Broke the dumbest thing today!

[GasMan]

I was putting a license plate frame on today and was having no success getting the bolt back on. Took the plate off and discovered the mounting plate had run itself around in the cutout for the plate bracket lol.

I took the two hex head screws out that hold it to the lift gate but it still remains stuck on. There's two mounting plates on the bottom, if I can just figure out a way to remove the plate bracket and flip it upside down I can use those mounting plates instead.

Any clue how to get this thing off? Do I just need a little more elbow grease? Can't imagine there's anything on the inside holding it on, seems excessive.

116674

116675

[widebodyfx]

I spun one of the nutserts in my S6 and said F it. Judging by the pictures the doublesided tape may be on there really well.https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-volkswagen-audi-parts/license-plate-bracket-rear/4g58271139b9/

[GasMan]

Joy.

I found one on Audi Wilmington for $97. I can think of things I'd rather spend $97 on.

Rip it off, polish off old tape, get some 3M stuff from store, be done?

[ryanlada]

Heat gun to soften the tape?

[widebodyfx]

Others have donee the same thing, the nut spins and you're asking why is that so easy to mess up. https://www.audizine.com/forum/search.php?searchid=9624773

The tape can probably be heated to get it off the panel, new tape is easy just getting the nut back into a spot where it won't spin again is needed. Glue or other hacks could work.

[GasMan]

Others have donee the same thing, the nut spins and you're asking why is that so easy to mess up. https://www.audizine.com/forum/search.php?searchid=9624773

The tape can probably be heated to get it off the panel, new tape is easy just getting the nut back into a spot where it won't spin again is needed. Glue or other hacks could work.

Yeah, super glue the damn things!

Your link doesn't bring up anything - "Sorry - no matches. Please try some different terms."

I've had issues with the forum all day. Warned me about unsafe certificates on my phone earlier, failed me keep me logged in.

[MVR 155]

Those threaded/self tapping insert pieces are sold at just about every auto parts store. You may have to epoxy the insert into the plate holder? Much cheaper/easier than replacing the entire holder.

[GasMan]

Those threaded/self tapping insert pieces are sold at just about every auto parts store. You may have to epoxy the insert into the plate holder? Much cheaper/easier than replacing the entire holder.

Thanks, I'll have to look at my local Auto Zone. The current insert piece is completely mangled, I tried to hard to get the screw back in it it seems stripped out so this is a great option!

[MVR 155]

My sister in law had a similar thing happen on her Nissan last year....... My brother in law and I picked up a couple of different inserts at Autozone and ended up getting it squared away. Luckily you got the actual screw out....... hers stripped with the screw still in which made it a royal PIA.

[GasMan]

My sister in law had a similar thing happen on her Nissan last year....... My brother in law and I picked up a couple of different inserts at Autozone and ended up getting it squared away. Luckily you got the actual screw out....... hers stripped with the screw still in which made it a royal PIA.

I took out the mounting plate/"nutsert" and held it with pliers then took the screw out. Had to pull the entire plate off with a little force but it all popped right off the car.

[gta7]

Been there fine that on my A7. Used a hairdryer to soften and ripped it off.

Audi gave me a replacement free as the car was less than a year old.

[Clipse3GT]

You can always mix some two part epoxy. Let it harden. Then drill and tap it with new threads.

[GasMan]

We've got a cars & coffee event next weekend. I was burning out on having one plate bolt in the upper left and the other in the lower right, looks hokey.

Got some JB Weld plastic. Yanked out a good mounting plate from the lower portion of plate bracket and put it in upper spot with JB Weld. Let it sit an hour as suggested to cure and it dried to the consistency of chewing gum. Tried tightening a screw into the mounting plate and it moved immediately. Stripped the old JB Weld off and put a metric ton on and I'm going to leave it over night.

If that still doesn't work I'm overnighting a plate bracket from Audi lol.

[Agent1486]

Did that my first day on my A6 swapping plate frames. I grabbed some styrene from a hobby store and just made a square cutout and epoxied it to the back of the frame and popped them in. Its been on there for three years without an issue.

Actually got told by the dealer after that it was pretty common.

[GasMan]

Well I got it on! I can tell the mounting plate for the screw is still a little wiggly. One day I'm going to need to undo it again to change the registration tag, and I'm not going through this again. Ordered a replacement plate bracket from Audi Wilmington with tortoise shipping.

[Valpo A7]

I thought I read on here where someone took the bracket off and turned it upside down to put the unused nut-serts where they need them for their plate.

[GasMan]

I thought I read on here where someone took the bracket off and turned it upside down to put the unused nut-serts where they need them for their plate.

I looked at trying that yesterday. The bolt holes for the hex heads that keep it attached to deck lid are not in the middle of the plate bracket, they're just a tad higher. When you flip it upside down then it doesn't fit.

Thanks Audi!

[Valpo A7]

Another option would be to try and find an A7 in a junk yard near you and get the bracket from there. Explain what you need and it should be fairly cheap or least less expensive than a stealer.

www.car-parts.com is a website for a nationwide junkyard search.