Rep Power: 0

My idiot *** turned the valve cover bolt the wrong way and it snapped in half

98civic ex, its the smaller bolt of the 5 bolts that hold down the valve cover

Any1 have any ideas on how to get it out??

 
Rep Power: 511

Drill and screw extractor

 
Rep Power: 517

Put down the wrenches. Close the hood, back away from the car slowly.


Actually, about the only way is to extract it. I'd put covers (towels) and a magnet all around so metal chips can't fall into the engine, and drill it out where it sits.
Drill down the center with a left-handed drill bit. Hopefully the bit will catch and spin the broken piece right out. If not, then I'd use a fluted remover to back it out with. I'd only try an EZ Out if the bolt piece is loose enough to spin.
(EZ Out is a last resort for a stuck bolt for me, because they can spread the metal and cause it to wedge and jam in the hole.)


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Or, you could pull the rockertrain off and take it apart, take just that cap in to a machine shop and have them remove the broken bolt piece.

But if you already wrenched the very first bolt the wrong direction enough to snap it off, I'd worry about you attempting to take this apart and get it reassembled without major damage to the valves.

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Or.....
Put the valve cover back on, duct tape over the hole, drive to a shop to get it extracted.

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HTH

 
Rep Power: 0

Righty righty lefty loosy. How did you put so much force into the bolt in the first place? I would use a small drill bit, a tap and dye set and a vacuum to suck up the small little metal pieces while drilling. Hope you don't plan on doing major work on the head.

 
Rep Power: 0

removing the valve cover to paint it Type Red for the added 50 HP on the D series motor!!

 
Rep Power: 0

got the same problem last friday. i over tight the bolt, the bolt broke. I use a tiny drill bit to get a small hole, then hammer a star crew driver into the hole that help me took out the broken bolt. bought a bolt in autozone and use the original washer