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-   -   Rear license plate mounting nuts (https://montecarloforum.com/forum/general-monte-carlo-talk-9/rear-license-plate-mounting-nuts-32006/)

jasonsmith 11-07-2011 07:05 PM

.....

06mistreSS 11-07-2011 07:32 PM

They have to be available somewhere. I replaced the originals on my 03 Monte, but that was at least three years ago and I can't remember exactly where I got mine. I swear I just picked them up at one of the local auto part stores.

06mistreSS 11-07-2011 07:48 PM


Originally Posted by jasonsmith (Post 380000)
I've tried the ones from Autozone and from the dealer. They are too small. They don't pop in the square hole. If you try and put a screw in the nut, the nut just spins in the hole as the hole is too big.

The dealer had no idea what is going on as they have some they always use. But they're too small. I'd hate to have to go to the junk yard.

Yeah I know exactly what you're talking about. That's odd that you can't find them and that the dealership is no help. I really think I bought mine at Murray's Discount Auto, but that was before they turned into Crap'Reilly's.

Franks 03SS 11-07-2011 07:55 PM

mine were missing too! haha
go to autozone and buy urself a new license plate cover. i bought one and it came with the frame, the cover, the mounting nuts that fit perfect, and 2 sets of allen head bolts and the key, plus bolt covers. i love it and it looks great!
heres the link and a pic of it on my car :thumbsup:

>>> Cruiser Accessories/Black frame and polycarbonate clear shield licenses plate ultimate tuf combo with hardware (62510) | License Plate Frame and Cover Kit | AutoZone.com <<<

http://i922.photobucket.com/albums/a...F/100_0388.jpg

Franks 03SS 11-07-2011 08:02 PM


Originally Posted by jasonsmith (Post 380010)
I bought one like that which had everything. The mounting nuts were too small. So I bought a spare package of mounting nuts, again too small. So, I got some mounting nuts from the dealer, and they too were too small. Went to another parts store that had mounting nuts that were bigger, but they were still too small.

Looks like the square hole in the bumper is just too big. It is 1/2" wide, which is bigger than all the mounting nuts I looked at in the parts store. I may just see if I can find an Impala or Monte Carlo at the junk yard and pull the mounting nuts from them just to see if that works.

they fit perfect in mine :confused: good luck though man

06mistreSS 11-08-2011 07:02 AM

Yeah I'm stumped on this. I know those holes are 1/2" square. Hope you can find a set of those that fit.

Franks 03SS 11-08-2011 11:45 AM


Originally Posted by jasonsmith (Post 380205)
Is there any special way to install them? I assume they are supposed to snap in the square hole and lock into place. Then you put the screw in?

Umm that's the way it's supposed to be lol

jasonsmith 11-08-2011 11:47 AM


Originally Posted by 03limitedss (Post 380215)
Umm that's the way it's supposed to be lol

Haha. I thought so. Wanted to make sure I wasn't doing something wrong.

06mistreSS 11-08-2011 11:54 AM


Originally Posted by jasonsmith (Post 380205)
Is there any special way to install them? I assume they are supposed to snap in the square hole and lock into place. Then you put the screw in?

Yeah, nothing special. That's how it's suppose to work. The plastic nuts just push and lock snug into the holes and the screw threads into them to hold the plate. When they lock in correctly, the plastic nuts shouldn't be loose in the holes at all, and you shouldn't be able to take them out with just your fingers. They're a pain in the butt to get out.

jasonsmith 01-13-2012 03:03 PM

I had the GM dealer look at it. They tried installing their mounting nuts, which didn't work as they were too small. Then they came back out later on and told me there aren't any screws for the lower part of the plate. Only 2 screws at the top of the plate.

Kind of strange how there are these 1/2" square holes in the bumper lined up just right with the lower holes on the plate.

03JGMonte 01-13-2012 04:39 PM

I've got screws in my lower plate holes on the rear

03SSLE 01-13-2012 04:54 PM

Those plastic inserts come in a variety of sizes. Any competent counterman should be able to look up the correct size for your vehicle in the Dorman catalog and order them for you. If all else fails you could use a screw with a nut threaded onto it from behind.

jasonsmith 01-13-2012 05:39 PM


Originally Posted by 03SSLE (Post 404493)
Those plastic inserts come in a variety of sizes. Any competent counterman should be able to look up the correct size for your vehicle in the Dorman catalog and order them for you. If all else fails you could use a screw with a nut threaded onto it from behind.

There isn't any room to get your hand or a tool to the back side of the bumper to use a threaded nut on the backside. You'd have to take the bumper off.

I'm thinking they cut the square holes too big since none of the plastic inserts from any of the parts stores work. I doubt they make a plastic insert to fit in a 1/2" square hole as all the others are alot smaller than that.

Taz 01-13-2012 06:23 PM

If memory serves me correctly, my 2004 didn't have the captive nuts in the bottom holes. I added them myself. Is it possible the previous owner measured wrong, and the fact the holes are too big is a screw up? Maybe the captive nuts for a truck are bigger? Just a guess.

If you're okay with having only the top two holes securing your plate, you could get a set of stainless or chrome licence plate screws that include matching hex nuts. That gives the look of four screws, but only two are actually functional.

jasonsmith 01-13-2012 06:29 PM


Originally Posted by Taz (Post 404521)
If memory serves me correctly, my 2004 didn't have the captive nuts in the bottom holes. I added them myself. Is it possible the previous owner measured wrong, and the fact the holes are too big is a screw up? Maybe the captive nuts for a truck are bigger? Just a guess.

If you're okay with having only the top two holes securing your plate, you could get a set of stainless or chrome licence plate screws that include matching hex nuts. That gives the look of four screws, but only two are actually functional.

All I know is the square holes are 1/2". Which is too big for the nylon inserts from the store. The square holes should be closer to 1/4". Must have been a GM screw up.

I was needing the 4 screws for the mounting plate and lense I was going to use. I guess I'll figure something else out. I was hoping there was a special insert that was used that the dealer could order. But they think there isn't supposed to be screws for the bottom of the plate by looking at the parts catalog.

Taz 01-13-2012 07:00 PM


Originally Posted by jasonsmith (Post 404522)
All I know is the square holes are 1/2". Which is too big for the nylon inserts from the store. The square holes should be closer to 1/4". Must have been a GM screw up.

I was needing the 4 screws for the mounting plate and lense I was going to use. I guess I'll figure something else out. I was hoping there was a special insert that was used that the dealer could order. But they think there isn't supposed to be screws for the bottom of the plate by looking at the parts catalog.


I know what you're talking about. I put a protective lens over my plates also. For the first couple years I used screws with standard hex nuts in the bottom holes of the plate to hold the bottom part of the lens secure to the plate. And two regular plate screws in the top holes to hold the plate and lens to the bumper. When you looked at it, it appeared as though all four screws were holding the plate onto the bumper. In reality only the top two were functional.

I added captive nuts for the bottom holes myself when one of the captive nuts in the top cracked on me. The dealership parts department gave me four of them free. I think I had to use a utility knife to cut the bottom holes myself. Not 100% on that though. It's been a while since I did it.

In your case I would simply get four matching screws that are long enough, and have a machine thread (threading that will accept a standard hex nut). Use the hex nuts on the bottom like I described above. Then screw the plate and lens to the bumper using just the top two screws. It'll be more than secure enough, and all four screws will match. I did exactly that with my rear plate on my 99 Grand Am. And never had a problem in the 8 years I owned it.

That way you won't have to keep searching for the captive nuts. :)


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