1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Front license plate screw/bolt question

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Scott_R, Jun 13, 2024.

  1. Scott_R

    Scott_R Member

    Joined:
    Jul 20, 2006
    405
    14
    0
    Location:
    Long Island
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Just got some new plates for my 2012. I went to put them on and in the rear, one bolt's head snapped off. Not a terribly big deal: the old ones are nylon so if I can't unscrew it with Visegrips I'll just drill it out.

    I'm getting all new bolts, this time stainless steel. From what I'm reading, an M6-1 x 16 mm bolt is standard. But looking at the very rusty ones in the front, there's something about them that makes me think they're screws, not bolts. Could I be mistaken? They're in dealer-installed license plate brackets (screwed onto the bumper); do at least some brackets also use screws for mounting the plates?

    I started WD-40'ing them (to give it a chance to penetrate until I can get replacements tomorrow) but I'd like to have the right items ready to put in.

    platefront.jpg
     
  2. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 29, 2020
    9,135
    1,586
    0
    Location:
    Durham NC
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    Base
    The fronts are screws they screw into nothing You're screwing into foam holding your Orioles plate on or something not important well you're in the front plate state I guess it is so not sure how that really supposed to work but if you see the front bumper before it's got a front plate mounted on it you see two dimples in the front bumper cover that's where you're supposed to put the screws I'm not sure what's supposed to be there but I've never seen anything at the junkyard so maybe there's thin pieces of metal glued to the back of the bumper cover so when you screw the sheet metal screw type of screw in it catches in the metal and then you know it holds somewhat if you don't torque it too bad. And the license plates that are machine thread in the rear are the standard size that come in the kits and all the auto parts stores they're the metric not the quarter 20 but the metric whatever it is It's not six I don't think but it might be but it's standard I buy them right at the auto parts store in those kits that come with the acorn or the bullets or any of that stuff All of them have the right studs that screw in to the Toyota's in the Hondas for the machine screw thread not just the sheet metal type screw thread or wood screw looking good luck.
     
  3. Scott_R

    Scott_R Member

    Joined:
    Jul 20, 2006
    405
    14
    0
    Location:
    Long Island
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    But as I said, there’s a dealer installed bracket on the front bumper—that’s screwed on. The picture is of the bolt or screw that attaches the plate to the bracket.
     
  4. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 29, 2020
    9,135
    1,586
    0
    Location:
    Durham NC
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    Base
    The dealer installed bracket usually allows you to use depending upon the bracket a machine screw that would be the same as what's in the back If not then it's having you use the wood screw looking thread screws to hold your front plate on and then using those same type of screws to hold that plate that your license plate is mounted to is mounted to the bumper of the car with those same screws That's okay too either way it works out. I'd have to go back and look at your pictures
     
  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    55,566
    38,726
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    I would check with a dealership parts department; there’s a plastic frame secured with a coarse thread screw and a finer threaded machine screw holding the plate. There’s likely specific parts for all of this.

    some pics of ours attached:
     

    Attached Files:

  6. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    55,566
    38,726
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    All the proper stuff shows here:

    Front bumper & bumper stay for Toyota Prius XW30, 3 generation, restyling 12.2011 - 11.2015 - Toyota Car and Auto Spare Parts - Genuine Online Car Parts Catalogue - Amayama

    Specifics:

    BRACKET, FRONT BUMPER EXTENTION MOUNTING
    Genuine Toyota (5211447060)

    FWIW: it's good to remove the back plate periodically (say when washing or waxing the car), put a drop of oil and the threads of it's machine screw threads. Even if the screw is stainless (believe it is), the weld nut it's threaded into is not, and the screw can seize.
     
    #6 Mendel Leisk, Jun 15, 2024
    Last edited: Jun 15, 2024