Okay, before I ask my newbie question let me give you a little background on the situation.

For Christmas my parents bought me new center caps. Sweet until I realize they are the wrong ones...
So mom tells me to go to the dealership with her card and pick up the right ones! Awesome!
While I'm there I notice these shiny chrome "Audi" license plate holders!
So I purchase them (not on mom's card I paid for them separately).
I get home find a flat head screw driver and take the plates off.
Started with the rear plate and once it was off I realized why there were only 2 screws holding the plate in...
The other 2 holes had the previous screws rusted in place... Someone even went as far to grind one down so the plate would sit flat.
I didn't even get to the front plate.

So how should I go about getting these rusted, ground down screws out?
What size screws should I use as a replacement?
Am I going to have to take my bumper off to get them out?

I hope there is an easy fix!
I'll take some pictures when I get a chance.
Oh, and all the other holes that were made. What would I use to fill them in? Bondo? Is that what it's called?

Thanks a bunch,
-Screwed

 

Okay so I must give credit where it is due.
Playa informed me that wd-40 is my best friend, also that a stripped screw remover tool would do the trick.

So... Thanks Playa!



(I'm still more then willing to hear what you guys think about it)

 

Playa is correct. You can pick up a screw extractor from your local hardware store. You should be able to find one that is about 1/8" dia or smaller. Then you have to take a drill bit and make a small hole in the shaft of the screw. The extractor then goes in with a left hand twist, so as you tighten it, the broken screw backs out of the hole.

Since the holes are covered by the plate I wouldn't worry much about them. You might be able to find a couple of plastic plugs that would fit in there if you really were concerned, but since the body parts are all ABS back there you don't to worry about them rusting if you leave them as is.

 

Good to know, now if only a hardware store was open at these hours...
Can I put something on the new screws to prevent them from rusting?
Not that I personally plan on taking them out but hey ya never know.

 

You could always spend a few cents more and buy stainless steel screws.

 

I could... and what size would these screws be?

 

yup wd-40 works wonders ... i know i have old audis

 

I am not certain what they are.. I usually just take a screw down to Ace Hardware with me and go through their assortment of metric screws and bolts until I find a match.

 

Good luck.


Those screws bite into a metal clip on the back side of the bumper plastic, chances are, before the screws break loose from the clips, those clips will break loose from the bumper.

I couldn't get my plate off, I ended up just tearing the plate, with clips attached, right off the car, opening those mounting hole up to about 1/2" diameter.