Front License Plate Holder

[5875]

Okay, you guys can totally hang me out to dry on what should be an absolutely easy install...but for anyone who has installed a SS front license plate holder either from DMCH or DPI - how the heck do you tighten the bolts on the three facia bolts??

Last night I unscrewed the three bolts, then the nuts basically disappeared in the facia when I went to re install. No problem I thought, I'll just remove the rad grill so I can put my hand above and find the nuts and hold them in place. But that doesn't work since the grill needs to be in place since it uses the same bolts. Okay then, I'll go behind the grill from below the spoiler and hold it in from there. Wait...there's no room to go through since the bottom spoiler is solid and tied to the frame. Tried removing the signal lights thinking maybe I could get in there - nope. Same for the front DMC grill - no go.

Is there a simple fix I'm missing??

[DMCMW Dave]

Okay, you guys can totally hang me out to dry on what should be an absolutely easy install...but for anyone who has installed a SS front license plate holder either from DMCH or DPI - how the heck do you tighten the bolts on the three facia bolts??

Last night I unscrewed the three bolts, then the nuts basically disappeared in the facia when I went to re install. No problem I thought, I'll just remove the rad grill so I can put my hand above and find the nuts and hold them in place. But that doesn't work since the grill needs to be in place since it uses the same bolts. Okay then, I'll go behind the grill from below the spoiler and hold it in from there. Wait...there's no room to go through since the bottom spoiler is solid and tied to the frame. Tried removing the signal lights thinking maybe I could get in there - nope. Same for the front DMC grill - no go.

Is there a simple fix I'm missing??

They are clipped nuts. If the clip rusted away they will spin or fall off. IF you were able to get the bolts all the way out, the nuts are still in place. If they rust they spin and you can't tighten or loosen the bolts.

You probably just need to push the plastic fascia back up to find the hole, put a punch in it to align one, and get the bolts started.

Usually the holes on the plate holder are slotted so you don't have to take the bolts all the way out. Loosen the bolts, slide the plate holder between the screen and the fascia, and tighten the bolts back up.

[5875]

They are clipped nuts. If the clip rusted away they will spin or fall off. IF you were able to get the bolts all the way out, the nuts are still in place. If they rust they spin and you can't tighten or loosen the bolts.

You probably just need to push the plastic fascia back up to find the hole, put a punch in it to align one, and get the bolts started.

Usually the holes on the plate holder are slotted so you don't have to take the bolts all the way out. Loosen the bolts, slide the plate holder between the screen and the fascia, and tighten the bolts back up.

Thanks Dave. I'll try that tonight. When I took the 3 bolts out, one came out nicely and the other two essentially fell out of the holes without any pressure. Those may be rusted, but I'll try. This particular holder doesn't have slotted holes, but yeah absolutely would have done that instead.

Thanks for the input!