Attaching license plates

[VibeInTx]

So, I went to my dealer yesterday to have my new plates installed (they said they would call me when they came in, but they didn't)....The screws the saleman used to attach the temporary plates didn't look right to me, but they insisted they were correct. After struggling to remove the old screws, I said "Are you sure those are the right screws?". "Oh yeah, they're the right screws, they're all the same"."Are you sure?""Yeah, I put these things on all the time""Well, you know, the Vibe is a toyota designed car, maybe they use a Toyota sized screw""No, these are the right screws"After another few minutes, I insisted that the service department install my plates instead of the salesman.At the service deparment, they had the wrong screwdriver, were fumbling to change bits, and tried 3 different screws before the genius there finally decided to see what screws were attached to the new cars on the lot.To make a long story short, in 45 minutes, I had my license plates installed, and probably some stripped license plate screwholes.I think I will go to Toyota for my service. Does anyone know if this will effect the warranty?

[NSimkins]

Yikes! I don't know if I would trust their Service Department to do even a simple oil change then if they can't even bolt a license plate to the car! As far as I know, since you bought a GM car, you could only get your vehicle serviced under warranty at a GM dealership service department.

[BanditWS6]

They did the same dang thing to me on the day I bought my Vibe. The salespeople took the plate off my old car, got some new screws from somewhere and tried to attach the plate to my Vibe. They came back saying "We had some trouble getting the screws to go in...but I'm sure the plate will be secure."Turns out they used American plate screws on a Toyota engineered car! The factory-supplied hex-head metric plate bolts were still wrapped in plastic in the glove box; when I got home I took the offending screws out and affixed the plate properly. At least the holes on the rear hatch look okay; they didn't try to grind them in too far.Watch out, man. These dealers can be deadly.

[dlmetzger]

The exact same thing happened to me.My dealer using some ordinary bolts. He "finished" and went inside and I was getting ready to leave. I noticed that the plate was rattling around so I went back in and asked the saleperson what was up with that. He said, "yea, I noticed it was loose too". My question, why didn't he do something about it? He was ready for me to just drive off and lose my plates.

[admin]

That is unreal. How can you sell a $20,000 vehicle to a consumer and not take the time to learn the product all the way down to the proper license plate screws? What a quick way to upset the buyer.- Mike

[dlmetzger]

Welcome to the GM dealership. How can I screw you today?

[mwstate]

ditto! The plate was first inctalled loosly. Then it took the service department two drivers and two sets of screws to get it tight. It is so tight I don't know it I could get it off now.

[meathead333]

so i took my front plate off today cause i think it looks ALOT better without it. anyone know a good way to cover up or fill up the holes in my bumper. i saw the silver thing on ebay, but i dont think it would look good. i also put some touch up paint on the screw hole to match it up a bit. any ideas???

[Raven]

I think the way the back plate is attached is totally bogus, there should be some sort of mounting bracket to seperate the cheap metal license plate from the all too delicate skin of the Vibe.

[Merzbow]

speaking of struggling with liscense plates....The dealer we got the Vibe from said he would give us a free oil change if we advertised his dealership with a liscense plate frame....so I said sure why not. Well I decided to take it off one day cause it was ugly. The right screw was in-bedded into the plastic frame somehow!!!I couldnt screw it out, I actually had to get cisors and other utensils to operate and cut away the stupid plastic. finally it came off...no damage to the car....though the liscense plate itself got a little scratched in the process, along with a few dents....probably my frustration and carelessness caused the dents...