How can I get a stuck broken screw out of a rear license plate?

Question

So I was putting my girlfriend's plates+frame on her Civic, and being the he-man that I'm not, I managed to break the heads off both screws in two tries.

I went to Home Depot and picked up one of those $20 removal kits for my drill and I managed to get one screw out, but the other one is seriously stuck in there.

To make matters worse, during my initial try to get it out I broke off a crummy reverse threaded drill bit in there, so the new reverse bit while a quality part won't even dig into the screw.

-edit- I don't have access to the screw from inside the trunk either, it's got a panel welded on it.

Her plate+frame is on for now, but it's basically on with one screw and falls to the side every now and then...

Is there any trick I can use to get the other screw out, or something decent I can do to secure the plate?

chris · Accepted Answer

Depending on how mechanism for holding the screw is attached to the car, you might have a couple of options.

Some cars have plastic blocks embedded in the bumper. (Something like this)  If that the case, you can probably simply drill out the broken screw, and then either replace the block, or use a larger-size self-threading screw.

Another method is a clip (Like this).  If that's the case, you can probably use wire cutters to break apart the clip, spin it apart, and then replace it.

Most auto parts stores will have many universal replacement parts what'll probably replace whatever you have if you destroy the existing mount.

matthew.f.unger · Answer

Is there ANY of the screw available? You could try cutting a potato in half, then freezing it. Use a rubber mallet to pound onto the exposed screw shaft and then turn.
Good luck.

riotburn · Answer

You could use EZ outs, like these at Sears

You have to be precise though or it won't work.

Jeff · Answer

I think I bought every screw extractor on the market and had no luck. All I got was a nice, smoothly shaved cone in the middle of my screw. I ended up using my Dremel tool to cut 2 parallel sides into the screw head. I then added another shot of WD-40, locked a pair of vice-grips onto the screw and managed to get it out.

Answered by Jeff on January 3, 2021

Nick · Answer

You can try and drill the entire screw out - I've done that before, after the screw removal tool "thing" failed to grasp it out.

user60500 · Answer

Find a small flat head screw driver, heat it up and before it cools, stick it in to the plastic screw. It will melt a slot enough for you to back the screw out

How can I get a stuck broken screw out of a rear license plate?

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