Rear License plate bracket Questions

[housegsx]

I think I need a new license plate bracket. For whatever reason that part rusted away to nothing. I can pull huge chunks off of it if I reach up underneath with my hand.

I have a couple quick questions.
How does the bracket mount?
Anyone have pics of this thing?
Can I replace it without removing my bumper cover?
Does this bracket also have the mounting points for the license plate lights?
My lights are just dangling around inside my bumper cover. This is my main reason for replacing the bracket because they like to tell me about it every year I take it for inspection, which has been overdue since October.

Here is the part I found on JNZtuning.com oem parts site. Is it the part I need?

Collision Catalog - 1997 - Mitsubishi - Eclipse
Rear bumper, Bumper and components, License bracket, License bracket

It's only $9.94.

[tml148]

The bracket is discontinued. I had a hard time finding one, but eventually found one at a dealership in Arizona.

The bracket is held on by 3 bolts behind your license plate. The license plate is mounted to this piece through the bumper. The lights are mounted to the top of it with screws and platic clips. The wiring for the plate lights and reverse lights slso mounts to this.

It seems difficult to install this with the bumper on the car. I ended up taking the entire bumper off and replacing all of the bolts, clips and metal pieces that were rusted out.

I have the part number and a bunch of pics at home. I will post them up later on.

--
Tom

[housegsx]

Thanks. Please do that. Afterwards, I'll call JNZ and see if they can actually get it.

[BoostedinSoFla]

Notice the square holes on the bracket, those are the holes that hold the little black plastic things that the license plate screws go into. I took off my entire bumper cover so I'm not sure if the entire bumper cover needs to be removed. All I can tell you is, pray to god that it doesn't need to be removed because that was one of the biggest PITA for me throughout my restoration of my car.

[housegsx]

Thanks for the pic. That's all that's to it? Hmm, I might just make one if nobody has one cheap.

Originally Posted by BoostedinSoFla

All I can tell you is, pray to god that it doesn't need to be removed because that was one of the biggest PITA for me throughout my restoration of my car.

I figured. I won't be replacing it if the bumper cover has to come off. Looks like too much work and those tiny screws always snap. They did on my front bumper anyways. Buy yeah, if I can't get to it I'll just let the damn things dangle in front of the plate for inspection and then tuck them back into the abyss when I leave.

[tml148]

JNZ can not get the part. I did end up getting all of the other pieces from them.

--
Tom

[housegsx]

I took off my license plate and there was no bracket. It was completely rusted away. It doesn't do anything for the license plate, it just mounts the lights. I am going to make two little brackets for the lights and be done with it.

[housegsx]

I got tired of trying to duplicate the original bracket. I made one of sheet metal but it was all bent up and jagged edge so I gave up and tried to make one out of an old piece of plastic I had. That didn't work too well either so I decided to just make two small brackets out of plastic for the lights. Then I found license plate hardware at Autozone and it goes right into to bumper like factory without the need for the original bracket.

Here's what I made out of plastic and the license plate nuts are available at most auto parts stores.

[Tiki]

I ran into this problem with my 1995 eclipse. Bracket rusted completely out and the right tag light was dangling over my month and year of expiration which got me pulled over by the cops.

Every time I touched this plate...the same thing happened to me. Hunks and chunks of rust fell off. I did manage to find one rust hunk that was kinda solid, so I put a metal screw in at an angle to secure it until I could order the bracket.

I should say...THOUGHT I could order it from a Mitsubishi dealer. This particular part is a discontinued part. I waited almost a month for Kelly Mitsubishi in Chattanooga, Tennessee for the part because there is no Mitsubishi dealership in this town. Finally I called because the part never arrived after almost a month of waiting to be told that Mitsubishi does not make this part at all anymore, it is a discontinued part.

Tried junkyards and they would not sell a used bracket without buying the whole rear bumper cover. Finally, I called James Corlew Mitsubishi in Clarksville, Tennessee and he said this particular part was considered as a vintage part. He gave me several numbers in different states and on the second call I was able to locate one.

Attached to my post is a pic of a new one and the actual part number for those that are having this same problem. A big thanks to the user that posted the pic of this part so I knew I had the correct one! Thought my pics and info might be helpful to anyone that was went through this dilemma. Sorry if the pics are too large.

[BoostedinSoFla]

Originally Posted by Tiki

A big thanks to the user that posted the pic of this part so I knew I had the correct one!

You're welcome my friend. Glad you could get it replaced. How much was the bracket?

[Cesar]

is the talon bracket the same??

[tml148]

I do not think so. The talon bracket may be similar to what is on the Avenger.

--
Tom

[DGajre777]

Originally Posted by Cesar

is the talon bracket the same??

No. The talon doesn't have a metal bracket. The license bulbs screw into a plastic tab on the center tail light.

[sdl32]

so where did everyone get this bracket? i can't locate one in Maine. I need one asap. a list of successful places you got one from would be appreciated. Thanks.

shaun

[tml148]

I got mine from a Tempe, AZ Mitsubishi dealership. I do not know if I got the last one. You just have to get a dealership to do a search for you. The one dealership I called gave me the numbers of a bunch that "had" the part in inventory. Of that list, only the one actually had the part.

It was expensive too, I think the part lists for like $9, but with shipping I paid almost $25.

--
Tom

[DSMULATOR]

Its a little too flashy and Fast and Furious for me, but part stores like Autozone and the like sell a neon light that uses the license plate bolts to attatch itself and it shines down to illuminate the plate. This is a quick and easy option for legal plate lights for an inspection until you get or make an alternative.

[Tiki]

Hi Shaun. How I got this part was to call James Corlew Mitsubishi's parts department. The guy I spoke to there typed the part number in what was called a "vintage parts locator." This part is considered "vintage" because they are no longer manufactured. What happens is...they will give you several numbers of dealerships in different states that come back as having the bracket in stock.

It's a hit-and-miss type of thing. I called one number and they had the part but it was for a customer. I got lucky when I called the second phone number and they had it in a warehouse. With shipping it was about $17.00. About all you can do is call all the numbers they give you.

I suggest you try to call James Corlew Mitsubishi, ask for the parts department and tell them you need to find part # MB909359 and ask if they will use the vintage parts locator to see what dealerships might have it. Their number is 1-877-552-6487 toll-free.

Got my bracket from Parkway Volvo-Subaru in Wilmington, NC. I don't know if this was the last one they had though. Their number is 1-800-424-9434.

Haven't had mine installed yet. The way I rigged it up is somehow still holding on. I did get someone to look at it, but the body shop guy wasn't sure if the whole bumper cover had to come off or if he could install it with the car on a lift. Hope this helps you some!

Anyone know if the whole rear bumper cover has to come off to get the bracket on? I hope not because if that is the case...it's expensive to the tune of $325.00.

Tiki

[Tiki]

$17.00 and some change. I got very lucky!