What tool can be used to remove a broken license plate screw stuck in the hole?
2 Answers
A broken license plate screw stuck in the hole can be removed using a drill bit. Below is a detailed explanation of the specific colors of vehicle license plates: Blue with white characters: These are generally exclusive to small vehicles, but not limited to sedans. Passenger vehicles with fewer than 9 seats and commercial trucks with a load capacity of less than 1.5 tons can also use blue license plates. Yellow background with black characters: Vehicles with yellow license plates mainly include: Large trucks, ordinary M2-class light passenger vehicles, medium and large passenger vehicles, agricultural-use vehicles, trailers, minivans with 10 or more seats, and trucks with a load capacity of more than 1.0 tons, etc. White background with black characters: White license plates are commonly seen on vehicles belonging to public security departments, judicial departments, procuratorates, armed police forces, and the People's Liberation Army, among other national authorities. Black background with white characters: The first type of black license plate is the Yue Z license plate issued by the Guangdong Provincial Public Security Department, mainly for facilitating travel between Guangdong and Hong Kong and Macau. Another type is for foreign institutions in China, such as consulates, which can have black license plates, indicating that the vehicle is an embassy's official car. These vehicles often display the national flag. Green background with black characters: These are the license plates introduced in recent years for new energy vehicles. However, not all new energy vehicles are eligible for green license plates.
When encountering a broken license plate screw stuck in the hole, here's how I handled it: This issue is usually caused by rusted screws or excessive torque. For tools, I recommend a screw extractor kit—affordable and effective. During operation, first spray some WD-40 lubricant, wait for about ten minutes to loosen the rust, then carefully drill a small hole in the broken screw with a drill bit, and insert the extractor to reverse and unscrew it. Don’t rush; if the drill goes off-center, it may enlarge the hole and affect the license plate’s stability. Additionally, broken screws often result from installation issues, such as not choosing rust-resistant screws or overtightening. It’s advisable to apply anti-rust coating oil when replacing new screws in the future. I’ve used this method for over a decade—it saves time and money. The tools can be bought at hardware stores; remember to get a kit with various sizes for different screw types. If the hole is too deep and hard to operate, check the frame for corrosion and apply rust inhibitor if necessary.
