Ford ZX-2 question

A while back I bought my son a brand new Ford zx-2. Yesterday the plates finally came in the mail. When he went out to put the plates on he discovered there were no holes or bracket in the front bumper. There is a rectangle shape on the bumper where the plate is to go, but no holes for the screws. I’m stumped. I’ve never ever ran into this before. I told him not to drill any holes in the bumper, but to go to the dealer and make them do it. He won’t be able to untill next week. Out of curiosity I drove through the dealer lot tonight and discovered that none of the ZX-2’s had holes for the screws on the front. Very strange.

Has anyone here had this problem? What did you do?

There should be some hardware to attach it if you bought the car new. Possibly look around where the spare tire is kept? If you can’t find it, the dealer should be obliged to give you some as the car would have had it when it left the factory.

We used to have people come into our parts store looking for front license plate brackets. We always sent them to the dealer.

As far as I know, the dealer always did the install for free. They may have to, since in some states you have to have a front plate.

Um…ok. I’m not sure everyone understands. On the rear bumper there are 2 holes, threaded, to screw the screws into to hold the plate on. On the front there is nothing. I don’t see the value in just drilling the screws through the bumper as they would just make holes, not threaded screw slots. Also, there is no place to attatch a plate bracket any other way.
Now look at the front bumper of any other vehicle. There are threaded screw holes to attatch the plate. This ZX-2 has none. Very strange.

Former Ford mechanic here. The dealer should have installed the bracket that holds the front plate during “new vehicle prep”. Go back to the selling dealer and explane what you need. The cars on the lot do not have the parts installed till they are sold.

Not true. I looked at all the other brand new Fords on the lot…Taurus, Mustangs, Focus, etc. They all had holes for the license plate scews to be screwed in. Only the zx-2’s did not. there doesn’t need to be a bracket or anything, only 2 screw holes.
Like I said before, I’ve never run into this before.

Have you closely examined the front license plate on another ZX-2? How is that plate mounted? It’s quite possible that the bracket attaches in a way that doesn’t require holes through the bumper cover. The car will have much cleaner lines in states not requiring a front plate than it would if it had an obvious spot where the plate should be. Or perhaps there’s hidden hardware behind the cover and the dealer has a template instructing him exactly where to drill the mounting holes.

That being said, go to your dealer, it is his obligation to provide the proper mounting for the front plate, and I’d hazard a guess that he has installed one before.

MC$E

I understand you perfectly well. There would have been a front licence plate attachment kit that needs to get installed, and would have been enclosed in the car from the factory. The ZX2 is by no means unique in that regard. Most makers have several vehicles that this occurs. For example, my Cherokee had no provisions for attaching a front licence plate, either. No holes, nada, but there is an attachment kit that came with it. I just never bothered since front plates are not issued in my province.

If it is not installed already, and you are certain it’s not hiding in your car (as I mentioned where they keep the spare is often a prime place, or under a seat) the dealer will look after it for you.