ok, so my state issued all new licence plates and I can't get my old plate off the back of my car because the top left screw is just turning, and won't come out. How would I go about getting it out of there?

 

The nut behind the bumber is moving. Gotta reach back there and get a wrench on it or cut it off.

 

Thing is...it's the top one not the bottom, so I don't think it has a nut on the back. Not sure though, I'll take a look later this afternoon..

 

It's a U-nut backing it (if it hasn't been changed); you can find a replacement at Pep Boys.

Your terminology is wrong, it's not cross-threaded, it's stripped. You can sometimes get it out by pushing on the back of the screw while you turn it from the front. You could also try prying under the head of the screw with a flathead screwdriver while you turn it with a wrench. This may require that you tear off the old license plate first.

 

or if you don't have access to the back of the bumper/screw you can get it started and thyen use a flatblade screwdriver or your finger and pry it towards the out position. This usually helps get stripped screws out as it'll often jump the stripped thread.

 

thanks for the suggestions guys, I'll have to break the plastic plate cover off to get a flathead under the screw head. I'm going to attack that little sucker on saturday.

 

I had the same problem--New plates came in, and just about all the screws were rusted on, both front and back. Stripped them all, so finally just drilled through the screws and broke them off....

 

It's one of those retained nuts, held in place by a plastic clip.

The reason why you can't back the screw is out is a lack of torque. If you can, stick the front edge of a flathead screwdriver in between the license plate and the head of the screw. Pushing against the threads, use another driver to turn the screw out. The screwdriver that is pushing against the threads will provide the torque you need to back the screw out.

 

Just bust out the almighty Dremel with the cutting disk.....