I dunno about this particular setup, but if they are the usual nylon screw holders that you see, then getting the screws out shouldn't be too hard.


Here's the trick - you have to get something under the screw head and lift as you back off the screw. At some point, the threads will grab the nylon again and it will begin to unscrew normally. Try getting a paint scraper under the head of the screw and prying up as you back off the screw. If there's any way to lift up on the screw using the license plate, that would work too. Another way is to get a thin gauge guitar string under there and loop it. You then have a nice noose around the screw that you can pull on as you unscrew.

I suspect the problem here is that the screw threads taper off as the shaft of the screw meets the head. Once the screw gets in that far, there's nothing to engage the threads of the worn nylon screw holder. Usually all you have to do is get it out a little and the threads engage again and work.

If no dice, then vice grips as suggested earlier are a good bet.

If you use washers to prevent the screws going in so far, you might not need to replace the screw holders.


This advice is based on my experience with other cars, I suspect but am not 100% sure that it pertains to this car as well.

Good luck!


-tp