v70 Ignition Coil Cover Screws RUST OUT

[packetfire]

I had an ignition coil briefly fail, which threw a Check-engine light, just as the engine stumbled for a second. VIDA told me which cylinder, so easy job... so I thought.

One of the rear screws was rusted to the point that the torx bit stripped. All the screws were rusty, but they are special-shaped, so I had not replaced them.

I got out the screw extractor kit, but to drill the hole in the head of the screw, the strut-tower brace had to come off, and so did the big bolt through the middle of the upper engine torque mount.

Drilled the hole, and used the correct-size extractor - but it sheared off in the screw rather than moving the screw. ROBI's kit is clearly junk, despite looking very professional - avoid it! (Link below so one knows what NOT to buy):
https://www.homedepot.com/p/RYOBI-Spira ... /205469301

So, got out the dremel tool, and cut a channel in the head off the screw, and used a cold chisel to tap it around in a circle

The lesson here is to replace those screws with stainless! M6 1.0 is the thread. Add washers if you can't find a big enough head on the screw or bolt. If stranded, I would have ended up having to pry on the plastic cover until it broke away, or use a pocket knife to cut the plastic around the stripped screw.

Very annoying, so be forewarned!

[chrism]

Whenever you have a Phillips or Torx screw that is so tight that you fear stripping the screwdriver slots or torx pocket when loosening, here is something that often helps:
take a drift punch that is narrow enough to reach the bottom of the slots/pocket and give it a few good raps with a ball peen. That will drive the center of the screw downward and relieve some of the load on the threads. It will then require less torque to unscrew the screw.

[vtl]

I punch every stubborn bolt before even attempting to force it out.

[cn90]

Once the ignition coil cover is out, leave it out. This allows you to inspect oil leak or change coil with ease.
I left my cover out yrs ago.

I only leave the TB cover on to protect the TB and that is all.

[abscate]

I like the look of the coil cover but only finger tighten the bolts. With my new valve job I no longer have oil to dip them in , though. If the do strip, a cold chisel will punch them around, then throw them out.

Perfect junkyard harvest

[packetfire]

Call me stupid, I replaced the bolts with stainless hardware.