I need to take the light cover off the front bumper but the screw just spins and spins and I cannot get it out.

I've even tried to open the hood and pop up the lights and manually push the light cover out but I'm not able to push the light cover or the screw out.

Can anyone please recommend a solution.

 

Can you get something thin like a knife blade between the side of the light cover and the bumper cover then use that to pull forward on the cover while you turn the screw. I've been able to get some spinning screws to bite by applying withdrawal force to the part while turning the screw at the same time.

If that won't work you may have to drop the oil cooler to get to it from the back side and see what's going on with the screw.

 

Unless you're willing to do something drastic, there's not a practical way to get behind that screw.

Sometimes, I've had success with cutting/grinding the sides down flat and using a pair of pliers to work them out.

 

Carefully drill the head off with a big drill bit.Big enough to take the head of that screw off.
The rest of the screw will stay there but you can pull the housing off.
Then you can get more access to that screw "stub' and get it out of there.

 

Might already be loose, hence the free spin. Did you try pulling it out with a magnet?

 

I've been able to get screws out like that with a magnetized screw driver.

or...

Apply a little bit of contact cement or some form of viscous glue to the head of the screw driver.
Place it on top of the screw and lit it sit still for some time, come back and pull it out (gently) while unscrewing.

 

^
I've never tried gluing the screwdriver to the screw but it would be worth a try. Any way to pull outward on the screw, whether it's via the part or the screw itself, while turning should give a chance for the threads to bite.

 

Did you try pulling it out with a magnet?

FD3Boost - I thought about using a magnet but I doubt that will work - I can tell that the screw has lost pretty much all the grooves hence making it impossible to come out.

 

I'd be considering what you're going to do once you get it out- the hole is probably chewed from use over the years, and you'll have to attempt to fix it so you don't get this problem again next time.

My polished sill scuff plates are doing the same thing with their screws :/
My fix will be to insert a "rivnut" or "nutsert" to stop the problems for good.

 

I would get a cheap screwdriver, and JB Weld it to the screw. Once it has "set" you should be able to unscrew it while pulling it outward.

 

Just use a small eye glasses flat screw driver down the side to pry it back while you unscrew it. It will work.

 

Why not just take the bumper off so you can get your hand behind it or a pliers?