License plate removal

[Butter18c]

I have an 02 XLT explorer and want to remove the front license plate and holder. It seems like its screwed on and I can't get to the screw on the other side of the bumper. Help?

 

[90ranajo]

It might be the same as my 02 F250SD. I thought mine was screwed on also but it held on by 2 big plastic rivets.

 

[Butter18c]

Once I took the plate off, I saw two plastic circles with a tip of a screw coming through them(I think). I was able to jimmy the plate out of place a little bit to see the screws, and they are threaded. So if I can't find the tips of them, what should I do?

 

[90ranajo]

Those would be the plastic rivets. I thought the same thing but the threads are there to grip onto the outer sleeve of the rivet. You might be able to work them out enough to cut them. Don't worry about mangeling the rivets, they only cost about 45-50 cents each at the dealer.

 

[Butter18c]

So I can pop the rivets off? What happens to the threaded metal? Will it fall off? Stay there? How will I cover them up?

 

[90ranajo]

They look and act just like a regular metal pop rivet with the exception that they are all plastic. I'm no sure where your go thru the bumper, but on the Super Dutys they go up thru the bottom. At worst you'll have a .25" hole where each rivet is.

 

[Butter18c]

OK Ill give it a try, and I'm sure I can find some mesh to put behind the hole if it makes one. Thanks alot for the help.

 

[Butter18c]

One last questionl, is it legal to do this in Washington State? I saw a couple cars without one already, but I just want to make sure

 

[90ranajo]

I don't believe so. As WA State registration states that front plate must be displayed.

 

[Thanx SVT]

My '03 Explorer had the same plastic rivets. I took a nail punch and hit the center part of the rivet until it popped out through the back of the rivet. Then, the remaining part of the rivet pulled right out.

It's hard to explain, but give it a few whacks with a nail punch or other suitable object and you'll see what I mean.

I don't know anything about WA's laws regarding front plates, but I can tell you that it's a non-moving violation in most states. Thus, the police can only pull you over if you're already doing something else (such as speeding).

Back when I lived in IL, I took my front plate and front plate mount and beat it with a hammer. Then, I tossed it under my seat. Anytime I got hassled by the cops I'd pull it out and tell them that someone backed into my front bumper the other day, and damaged my plate and mount. I'd explain that I had a new plate on order from the state, and front plate mount from the dealer. They never bothered to verify.

It may be childish, but it works ;-)

 

[Butter18c]

good advice. I'll probably go down to the Fed building tomorrow and get it checked for sure. However, if people can have custom front plates in this state such as yearone(a couple people I know), I dont know why they would have a problem with no plate