96 Camry Frozen front turn signal lamp screws, HELP??

[garytho]

PLEASE HELP!!!
I have 2 frozen front turn signal lamp screws and they are not budging!! Would like some advice of how to get them out. I have 2 new lenses if they get ruined,...so I'm not worried about breaking the lenses. I'm just worried about screwing up the recieving end of the screw. I don't know (and can't see) whats behind the lens
Any suggestions or previous experience with this problem would be appreciated!!!

[eyeball96]

The same thing happened on my 96, but just on the Drivers side. Rusted on! I just muscled it and broke one receiving tabs.

Now you can remove the splash shield on the effected side and get to it from the bottom, or remove your headlight and get at it that way from the top.(if it drivers side, the battery needs removal too)

Soak the back side good with PB blaster and give it some time, and maybe it'll loosen up. Good Luck!

[garytho]

Do you know what the screw goes into? If it's a threaded tab or part of the chassis?? Would it be possible to drill it out? Just trying to picture what the screw goes into,...
Thanks!

[eyeball96]

It one of those threaded metal tabs, clipped to a plastic tab that is a molded piece of the bumper....I snapped mine right off. The inter most piece was fragile. I "Mcgivered" a new tab with a piece of plastic and glue....its held since. Its been years since I replaced my signals with clear ones.

I could get you a pic after I leave work if you need it.

[garytho]

Damn,...I was afraid of that! I bought this car from an elderly lady (cliche,... I know,..but true) and her rear licsense plate was frozen on there too from the same tabs! I had to dremel the tops of the screws off. A picture might really help me make an informed decision on how to proceed with the removal.
You've been a great help,.....thank you!

[eyeball96]

I'll be clocking out here soon, and I'll try to take a quick pic aand post it for ya when I get home after 5pm!

Which side are you having a problem with?

[garytho]

Thanks so much!! I can't tell you how much I appreciate it!!

[eyeball96]

Here ya go! Passenger side (unbroken) My coupe has had a repaint, but you can see the metal tab!

[ghettosled]

since you have a dremmel, slice a slot in the head of the screw and use a flat-head screw driver.

[garytho]

Thanks so much! Thats just how the rear licsense plate is attached. One more question,....when you unscrew the lens,....does the screw come out by itself,...or does the lens move with it?
@ghettosled,....thanks,....but this sucker is rust welded in there,....I'll try the slot for the flathead,...but I think drilling off the head,...removing the lens,...then carefully dremel off the remaining stem of the screw and replacing the threaded clip might be the way to go.

[eyeball96]

Originally Posted by garytho

Thanks so much! Thats just how the rear licsense plate is attached. One more question,....when you unscrew the lens,....does the screw come out by itself,...or does the lens move with it?
@ghettosled,....thanks,....but this sucker is rust welded in there,....I'll try the slot for the flathead,...but I think drilling off the head,...removing the lens,...then carefully dremel off the remaining stem of the screw and replacing the threaded clip might be the way to go.

The screw stays in the lens...actually their tough to remove completely. Unscrew it about 3/4 of an inch and it pull forward.

Your replacement lenses included a screw didn't they?

I still suggest PB Blaster, that sucker from the back and, let it sit for an hour. Thats just what I'd do

PB Blaster is the bomb on rusted bolts!!

[garytho]

Yes, the replacements have the screws,...but I haven't fiddled with them so I wasn't sure if they were set in there or not.
I have a case of PB Blaster (use it all the time),.....but if the rear license plate clips were any indication of how bad they are rusted,.....all the PB in the world isn't going to do a darn thing to budge these. Funny how the screw is stainless steel and the clips are not.
I'm going to have to think about this a little more,...before I decide what to do. I'd like to get the lens out,...and carefully remove the clip so the plastic does not break,...and just replace the clip with the new screw on the replacement lens.

[eyeball96]

Here's a pic of my repair on the Drivers side. I used a piece of plastic, a Bolt and Nut and lots of Goop! I put the signal in place, ran a small drill bit down the hole, and screwed her down!

It's held the signal in place for about 4 yrs now.

Good luck and keep us updated.

[garytho]

Thanks again eyeball!!
Hey,...if it comes down to it,....I'll do what you did. I'm thinking I may drill out what I can of the existing screw (as close as I can to the clip) remove the lens,....and then carefully remove the clip and replace it. But who knows how that will go. I will definately keep you updated so it may help someone else in the future.

You've been a great help!!

[adalex]

would it help in the future like every 6 months or so just unscrew the stuff and clean the screws off and screw them back in? so the rust doesn't have a chance to seize them? ( i have a 99 so no corner lights like that) or maybe replace the screws with stainless steel?