I am thinking of relpacing the screws holding the number plates on my focus with security ones. I attempted to remove the plastic trim on the tailgate to no avail. My question is is there a nut on the screw? If there is, is it welded to the panel? If it is the first possibility, then the nut might just drop on the inside forcing to reomve the plastic trim.
Has anybody attempted this?
Full Version: Removing Number Plates
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[quote name='starfield' timestamp='1301256411' post='120354']
I am thinking of relpacing the screws holding the number plates on my focus with security ones. I attempted to remove the plastic trim on the tailgate to no avail. My question is is there a nut on the screw? If there is, is it welded to the panel? If it is the first possibility, then the nut might just drop on the inside forcing to reomve the plastic trim.
Has anybody attempted this?
[/quote]
if it aint broke.................dont break it
I am thinking of relpacing the screws holding the number plates on my focus with security ones. I attempted to remove the plastic trim on the tailgate to no avail. My question is is there a nut on the screw? If there is, is it welded to the panel? If it is the first possibility, then the nut might just drop on the inside forcing to reomve the plastic trim.
Has anybody attempted this?
[/quote]
if it aint broke.................dont break it
ok, here is the rationale behind unscrewing the number plates:
On Sunday both number plates on my wife's nissan micra were stolen. On my focus, there are just normal screws, and i would like to replace them with security ones. I do not want to be a victim (i live in south london).
On Sunday both number plates on my wife's nissan micra were stolen. On my focus, there are just normal screws, and i would like to replace them with security ones. I do not want to be a victim (i live in south london).
[quote name='starfield' timestamp='1301342154' post='120501']
ok, here is the rationale behind unscrewing the number plates:
On Sunday both number plates on my wife's nissan micra were stolen. On my focus, there are just normal screws, and i would like to replace them with security ones. I do not want to be a victim (i live in south london).
[/quote]
if its the same as the mk1 then the screws have welded threads on the inside of the plastic trim these can however break so taking them off should be okay the mk2 trim would i imagine be the same 4 plastic screws then you have to pull it its quite tight
ok, here is the rationale behind unscrewing the number plates:
On Sunday both number plates on my wife's nissan micra were stolen. On my focus, there are just normal screws, and i would like to replace them with security ones. I do not want to be a victim (i live in south london).
[/quote]
if its the same as the mk1 then the screws have welded threads on the inside of the plastic trim these can however break so taking them off should be okay the mk2 trim would i imagine be the same 4 plastic screws then you have to pull it its quite tight
Has anybody else removed the number plates on a mk2?
Surely if you cant figure out how to remove them, a theif who has the intelligence of a gold fish would struggle also, so why bother?
[quote name='RCJ' timestamp='1301400813' post='120575']
Surely if you cant figure out how to remove them, a theif who has the intelligence of a gold fish would struggle also, so why bother?
[/quote]
you are not getting the point, the plates are very easy to remove. my question is: Is there a nut on the inside of the tailgate holding the screw and the number plate in place. If i undo the screw, the nut might fall in the tailgate.
Surely if you cant figure out how to remove them, a theif who has the intelligence of a gold fish would struggle also, so why bother?
[/quote]
you are not getting the point, the plates are very easy to remove. my question is: Is there a nut on the inside of the tailgate holding the screw and the number plate in place. If i undo the screw, the nut might fall in the tailgate.
Starfield
I know what you mean, dont worry about the nut falling into the tail gate causing u to take the trim off and hunt for it, that's not gonna happen because the nut on the other side is presswelded to the tailgate its-self so no worries
I know what you mean, dont worry about the nut falling into the tail gate causing u to take the trim off and hunt for it, that's not gonna happen because the nut on the other side is presswelded to the tailgate its-self so no worries
[quote name='starfield' timestamp='1301408850' post='120613']
you are not getting the point, the plates are very easy to remove. my question is: Is there a nut on the inside of the tailgate holding the screw and the number plate in place. If i undo the screw, the nut might fall in the tailgate.
[/quote]
Ahh i must have mis read. I do that now and again haha!
I dont really have the problem of people nicking number plates where i live, so i feel sorry for you.
you are not getting the point, the plates are very easy to remove. my question is: Is there a nut on the inside of the tailgate holding the screw and the number plate in place. If i undo the screw, the nut might fall in the tailgate.
[/quote]
Ahh i must have mis read. I do that now and again haha!
I dont really have the problem of people nicking number plates where i live, so i feel sorry for you.
ps: Starfield I always find adding quite a few washers to raise the plate from the tailgate just enough to put razor blades snapped in half and glued to the back of the plate works well if you know what i mean 
just dont forget you put them there
just dont forget you put them there
just the received my wife's new plates today. paid £20 on ebay with 3D lettering, side EU/GB banner and with a border.
I will now secure them with security screws and the same on the focus.
I will now secure them with security screws and the same on the focus.
Not bad, I presume you reported the theft to the police as soon as you noticed? Also it might be worth letting the DVLA know - just incase your number plates are abused as someone will try to clone the car, then you have let all parties know!
[quote name='jeebowhite' timestamp='1301558120' post='120896']
Not bad, I presume you reported the theft to the police as soon as you noticed? Also it might be worth letting the DVLA know - just incase your number plates are abused as someone will try to clone the car, then you have let all parties know!
[/quote]
done that
Not bad, I presume you reported the theft to the police as soon as you noticed? Also it might be worth letting the DVLA know - just incase your number plates are abused as someone will try to clone the car, then you have let all parties know!
[/quote]
done that
good job! I know some people dont bother...
It has been a while now and i have attached pics of the completed task.
These are tamper proof screws bought on ebay. it comes with driving tool.
These are tamper proof screws bought on ebay. it comes with driving tool.
[quote name='starfield' timestamp='1301342154' post='120501']
ok, here is the rationale behind unscrewing the number plates:
On Sunday both number plates on my wife's nissan micra were stolen. On my focus, there are just normal screws, and i would like to replace them with security ones. I do not want to be a victim (i live in south london).
[/quote]
A fair point may be that if you the owner of the car who has loads of time to try and remove them and you cant,
then a thief who has minimum time to spare
will hardly be capable of removing them neither, so id leave them the way they are.
ok, here is the rationale behind unscrewing the number plates:
On Sunday both number plates on my wife's nissan micra were stolen. On my focus, there are just normal screws, and i would like to replace them with security ones. I do not want to be a victim (i live in south london).
[/quote]
A fair point may be that if you the owner of the car who has loads of time to try and remove them and you cant,
then a thief who has minimum time to spare
will hardly be capable of removing them neither, so id leave them the way they are.
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