I want to temporarily take off the number plates on my car, and am
unsure how to first remove the small black plastic covers that protect
the screws or bolts. Do I take a pair of pliers to each of them and
twist or pull? Presumably they will then be damaged, so where do I buy
replacements? I assume they are a standard size?

Any practical advice would be appreciated please.

-- 
Terry, West Sussex, UK

Terry Pinnell (terrypin@dial.pipex.com) gurgled happily, sounding much like 
they were saying :


> I want to temporarily take off the number plates on my car, and am
> unsure how to first remove the small black plastic covers that protect
> the screws or bolts. Do I take a pair of pliers to each of them and
> twist or pull?


Or a very small flat bladed screwdriver. They're usually a little cup that 
fits behind the self-tapper screw, then a cover the clicks on. Have a very 
close look round the edge, and you'll see how they fit together. Then a 
small levering opposite the hinge, and bing!


> Presumably they will then be damaged, so where do I buy
> replacements? I assume they are a standard size?


Depends how big a ham-fisted muppet you are. I always bugger 'em up. Some 
don't. Halfrauds or any decent car spares place. Pennies.

In article ,
   Terry Pinnell  wrote:

> I want to temporarily take off the number plates on my car, and am
> unsure how to first remove the small black plastic covers that protect
> the screws or bolts. Do I take a pair of pliers to each of them and
> twist or pull? Presumably they will then be damaged, so where do I buy
> replacements? I assume they are a standard size?


They're usually a cup with a top that clicks in. If you look closely you
should see the join. A small screwdriver will separate them. Other types
cover the cup completely. In which case a screwdriver between plate and
cup should do it.

Halfords or any accessory shop should have spares.

-- 
*Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine.

    Dave Plowman        dave@davenoise.co.uk           London SW
                  To e-mail, change noise into sound.

"Dave Plowman (News)"  wrote:


>In article ,
>   Terry Pinnell  wrote:
>> I want to temporarily take off the number plates on my car, and am
>> unsure how to first remove the small black plastic covers that protect
>> the screws or bolts. Do I take a pair of pliers to each of them and
>> twist or pull? Presumably they will then be damaged, so where do I buy
>> replacements? I assume they are a standard size?
>
>They're usually a cup with a top that clicks in. If you look closely you
>should see the join. A small screwdriver will separate them. Other types
>cover the cup completely. In which case a screwdriver between plate and
>cup should do it.
>
>Halfords or any accessory shop should have spares.


Thanks both. Halfords didn't have black, and only sold them with
screws included, so I bought one pack for containing one white, one
yellow! So if I do break 1 or more of the 4 originals on the 2 plates
(almost inevitable) I'll have to paint them. Daylight robbery at
1.44!

-- 
Terry, West Sussex, UK

Yellow for the rears, white for the fronts.

Black, depending on the position, might leave you open to accusations of 
trying to disguise your number e.g. a conveniemtly placed balk screw head 
can make a C look like a G etc etc.


"Terry Pinnell"  wrote in message 
news:6bclc1toca6ebl8joigskog81vjo7c59jd@4ax.com...

> "Dave Plowman (News)"  wrote:
>
>>In article ,
>>   Terry Pinnell  wrote:
>>> I want to temporarily take off the number plates on my car, and am
>>> unsure how to first remove the small black plastic covers that protect
>>> the screws or bolts. Do I take a pair of pliers to each of them and
>>> twist or pull? Presumably they will then be damaged, so where do I buy
>>> replacements? I assume they are a standard size?
>>
>>They're usually a cup with a top that clicks in. If you look closely you
>>should see the join. A small screwdriver will separate them. Other types
>>cover the cup completely. In which case a screwdriver between plate and
>>cup should do it.
>>
>>Halfords or any accessory shop should have spares.
>
> Thanks both. Halfords didn't have black, and only sold them with
> screws included, so I bought one pack for containing one white, one
> yellow! So if I do break 1 or more of the 4 originals on the 2 plates
> (almost inevitable) I'll have to paint them. Daylight robbery at
> 1.44!
>
> -- 
> Terry, West Sussex, UK
> 

R. Murphy (newspam@murphy9100.fsnet.co.uk) gurgled happily, sounding
much like they were saying : 


> Yellow for the rears, white for the fronts.
> 
> Black, depending on the position, might leave you open to accusations
> of trying to disguise your number e.g. a conveniemtly placed balk
> screw head can make a C look like a G etc etc.


As might white/yellow, depending on the position - 1 to i, for eg