problem with rear license plate....
- Thread starter 00ls5spd
- Start date
Motodrew
Well-Known LVC Member
I had this problem when I first bought my car. The white tabs would fall out thus not securing the rear plate. I ended up just epoxing a piece of plastic over the hole and screwing some screws into the plastic. Its been working fine ever since.. good luck
d r e w
d r e w
bigpappy33
Well-Known LVC Member
i have the same problem, just the screw is still in the black square so it stays...kinda. i just pushed it back in ignore it. Thanks for reminding me i need to fix that...
Jim Henderson
Dedicated LVC Member
Yeah I have seen this on other cars. It almost looks like when they make the bumper they don't plan to put plates on it. The holes are almost like an after thought.
Epoxy should fix everything. Make sure the surfaces are clean.
Jim Henderson
Epoxy should fix everything. Make sure the surfaces are clean.
Jim Henderson
G
GrayGhost1
Guest
Justin,
This was a common problem and it even has its own TSB. It is TSB #04-10-2, Body - Rear License Plate Loose. It can be repaired under warranty. However, if warranty is up then you can fix it yourself. Here is the TSB in full:
ISSUE
Some 2000-2002 Lincoln LS vehicles may exhibit loose rear license plate fasteners. This may be due to the attachment area of the license plate housing breaking (the holes where the license plate expansion nuts mount Figure 1).
ACTION
To service, enlarge the license plate expansion nut attachment areas and install new expansion nuts. Refer to the following Service Procedure.
SERVICE PROCEDURE
NOTE REPLACEMENT OR REMOVAL OF THE REAR LICENSE PLATE HOUSING FROM THE VEHICLE IS NOT REQUIRED FOR THIS REPAIR.
1. Remove the rear license plate from vehicle.
2. Remove the two (2) expansion nuts (license plate attachment nuts) from the rear license plate housing (Figure 1).
3. Enlarge the two (2) rear license plate expansion nut holes up to 17 mm using a file or suitable tool (Figure 2).
4. Install two (2) new rear license plate expansion nuts (W710640-S300) into the enlarged holes. The new expansion nuts should be installed with the retaining tabs in the horizontal position for best results.
NOTE DO NOT USE A HAMMER OR OTHER SUCH TOOL TO POUND THE NEW EXPANSION NUTS INTO POSITION AS THIS WILL RESULT IN DAMAGE TO THE HOUSING. THE NEW EXPANSION NUTS SHOULD BE SNAPPED INTO POSITION BY HAND ONLY. HOLES IN THE HOUSING MAY NOT BE ENLARGED ENOUGH IF EXPANSION NUTS DO NOT SNAP IN BY HAND. IF NECESSARY ENLARGE THE HOLES SLIGHTLY BUT DO NOT EXCEED 17 MM.
5. Reattach rear license plate using two (2) screws Part Number N807393-S61.
This was a common problem and it even has its own TSB. It is TSB #04-10-2, Body - Rear License Plate Loose. It can be repaired under warranty. However, if warranty is up then you can fix it yourself. Here is the TSB in full:
ISSUE
Some 2000-2002 Lincoln LS vehicles may exhibit loose rear license plate fasteners. This may be due to the attachment area of the license plate housing breaking (the holes where the license plate expansion nuts mount Figure 1).
ACTION
To service, enlarge the license plate expansion nut attachment areas and install new expansion nuts. Refer to the following Service Procedure.
SERVICE PROCEDURE
NOTE REPLACEMENT OR REMOVAL OF THE REAR LICENSE PLATE HOUSING FROM THE VEHICLE IS NOT REQUIRED FOR THIS REPAIR.
1. Remove the rear license plate from vehicle.
2. Remove the two (2) expansion nuts (license plate attachment nuts) from the rear license plate housing (Figure 1).
3. Enlarge the two (2) rear license plate expansion nut holes up to 17 mm using a file or suitable tool (Figure 2).
4. Install two (2) new rear license plate expansion nuts (W710640-S300) into the enlarged holes. The new expansion nuts should be installed with the retaining tabs in the horizontal position for best results.
NOTE DO NOT USE A HAMMER OR OTHER SUCH TOOL TO POUND THE NEW EXPANSION NUTS INTO POSITION AS THIS WILL RESULT IN DAMAGE TO THE HOUSING. THE NEW EXPANSION NUTS SHOULD BE SNAPPED INTO POSITION BY HAND ONLY. HOLES IN THE HOUSING MAY NOT BE ENLARGED ENOUGH IF EXPANSION NUTS DO NOT SNAP IN BY HAND. IF NECESSARY ENLARGE THE HOLES SLIGHTLY BUT DO NOT EXCEED 17 MM.
5. Reattach rear license plate using two (2) screws Part Number N807393-S61.
I read this post this morning and remember that I broke one of those nuts off a few months back when I installed my license plate bracket and tinted cover but put a new nut in and everything was fine. Didn't think much of it until I opened the garage door to see that my plate had fallen off last night somewhere between here and Iowa City on I-80. So now I'm off to the courthouse to get new plates and find some new fasteners. Thanks for the info Ken.
TheRebel
Dedicated LVC Member
You can also get a license plate bolt kit at your local parts store that comes with bolts and tabs that should pop right into your old holes when you get the broke tabs out