Prevent your rear license plate from scraping the paint...

[NSimkins]

For any future or current Vibe owners or those who have not noticed this problem, here is a nice solution...If you notice on the rear hatch area where the license plate attaches, most Vibe's have 2 little pieces of foam stuck near the bottom of the plate area to prevent the plate from banging the hatch while in motion.While this does a great job, there is also the top plate area that comes in direct contact with the paint after it is screwed onto the vehicle. This direct contact can, over time, cause the paint to scratch off and/or wear away.A simple fix is to buy some little foam or soft-type one-sided adhesive pads that you can normally find at any hardware or parts store. The pads I bought were heavy-duty felt furniture pads that stick to the bottom of chairs so you can move them easily on the floor.Anything in this range of products will do the job depending on what you find. Wal-Mart or any other store will probably carry these.Here is a picture of the rear of the plate where I placed the pads to ensure that no part of the plate comes in direct contact with the paint:The package came with 4 pads and I ended up using them all. The plate does not stick way out from the vehicle as some may think. This type of modification to the plate is barely visible and will prevent damage to the paint underneath the plate.I have had these on for a month already and they have been subjected to water and hot/cold scenarios and are still adhered perfectly to the plate.
[Modified by NSimkins, 6:52 PM 9/2/2002]

[LadyHwk750]

Thanks for the suggestion. Sounds like a good one to try!

[Chris]

Thanks for the suggestion! I did this to my base vibe and, once done, when I slammed the hatch, there was just a nice, quality thunk instead of the twaaaaang of the licence plate rattling around!

[Campbell]

My NUMMI Vibe (Made in May) already had foam pads on the sheet metal behind the plate. (I just got my plates yesterday - it took two months to get the new CA plates with the USA flag)

[NSimkins]

quote:My NUMMI Vibe (Made in May) already had foam pads on the sheet metal behind the plate.Yeah, mine, as well as others have the 2 little foam pads on the metal, but that is definately not enough (in my opinion) to protect the plate from scratching and rubbing the paint off. If you bolt one on, you may clearly see how the plate comes in direct contact.Of course there could be different plate designs and varied plate quality that may affect your need for this modification.Now unless they have added even more foam protection at the factory or dealer since I got my Vibe, I wouldn't know.

[Chris]

Another thing to note is that, from what I can see, the screw holes in the bodywork are not painted/protected in any way that I can see. I'm sure it has the same coating/plating that the rest of the body has but it still worries me. I coated my plate screws in siliconethen screwed them in... hope this keeps the moisture out!

[rsperko]

What I did was leave the dealer's logo plastic plates on under my real plates. That gave complete coverage under the license plate. I kind of enjoy getting unanticipated use out of a piece of advertising that usually irritates me.Most of the dealers around here have little advertising plates on the vehicles on the lot. Could probably ask for one if you wanted to.-Rick

[NSimkins]

quote:What I did was leave the dealer's logo plastic plates on under my real plates. That gave complete coverage under the license plate.That's a good idea also. I didn't get one of these plastic plates from my dealer, but when I got my Temporary License Plate (made of cardboard), I put that under my license plate until I could think of something to work out in this situation.The cardboard, unlike the plastic plate, started to deteriorate fairly quickly, so I had to take it out and do what I posted about above.

[darcmater]

I know old, old post, but im good at that it seems. I was takeign a look at the area underneath my plate today. Everything seems fine, a bit of rust on the actual nut that is welded behind the outerdoor, but thats to be expected, none on the actual paint as yet. Beign the paranoid person I am with my car I am worried I over tightened the top screws and now the plate will rub/scratch onto the paint. Suppose I will have to take the idea from here with the pads to reduce my anxiety : )plus i figure it will help with vibration noise when I have my radio on