I just got a 2005 Honda Pilot XL. When I got my plates from dmv, I noticed that the nut/bolt, I'm sorry not sure how to call this, it looks like the screw was broken inside. On a side note, are those nut/but on the car or can they come off. It's hard to tell because of the rust. I've tried wd 40 but lost. I'm not sure what options I have because I'm in a state where it's mandatory to have your license mounted to the rear also. Can you help me?
Poking around the 2003-2008 Honda Pilot forums this seems to be a common issue.
The nut is welded to the body. It's common for the license plate bolt to get rusted into the nut and snapping off.
You have to drill the broken bolt out of the nut and then re-thread the nut.
BUT, the sheet metal which the nut is welded to is very thin and you could tear the sheet metal and wind up with another problem.
In your shoes I'd just buy a sheet metal screw at Home Depot and drill a small hole right next to the broken nut to affix the license plate. Just don't over tighten the screw. Just make it snug because like I said that sheet metal is very thin.
Below. Nut weld breaking and nut tearing from sheet metal:
You could post a picture of the broken bolt/screw.
The remains will come out when you use an appropriate tool (extractor or alike).
When your 20-year old Honda is not the absolute gem (despite it's rust), you could solve the problem using 2 (stainless) parker screws, fastening the plate to the rear panel. Mount it at the intended location, so at night the plate will be illuminated.
When you lightly grease the new bolts with copper-grease before inserting, they will not get solid with the nuts on the long run.
When the welded-on nut breaks-off and you want to avoid welding on that paper-grade steel:
there exist small steel plates with a threaded hole in it, these are used to mount metal bolts to wood constructions.
You could slightly modify such plates and epoxy-glue them to the back of the steel.
As there is virtually no load on the construction (the plates weigh next to nothing), this will do the job.
Not original though...
Note: WD40 is NOT a penetrating fluid!
You should use other stuff for doing that job.
zip ties to make it work
That seems the 'red neck solution' to me. Not sure, TS wants to give his beloved Honda a rat rod aspect! 😀
It’s one of the many options available to him to choose or not.
On one car with messed up license plate holes, I Jerry rigged zip ties to make it work. Not sure if it would work in your situation, but an option to consider.
yikes no.
Do not use cable ties for affixing anything to the exterior of your vehicle. They are not intended for permanent outdoor applications.
This terrible advice is going to lead to car parts embedded in windshields on the highway.
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