Hi everyone.

I purchased some LED lights to replace the stock license plate lights.

Unscrewed the first light housing easily...there's only 2 phillips screws per housing. Installed the LED light. Looks great!

Moved onto the second light housing. Unscrewed the first phillips screw. No problem. Started to unscrew the second phillips screw and the darn thing just turns and turns and won't come out! Arg!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rant2.gif)

Any ideas or suggestions?

Some additional info...

When I unscrew the screw, it does come out a bit, but then pops back to it's original position.

When it does come out a bit, I can get a small flat head in beside the screw. But that's it.

I'm wondering if there is a small grappling device that can grab the screws head, so that I can pull it out. Is there such a device?

Thanks.

There are a few versions of screw-starters which may help you. Some have springy hooks on each side of the blade to grip the screw, some have expanding points (but that may just be for flat-head).

Are the threads stripped or is the socket spinning inside?

Thanks for the reply.

I don't think the thread is stripped, as I was able to tighten it back up again. The socket seems to be spinning inside...meaning that I can feel the screw move down and then it pops back up again.

If I can find one of those screw-starters with the springy hooks on each side, that should do the trick. I just need something to grab the head of the screw so that I can try and pull it down.

Any idea where to find a screw-starter springy-thingy?

Thanks.

I'd try Sears or Ace Hardware, or whatever local big-box home improvement store you have in your neighborhood. They're fairly common, among specialty tools. (Imagine trying to start a screw if you only had one hand!)

This is the tool that I had in mind...

http://www.generaltools.com/Products/Mini-...ickup__388.aspx

Now to find a store here in the Mississauga GTA area.

Fellow GTA'rs, any suggestions on where to find this tool?

Thanks.

When unscrewing, place a small pair of cutting plyers behind the head of the screw and pry it towards you to put pressure on the lock that is in the back...That should do the trick..

Carl

Good call Carl. That trick has worked for me. You can also try to pry under the screw head with a flat blade screwdriver or putty knife while you unscrew w/ the phillips.

Joel

I vote for Joel's solution. Prying the screw while turning recently worked for me while removing bumper trim for a fog light replacement.

Try Princess Auto in Missisauga. They should have what you're looking for.

This is the Craftsman Screwdriver with the springy hooks I had in mind:

Sears Screwdriver with Thumb Control

If the tool was rotated 90 degrees in the picture you'd see the hooks better.

Thanks for the replies everyone.

I tried the old small flat-head behind the head trick, but the light housings hole wouldn't allow for much room.

I'm a couple a minutes from Princess Auto...I'll take a drive there this afternoon and will have a look.

I'll keep you posted on my progress.

Cheers!

This post has been edited by radar2000: Nov 18 2009, 09:34 AM

Princess Auto did not have this hand tool (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

I did buy some various tweezers that seem to have a good gripping design. It cost my $3 bucks. If it works, great. If it doesn't...oh well.

This post has been edited by radar2000: Nov 20 2009, 03:32 PM

I have one of those screwdrivers with the springs on the head & don't use it that much. I find that magnetic ones are more convenient (unless I'm using a non-steel screw). If you get one of them, you'll find that the spring "grapples" aren't strong enough to pull with - they're really only made for holding the screw against the screw driver so that it won't fall off as you're trying to start it.

Posting a picture of the location (and screw) might give you some better advise, but so far the knife blade or the side cutters behind the head get my vote.

Tweezer kit = epic fail...

I tried the flat head trick again and it still won't budge.

I think my only alternative is to take it in to Hyundai and have it changed/serviced under warranty...sigh.

have you tried possibly pulling down on the cover slightly to apply pressure to the head of the screw since you do have the other screw out? I pic would deffinitly help to come up with solutions for you even a cell phone pic is better than nothing

With it under warranty, that's exactly what I'd do.