1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Front license plate holder

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Orsino, Mar 23, 2005.

  1. Orsino

    Orsino New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2005
    104
    0
    0
    Location:
    (west of) Etlanna, GA
    My '05 came with a sealed plastic bag containing what is obviously a support for a front license plate & frame. It fits neatly on the nose, but there's no hardware with which to attach this thing to the car--just the usual two bolts which would attach the plate/frame to the holder.

    I see two holes that look as though they would allow two long bolts to go into the grille, but I have no clue as to how to make this work. Can anyone point me in the right direction? The manual doesn't cover this, and I'm unable to find an answer either in these forums or with general Google-fu.

    As a follow-up: would a front license plate interfere with air intake and/or reduce mileage?
     
    #1 Orsino, Mar 23, 2005
  2. eak354

    eak354 Member

    Joined:
    Dec 18, 2003
    447
    0
    0
    Location:
    HI
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    they should have installed it during predelivery (unless ordered otherwise) you can go back to the dealership and have them install it. didnt the 2 bolts come with it? it should be easy to install yourself.
     
    #2 eak354, Mar 23, 2005
  3. Prolene

    Prolene New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 12, 2005
    84
    0
    0
    Location:
    SoCal
    The front plate holder/frame was already installed when I first saw the car I bought. The frame was attached to the bumper and does not cover any grill area. Screws to hold the holder in place were driven directly into the bumper. I didn't like it. I don't like to have front plates, anyway, for appearances sake, and the sight of the holes in the bumper are a bit of an annoyance.
     
    #3 Prolene, Mar 23, 2005
  4. DanMan32

    DanMan32 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 27, 2004
    3,799
    27
    0
    Location:
    Tampa Bay, FL
    My front plate holder only came with the self tapping screws that screw into the bumper plastic where the dimples are. I ether never receieve, or lost the bolts for the plate itself.

    If you don't have the self-tapping screws, see your dealer.
     
    #4 DanMan32, Mar 23, 2005
  5. bobc

    bobc New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 13, 2005
    361
    5
    0
    Location:
    Durham, NH
    As an alternative, Texassalsa04 put the plate below the bumper.

    These are from the modification album here on priuschat.com.

    -bob
     
    #5 bobc, Mar 23, 2005
  6. kkister1492

    kkister1492 New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 7, 2004
    355
    1
    0
    Location:
    Fremont, CA
    But I don't understand why having the license plate lower and then have to cover up the holes in the bumper is preferable to the plate in the bumper. A friend did this, too, and I just don't get it.
     
    #6 kkister1492, Mar 23, 2005
  7. prius mdt

    prius mdt New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 15, 2005
    25
    0
    0
    Location:
    Richmond VA
    The two screws in the plastic bag are to hold the frame onto the front bumper. Simply poke a hole with an awl where the dimples are and screw the screws in. I find it easier with a 10mm 1/4" drive socket on a cordless drill. Toyota does not supply the bolts to attach you plate to the frame.

    Some dealers don't install the frames as they DX (dealer exchange) cars in their inventory to dealers outside of the their state where front plates are optional. People in those states would then have an ugly frame or holes in the bumper where the frame was.
     
    #7 prius mdt, Mar 23, 2005
  8. Orsino

    Orsino New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2005
    104
    0
    0
    Location:
    (west of) Etlanna, GA
    Thanks, Don! That makes sense.

    A bolt/screw through the bumper sounds a bit insecure, though. If I asked my dealer to do it, what would they use?
     
    #8 Orsino, Mar 23, 2005
  9. prius mdt

    prius mdt New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 15, 2005
    25
    0
    0
    Location:
    Richmond VA
    They would use the screw thru the bumper. Toyota has been doing that for years. Works well even tho it sounds weak.
     
    #9 prius mdt, Mar 26, 2005
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)