WTF? License plate prob
 

I was taking off my license plate holder tonight because I wanted to get rid of it, and then just put the license plate back on. Thought it was going to be an easy 1 minute job. As I was taking the screws off, the nuts or whatever inside the bumper just fell down INSIDE the bumper. Now I can't put the plate on...and I don't have the time tonight to try to take the whole bumper off and figure it out. Anybody know a good temporary fix?

This is retarded because when I bought the car and was screwing in my license plate for the first time this didn't happen. I did however get rear ended by an old lady, got a new bumper from the body store (Service King over here) and I guess they did something stupid enough for this to happen. And this was going to happen eventually.

I think I'm gonna go to the dealership at 7 in the morning and see if they can do anything...then try to make it to my exam at 9...#*$*&@

Don't worry. Just put it in the back window.

I would crawl under the car to see if you can find the nuts.

If you are talking the rear bumper, they dont go far.
They will be sitting inside the bumper cover, which you can reach from underneath of the car.
Just lay down on your back and reach in.

I see, I'll try that when the sun comes up. Appreciate it...

Pathetic, I know

Good luck. I had the inverse problem with my rear plate, I couldn't get it to come off. The screw just turned and turned and turned and nothing happened. I took it to the dealer and they said that it was a very large production because you have to take the whole bumper off to get at it, and that's hours worth of labor. Fortunately, I was able to get them to do it under warranty.

Nice avatar Maniac. Very nice.

^updated daily

+1 on what MM said... i just had this happen to me about 6 days ago

Removing the rear bumper takes about 20 minutes.

^And putting it back on? -_-

I got some rubber inserts, problem solved, woot

yeah like everyone else said. get on your back, close your eyes, reach wayyy up with your hand until you feel nuts.

Another 15. Point is, its only 1 hour billable, but no one at the dealership wants to do it because the potential of scratching something exists.
Lazy asses.
http://www.mazdamaniac.com/portal/smiles/haha.gif

It sounds like you already found this out, but you can buy at pepboys a small square plastic insert called a "license plate holder" that fits right into that square hole from the front.

Yup that's it

Funny how I said rubber...meant plastic

K need sleep

zipties are my best friend...

zipties make baby jesus cry

Thanks for the info. I'm not mechanical, and am in the unenviable position of generally having to take the dealer's word for it.