2000 XLE, installing back license plate - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

midnightz · 10-29-2009, 10:45 PM

I just purchased a 2000 XLE, when I got home and didn't realize that the bolts that hang the back license plate have been cut. I believe they were cut because the bolts were rusted over and couldn't remove the old plate any other way.

What is the best way for me to install a license plate since the cut bolt is flush with the trunk.

http://img30.imageshack.us/img30/5177/img0113oa.jpg

I was thinking about disassembling the trunk but how would I go about doing that?

blkavalon · 10-29-2009, 10:54 PM

i would drill it and use a tap and die set to re thread to the next bigger size bolt. for the new bolts use anti-seize compound so it wont happen again.

carsrus · 10-30-2009, 07:16 AM

Well what a coincidence. The same thing happened on my 98 yesterday so this is how i went about removing the bolts.

Take off the carpet underneath the trunk lid. Slide your hand underneath where the plate is and fell where the bolts are.

Take a pair of needle nose pliers and wrestle with them until then come out. (itll take a decent amount of force) Its not to bad, but it is a tight squeeze in there. Drilling the bolt mostly out helps since when you grab it with the pliers itll sqeeze together a bit.

Go out and buy some nice stainless bolts, makes life alot easier the next time.

midnightz · 10-30-2009, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carsrus

Well what a coincidence. The same thing happened on my 98 yesterday so this is how i went about removing the bolts.

Take off the carpet underneath the trunk lid. Slide your hand underneath where the plate is and fell where the bolts are.

Take a pair of needle nose pliers and wrestle with them until then come out. (itll take a decent amount of force) Its not to bad, but it is a tight squeeze in there. Drilling the bolt mostly out helps since when you grab it with the pliers itll sqeeze together a bit.

Go out and buy some nice stainless bolts, makes life alot easier the next time.

Exactly what I was looking for. Do you have any suggestions in taking off the carpet underneath the trunk lid? How would I go about removing it properly?

carsrus · 10-30-2009, 06:43 PM

Its simply and will take you less than 5 min. Remove the philps clips by rotating the heads till they are hanging out and pull on them so they come out. For the other, slide your hand underneath the clip and pull.

Its that simple. Then pulling the old ones out is sorta a pian but doable.