HELP! Rounded off bolt head!!!

[PWilliams84]

3.8L v6 3800 = nightmare

I have had a sputtering problem for over a year now...it basically got to the point where i would just deal with it, but now im over it....i changed all of the plug wires today, for about the 4th time in the past 12 months..the sputtering and service engine soon light went out...then it came back about 8 miles later...like it always does....long long ago when i first experienced this, i got the SES code from autozone..it was a misfire on #4....so i changed everything out, it was good...for a day..or so....now...i got the code today when it came back...says same thing, but #1...my thought is since #1 and #4 share the same coil, that the coil is bad....so i went to remove the coil, and of course, those of you who have done this know that the 1-4 coil is up underneath, and nearly impossible....well...impatient as i am began to loosen it, and rounded off the damn head...so now, im stuck...any ideas guys? i dont have much room to work with..are there any tricks of the trade to get a good grip on that head? please let me know
im using a 5.5mm rachet ext to loosen...tried putting some tape inside of the socket to try to create a grip, but it didnt work...any other ideas? HELP!!!!!!

[reillyracing]

Re: HELP! Rounded off bolt head!!!

Craftman bolt out works great. I think they make one small enough.

[josh98bird]

Re: HELP! Rounded off bolt head!!!

dremel a pit into the head, enough to get a screwdriver into it.

[reillyracing]

Re: HELP! Rounded off bolt head!!!

dremel a pit into the head, enough to get a screwdriver into it.

Thats the other thing I was thinking but he said he didnt have alot room. And I dont have 3.8 and I havent seen the engine bay up close in years so I forget what it looks like.

[josh98bird]

Re: HELP! Rounded off bolt head!!!

Thats the other thing I was thinking but he said he didnt have alot room. And I dont have 3.8 and I havent seen the engine bay up close in years so I forget what it looks like.

you might be able to get a small dremel in and then use extensions with screwdriver head and vice grips on the screwdriver. I only posted that idea because I had no others besides your first post.

[97rs4life]

Re: HELP! Rounded off bolt head!!!

first, remove the coil pack bracket and setup as one unit so you have room to work instead of trying to do things under the cowl, as that is practically impossible

then try the techniques discussed above

[reillyracing]

Re: HELP! Rounded off bolt head!!!

Like Josh said if you can get a dremal in there thats your best bet.

[PWilliams84]

Re: HELP! Rounded off bolt head!!!

first, remove the coil pack bracket and setup as one unit so you have room to work instead of trying to do things under the cowl, as that is practically impossible

then try the techniques discussed above

How do I remove the coil pack bracket? I see a bracket up front that it looks like its bolted to, and then on the drivers side of the three coils there looks to be maybe 2 bolts...is that all it takes to remove this? and once its removed can i pull it out from under the cowl?

[97rs4life]

Re: HELP! Rounded off bolt head!!!

How do I remove the coil pack bracket? I see a bracket up front that it looks like its bolted to, and then on the drivers side of the three coils there looks to be maybe 2 bolts...is that all it takes to remove this? and once its removed can i pull it out from under the cowl?

Here is a picture of how it all comes off, and yes it will all come away from the cowl when you unhook it, then you can work on them

[PWilliams84]

Re: HELP! Rounded off bolt head!!!

Here is a picture of how it all comes off, and yes it will all come away from the cowl when you unhook it, then you can work on them

unbelievable response..thanks so much for the pic..ill start on it first thing in the AM

[97rs4life]

Re: HELP! Rounded off bolt head!!!

unbelievable response..thanks so much for the pic..ill start on it first thing in the AM

no problem, glad to help

[PWilliams84]

Re: HELP! Rounded off bolt head!!!

now that i know how to remove all of this, it will make it simpler..but, its still rounded off....so now what?..i went to sears.com and checked out the bolt out kits...smallest they go is 8mm....its 5.5mm...any tricks to gripping this better if its so rounded that not even pliers could get it?

[97rs4life]

Re: HELP! Rounded off bolt head!!!

I think the dremel idea would be best

[josh98bird]

Re: HELP! Rounded off bolt head!!!

now that i know how to remove all of this, it will make it simpler..but, its still rounded off....so now what?..i went to sears.com and checked out the bolt out kits...smallest they go is 8mm....its 5.5mm...any tricks to gripping this better if its so rounded that not even pliers could get it?

Dremel the head so that it resemble l or + and use a flathead or phillips

[PWilliams84]

Re: HELP! Rounded off bolt head!!!

i wasnt sure at first what u meant, and then i thought about it...im like what good is a dremel..then the light bulb went on.....got it, good idea..im hoping some pliers will do the trick..this has become much more time consuming then i was hoping...and this is only the beginning..i have an oil leak as well..that should be great...and, my shifter gets stuck in park and wont budge...i have to shake the heck out of it for the button to go down and to be able to change gears