Caution loose front plates!!!
 

I was pretty damn sure I putt the screws for my front plate in tight. Long story short... heard a little klunk! then a slap. and watched my front plate slide on down the highway in hot persuit of its yellow dream machine.


I have no theory here.... just baffled.

Good news no damage. I now am in search of screws/bolt that will fit perfect. (watch where you park I know yours will fit!!!)

i don't have a front plate, i 'accidentaly' removed it.... oops:eek:

how did you get it back?

Why would i want to get it back??

Just kidding, I stopped the car and walked up to the plate and then....i picked it up. (Not interstate just a state Highway. No dividers or anything just open road.

Mine just disappeared the other day (with the assistance of some very kind forum members).... I'd offer you the hardware but just in case I get a fix it ticket at some point in the future I better hang on to them. Funny how the whole thing just came right off... :confused: officer.... and I don't have any tools or know how to put it back... :o

I wont have this problem since I took my off when I got home. My question is how do you get the back plate off so I gor more air through.

"Back" plate as in trunk end of the car? :confused:

no the back plate behind the grill on the front of the car. or is it all one peice?

oh I didn't look that closely to see what the frame was screwed into, I saw the holes but didn't care at that point. I'll have to check it out later in case there is some other useless part in there.

Put a little Loctite on the bolts holding it on - that will keep the fasteners from vibrating loose. I'd use low-grade Loctite - don't need the super strength stuff.

Dale

Logan072, behind you plate, you will see two black phillips head screws, spaced a little wider then the hardware that holds the actual plate on. Remove these two screws and you plate holder will come off without a problem. I suggest replacing the screws after you remove the plate holder just in case you have to replace it someday, screws are easy to lose.

whats a front plate? :D

james

The thing I am talking about is behind the grill, I think its all one piece.

Maybe it's there just for holding the front plate bracket on the grill? I took my front plate off the other day also. I have it inside the car with my story ready for the officer.

I'll call my service tech and ask him about the black plate BEHIND the grill and see what use it has other than what I said.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Nemesis8
[B]Maybe it's there just for holding the front plate bracket on the grill? I took my front plate off the other day also. I have it inside the car with my story ready for the officer.

What story do you have ready, I am in need of a good one.

Hehe, I was wondering the same thing ;)

I know if I get pulled over for it I will say that my wife was driving the car and pulled into something and broke the bracket. The dealer has it on back order and will put the new one on as soon as it comes in. Of course that won't be for a very, very long time.

Ditto, my plate came off and the bracket broke after I drove over it. Mine is on backorder, so it seems that all the RX8's are experiencing the same problem. So, officer, if you see another 8 going down the road with no front plate, don't get aggitated, because the same thing most likely has happned to them also. Seems Mazda has a problem doesn't it?

You don't want more air through. The majority of the grill is for style, not cooling. You don't want any more air going in than can get out, or it causes lift in the front of the car. VERY BAD for high speed traction.
Also, I haven't taken anything apart, but it sure looks to be a one piece molded plastic grill.
It's one thing I HATE about all the body kits. The HUGE openings they put all over the front end is TERRIBLE for aerodynamics and front end lift at high speeds. They look like cars from Japanese computer games, not race cars. Look at real race cars and see how small all openings are in the front of the car and all the work they go through to vent that air out.
When I do my kit................

Flimsy plate bracket on my 2000 Miata, and besides, it spoiled the front end's 'aesthetics'. My salesman had the bracket removed before delivery. Nailed within my first hour of ownership by a jolly Toronto copper sitting in a Tim Hortons (doughnut shop) parking lot, on his break! "Nice car, Sir," he laughed, " but I'll have to write you up." Fifty buck ticket I recall but no demerit points. :( He insisted that I produce the plate from the trunk and bolt it on then and there. When I explained that the bracket was at the dealership as it hadn't been installed (I lied, it was in the trunk) he relented and told me to show up at any Toronto cop shop within 24h, bracket and plate installed and the ticket would be reduced or waived. He made a notation on the ticket. Sure enough, it was waived.

Nanner, nanner, nanner, Florida doesn't use front tags!!!! :D

You don't honestly believe that would work, do you?

In many areas your fine would just keep increasing until you were able to show your plate was back on.

Even if true, "parts problems" are not the concern of the police; your vehicle not complying with the Motor Vehicle Code is...

Re: Caution loose front plates!!!
 

STAY BACK!!!

Oh wait I dont have my front plate on. Its in my apt some where?.

No, it most likely will not work more than one time, but it has been since 10/03 for me so far, and no ticket yet! So, the first day I get pulled over, thats my story. After that I'll need to create some type of James Bond rotaing plate that folds up into the grill some how... :)