I was trying to tighten a bolt for one of my ignition coils and the bolt snapped in half. What do I do??
What make and model car?
Does it stay put without the bolt?
Make and model is 09 Corolla.
The coil does stay put without the bolt. It is just that the coil now won't have anything to hold it down to apply the pressure to make the coil stay in place.
Which leads to my next question of whether or not I could still drive my car to a shop to remove the snapped bolt.
Sure it will drive. The bolt is there to hold the down the rubber seal on top and keep water out.
As long as its idling smooth you're good.
You could even try gluing it together with epoxy.
First, don't panic and don't start thinking about taking it to a shop.
It isn't uncommon for those coil bolts to snap sometimes and it's an easy fix.
So first, remove the valve cover. (it's easy. Plenty of youtubes on how to change the valve cover gasket on a Corolla.
With the valve cover off, you have some options:
1) If the bolt snapped but there's still part of the bolt left sticking out of the valve cover, you can grab it with vice grips and turn it out. (Free fix)
2) if the bolt snapped flush with the valve cover, you can use a screw extractor kit to drill a hole in the center of the snapped bolt and then insert the extractor to remove it. (Inexpensive fix)
(Just don't buy the cheapest one you find)
(Plenty of youtubes on how to use screw/bolt extractors)
3) You can just call your local junkyard and buy a used valve cover. (easy, but costs more than just buying a bolt extractor/drill kit)
4) You can buy a new valve cover. (easiest but most expensive)
5) Take the valve cover to any shop.
Your local lawn mower shop is probably used to dealing with snapped bolts on old equipment so they could get it out for you.
Whichever way you chose to go, you'll use this opportunity to replace the valve cover gasket and the seals in the valve cover.
(would have to be done sooner or later anyway)
Worst case is that a nut is welded to top of broken off bolt. Then backed out with a six point socket.
Try drilling the bolt with a left hand drill bit. While drilling it, the drill, may catch the bolt and screw it out.
lol sometimes it is hard to gauge your own hand strength, i've been there. once the bolt snaps there is very little force holding it onto the valve cover. my advice would be to spray some rust remover around the bolt and try to turn it with a strong magnet. the valve cover is made of aluminum and the bolt is made of stainless steel so with some jiggling u can remove the bolt this way. it is alot safer than drilling.
