Water pump - broken bolt. Need help getting access

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Feb 24, 2013

#31

Biscuit

2001 Civic LX Sedan

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From: Florence, AL 35630

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Re: Water pump - broken bolt. Need help getting access

The easiest way to remove that bolt shaft is to use a long, sharp, chisel or a sharpened flathead screwdiver and a hammer to drive the shaft counter clockwise. The bolt diameter being so small should be a VERY easy removal.

Nathan

Mar 5, 2013

#32

civicron

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Re: Water pump - broken bolt. Need help getting access

Thanks for all of the replies. I %#@*ed with this for about a week before giving up and having a shop remove the bolt. $140 + towing fees later, I'm back on the road.

Oh well, I'll know better for my 200k mile timing belt replacement.

Apr 12, 2019

#33

Gage Chambley

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Re: Water pump - broken bolt. Need help getting access

Quote:

Originally Posted by civicron

I'm replacing the timing belt / water pump in my 2004 civic ex coupe. Everything was going swimmingly until one of my water pump bolts snapped with the threads in the block.

It was a very clean break, no bits hanging off to grab with pliers so I think I'm going to have to use a bolt extractor to get this thing out. The only problem is there's absolutely no way i can get a drill bit in there right now since the wheel well is blocking access.

My question is whether there's a relatively easy way to lower the engine a couple of inches just so I can gain access to the water pump. Specifically, which mounts to loosen, where/how to support the engine, etc. For what it's worth, it's the lower left bolt if you're looking at the water pump dead on through the wheel well.

Right now the front left motor mount is off with the engine supported by jackstand/wooden blocks under the oil pan. If there's not an easy way to do this, I've considered boring a hole in the wheel well metal and gaining access this way then just placing some sort of rubber grommet in there or something to plug up the hole.

Any ideas or suggestions that will save me towing this thing to the shop are greatly appreciated!

Your going to have to drop that k frame that holds the motoer and trans up. There are only 4 bolts that hold the frame up there. If you only have one jack like i do your gonna have to support the car with some bricks but the bricks cant be touching the k frame. Depending on which bolt will depend if you have to drop the motor all the way or not. I broke my bottom bolt and only had to drop one side of the k frame... Also unbolt the front motor mount and unbolt the trans mount but leave at least one nut on there so it cant just fall to the ground. Its a pain but its possible.