*TL;DR version at bottom
Well, here is my story. Since I recently had my late model Civic Hatchback stolen I had to get a replacement and made a big mistake/ran into a problem on basic maintenance.
This new to me 2007 Honda Fit was from up north. Do you see where this is leading? You guessed it. I have little experience with rust/corrosion. My BIL has owned 2 Fits and was showing me how easy the coils were to get at on the car since I wanted to do a tune-up. (It had the infamous idle misfire from bad original coils on these models)
So, he removes cylinder #1's bolt and the coil comes off. Yep, original part. Nasty.
OK great. I figure I want to check all coils to make sure they are all factory before ordering the $50 (each) replacement coils. So, next I try to remove #4's coil myself. The bolt was pretty tight and I wound up snapping it.
157k miles on the engine.
So, I'm stuck with #4 cylinder's bolt for the coil snapped right in half at the point it goes into the head; pretty much flat with the head (originally thought it might screw into the valve cover but it screws into an ear of aluminum off of the head itself)
The battle continues: After THEN using penetrating oil on the middle two cylinders they come out no problem.
Yesterday, I took the car to the shop I've used for years. Since the engine is facing the back of the car they can't really get a drill in there to use an easy out/extractor. He says since the angle is much more difficult and there isn't much space to get at the bolt it'd be very risky even if he threaded an extractor bit into it. I could get some pictures tomorrow perhaps if anyone wants to see? I feel like I'd want to just try it but I don't want to make things worse by ignoring the experienced opinion he had on the matter.
So, they tried to weld a nut on the broken tip instead. A few tries and not only do the welds break each time without the screw budging, but the mechanic told me pieces of the screw started breaking off with the welded bit. Apparently no matter how much penetrating oil I could have used (and they used plenty before trying any of this) they told me anyone would have broken it. So, I felt a little less bad over it.
Yet, we're still stuck now using twist ties from cyl #3 coil to a bracket on the side of the head next to cyl #4; effectively crossing #4, and putting enough down pressure/force to keep the coil from coming off completely. However, it still wants to loosen slightly enough that my inner OCD can't stand it. I will try to improve on their makeshift solution. (pictures can be had too if anyone wants to see it)
I am asking anyone with experience extracting broken screws and/or dealing with rust/corrosion for any tips or advice on what I could possibly do to remove this thing. There is a hole beneath the ear of where the bolt goes through, but I haven't thought of really trying to reverse-thread anything through that. I'm game to suggestions on soaking, freezing, or whatever I might can do short of pulling the head.
Thanks!
TL; DR: Bolt on cylinder #4 coil is snapped in half/flat with the HEAD itself. Penetrating oil didn't help move it with a weld-on bit/remaining bolt seems to want to break off in pieces instead of back out. An easy out/extractor 'apparently' isn't an option but willing to discuss.
Well, here is my story. Since I recently had my late model Civic Hatchback stolen I had to get a replacement and made a big mistake/ran into a problem on basic maintenance.
This new to me 2007 Honda Fit was from up north. Do you see where this is leading? You guessed it. I have little experience with rust/corrosion. My BIL has owned 2 Fits and was showing me how easy the coils were to get at on the car since I wanted to do a tune-up. (It had the infamous idle misfire from bad original coils on these models)
So, he removes cylinder #1's bolt and the coil comes off. Yep, original part. Nasty.
OK great. I figure I want to check all coils to make sure they are all factory before ordering the $50 (each) replacement coils. So, next I try to remove #4's coil myself. The bolt was pretty tight and I wound up snapping it.
157k miles on the engine.
So, I'm stuck with #4 cylinder's bolt for the coil snapped right in half at the point it goes into the head; pretty much flat with the head (originally thought it might screw into the valve cover but it screws into an ear of aluminum off of the head itself)
The battle continues: After THEN using penetrating oil on the middle two cylinders they come out no problem.
Yesterday, I took the car to the shop I've used for years. Since the engine is facing the back of the car they can't really get a drill in there to use an easy out/extractor. He says since the angle is much more difficult and there isn't much space to get at the bolt it'd be very risky even if he threaded an extractor bit into it. I could get some pictures tomorrow perhaps if anyone wants to see? I feel like I'd want to just try it but I don't want to make things worse by ignoring the experienced opinion he had on the matter.
So, they tried to weld a nut on the broken tip instead. A few tries and not only do the welds break each time without the screw budging, but the mechanic told me pieces of the screw started breaking off with the welded bit. Apparently no matter how much penetrating oil I could have used (and they used plenty before trying any of this) they told me anyone would have broken it. So, I felt a little less bad over it.
Yet, we're still stuck now using twist ties from cyl #3 coil to a bracket on the side of the head next to cyl #4; effectively crossing #4, and putting enough down pressure/force to keep the coil from coming off completely. However, it still wants to loosen slightly enough that my inner OCD can't stand it. I will try to improve on their makeshift solution. (pictures can be had too if anyone wants to see it)
I am asking anyone with experience extracting broken screws and/or dealing with rust/corrosion for any tips or advice on what I could possibly do to remove this thing. There is a hole beneath the ear of where the bolt goes through, but I haven't thought of really trying to reverse-thread anything through that. I'm game to suggestions on soaking, freezing, or whatever I might can do short of pulling the head.
Thanks!
TL; DR: Bolt on cylinder #4 coil is snapped in half/flat with the HEAD itself. Penetrating oil didn't help move it with a weld-on bit/remaining bolt seems to want to break off in pieces instead of back out. An easy out/extractor 'apparently' isn't an option but willing to discuss.