I'm in a situation where my back window was damaged due to improper screws being used to bolt down the license plates on the back. The improper screws scratched my back glass so the dealer won't replace it out of their pockets because the screws were not the correct one.

The salesperson used the wrong screws to put on my temporary plates and I have not rolled down the back window since then until I got my permanent license plates then I replaced temp. plates with my permanent one. Scratches are quite significant and I would like to see if any Toyota techs. can help tell me what this screw is used for. The dealership is telling me they do not have this on-site nor know how it ended up being screwed in on the plate holder.


M4.2-1.41 X 20mm Hex Head Sems Teks Tapping Screw

This is what was installed on my license plates holder. This shows up under Toyota/Lexus screws. Can any tech tell me exactly what this screw is used for? I am hoping to find an answer here so I can use it as part of my argument with the service manager to repair this free of charge instead of splitting it 50/50.

THANKS!!!

I believe the rear license plate should be a machine screw, definitely not a self tapper. The self tapper is usually used on plastic. We use those on Toyota bumpers without a bracket or in the front plastic bracket.

Hmm the self tapping screw I believe is used on the front bumper while the back is a m6 machine screw.

Thanks for your quick response.

In other words you are saying it's used on front bumpers that did not come with a pre-intsalled bracket to hold front license plate together and also can be used on pre-installed brackets to hold the license plate together?

Thanks for your response. Just asked someone for more clarity but seems like you both are on the ball here. So needless to say this is definitely a screw that can be found on-site at the dealership, then. The guy told me they do not even have it at all in their shop

I could be wrong on this but I want to say a screw like that comes with the front license plate mounting bracket

Right on. Thanks for your help again man. Will give the manager a call here shortly. That's all I needed to know!

Yes, exactly. Toyota also has cars that dont even have a bracket and the l/p gets screwed directly to the bumper.

My front plate bracket is new in the package with two of those screws for attaching the bracket to the bumper, and two gray colored screws to attach the plate to the bracket.

The rear plate screws are phillips head machine screws.


I suggest you look inside a brand new 4 runner on the lot, the plate bracket is typically in the glove box with all the screws in a sealed bag. You should find the screws in that clear sealed bag.

There have to be other 4runners on the lot done correctly.
I find it hard to believe the dealership wont own up to it.

You find it hard to believe a dealership will not own up to a mistake? Really?

Now now, lets be constructive here


https://www.toyota-4runner.org/dealers-your-experience/

In case anyone else wants avoid this unfortunate situation, the rear plate uses M6x1 , 16mm long machine screws.

I changed mine from philips to security torx.

I second this. The bracket for my front plate is sitting on my back seat in the sealed bag with these screws as well. If you need a picture, I can grab one when I go out to my car after work.

I know it's weird that they would be accountable without t a fight, but when it's obvious they ****ed up I expect them to help.