Front license plate problems

[mu_ohio]

I was going to put on my front license plate the tonight and I ran into problems. There are 2 predrilled holes on the front bumper, but they are too far apart to ancher the plate. The bumper itself is also shaped in a way that a plate couldn't set flat if you screwed it directly down. Was I suppose to get a front bracket with my vehicle, or did they drill the holes incorrectly? How do others attach their plates?

[NovaResource]

There is a bracket that attaches to the bumper with those pre-drilled holes.The plate then bolts to the bracket.See bracket attached below:
[Modified by NovaResource, 7:50 PM 9/8/2002]

[mu_ohio]

Thanks,That's why I love this board, I post and get a good reply with a pic in minutes

[NSimkins]

BTW, if you didn't get a bracket when you purchased your Vibe, in Ohio, you are required by law to have one installed when you purchase a vehicle... so don't let them make you pay for one.
[Modified by NSimkins, 8:57 PM 9/8/2002]

[NovaResource]

BTW mu_ohio, that picture is of NSimkins Frosty monotone Vibe. Gotta give credit to the source.

[MA-VIBE-FAN]

Check in the spare tire storage area to see if the bracket is still in your car. That is where it ships from the factory.

[ZUROBI]

That happend to me and I try to get it in other place than the dealer but you can't so I went back to the dealer and order. Hope one day we can get the parts and accesories in other places than the dealer...

[mu_ohio]

I went to the dealer after work and they just took a bracket of another Vibe and put it on mine. Mine was a dealer transfer so who knows what happened originally.

[OlDood]

Here's how I solved it: I crimped the license plate in the middle to conform to the angle of the lower front fascia, drilled a couple of holes in the appropriate place, and screwed the license plate directly to the fascia under the bumper. Voila! The only holes are in an unobtrusive location under the bodywork. If you insist on keeping the license plate flat, or insist on using a frame, you could always do the same thing, using rubber shims as necessary behind the license plate to keep it straight.Does the slight obstruction of the lower grille affect cooling? Not in the slightest. In this configuration, I have made a high-speed run up Interstate 5 to Monterey and back (averaging 73 mph), with no visible effect on the engine temp. On the day that it was 112 degrees F. here in Riverside, the engine temp didn't budge from the normal range.
[Modified by OlDood, 11:31 PM 9/12/2002]