I know this may sound petty, but ever since receiving my GS I've had issues with the license plate screws. I changed plates today, and found the rear plastic screws very tight. I felt any single turn might snap the screw. Finally I removed the screws and checked the threads. They are not stripped. I found steel screws that have the identical thread as the plastic screws, but yet they will not easily thread into the the nuts in the body. Other than a few turns, I would not want to force the screw in. So in the end I went back to the tight fitting plastic screws, and a little WD-40 didn't help much.

Now the front license plate screws. They're also plastic, but this time if I tighten them down they eventually will never firmly seat. They act as though they're stripped, but the screw threads appear fine.

Anyone else experience problems with their license plate screws? Have you replaced the plastic screws with steel or stainless steel screws?

Thanks.

 

i have not experienced any problems with the fit. there shouldn't be a gap or any feeling that you have to force them. i don't have the front plates, but my SC did (got bumper plugs for it though when i took the plates off) and the RX does. no looseness in the screws on either of those.

i am sure you can find just the right size screw/bolt at home depot if it is bothering you. or, i have some extras at home i can send to you if you want to compare

 

No problem with my screws either....

The problem may be that your other car is...GREEN! ....

 

If you do change the screws; use metric screws not American inch sizes.

Also if you do change to metal screws use stainless or non-rusting types.

 

My car came with metal screws painted black. Not sure what they are made of (based on weight, I am guessing aluminum) but definately metal because on the threads, the paint has worn off and you can see the bare metal.

 

Hey, it's just what Lexus called the color! It's actually the ever popular dark gray with a very subtle hint of green if you see it in exactly the right light conditions.

I'm going to have the dealer check out the screws when I bring it in for its 5000 mile service. Maybe they used incorrect screws, as they did with the front when I took delivery of the car.

With my past cars I've always replaced the dealer screws with stainless steel, but this time I can't find a thread that works. For those that have replaced the screws, do you know the correct size? Are the front and back the same?

Thanks for the suggestions.

 

I fiqured out the size screw by using the steel screw from the front plate of the RX300. For reference, the size of the screw is a metric M6 with a pitch of 1. Both the front and rear plates use the same size screw. The screws fit as they should. Don't let be fooled by using a
U.S. 10-28 screw. The thread pitch is the same, but the screw diameter is a little bit larger than the metric M6.