Rusted screws license lights help

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xmytruck

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Hello
One of my license plate lights are out screws are rusted and advice and how to change a lightbulb. Should I try to use a screw extractor I should just drill them out or order complete new part for the back of the 4 runner. Also does anyone know what size screws are used back there?
 

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curious to find this out as well because mine are ruined and i want to replace my bulbs with leds. more interested in what replacement screws are than how to remove them
 
I had the same issue recently for both bulbs. After several rounds of penetrating oil over several days, 3 of the 4 came out with a screwdriver, and the heads were in way worse shape than yours. For the 4th one which was a lost cause, i drilled out the head slowly. There is enough space between the light fixture and the car leaving enough threads on the remaining screw so that you can drill the head out, pop out the lamp, and take it out the rest of the way with small vice grips. I do not think an extractor will work in this scenario based on the size of the screw and the angle you would need to overcome with a drill. Retapping should not be required. Just take your time and be patient. Also, i don't recall the size, but i took the barely intact screws to the hardware store and replaced all with stainless steel.
 
I just did this. I got the LED's off eBay for maybe $4.99. I have a pack of stainless hardware from the boating section of Walmart and just used ones about the same size. I used some others to replace the screws in the door sill plates and I use them with the included washers on the license plates.

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Don't worry about finding screws to fit until you get the old ones out. You can go to just about any auto parts store and get those. With mine, the lenses were so milky and rust stained, I just spent the $12 and got new lenses from Toyota. The replacement screws I coated with some silver Rustoleum to reduce rusting.
 
Interesting... On your trucks, do these screws fasten into sheet metal? On my '05, the screws fasten to a plastic piece, one of which broke off last time I replaced a bulb. The light is now attached to my truck with some clear duct tape.

I'd love to be able to replace the plastic piece, but not sure it can be done easily.
 
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Hate to be the guy who brings up an old thread but what are the size bolts for the rear license plate? I haven't been able to find any that fit the holes.
 
thegame said:
Thnaks! I think that's what I tried and it wouldn't fit but I will try again. May have damaged things removing old ones....
Click to expand...

Too large or too small? Someone may have drilled and tapped to a larger size if the screws are too small.
 
I've never had good luck with those extractors, my preferred method is notching the head of the screw with a Dremel and using a flat head. Works pretty well.

Definitely use some penetrating fluid.
 
left hand drill

I drilled mine out using a left hand drill bit. It caught the screws while drilling, and backed them out. Replaced with SS hardware and LED bulbs.
 
bdjcl said:
Does the plastic surrounding the license plate have to be removed to get to the two light assemblies?
Click to expand...

Yea, unless you drill out the screws, you'll have to remove this "bezel." This basically means you'll have to remove the backing from the inside to get access to all this.

I did this while I was installing my back up camera
 
Syr4RinNC said:
Yea, unless you drill out the screws, you'll have to remove this "bezel." This basically means you'll have to remove the backing from the inside to get access to all this.

I did this while I was installing my back up camera
Click to expand...

wouldn't happen to have any pictures of the process, would you?
 
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