Here is my situation. I have a license plate frame that I was changing out on my car (04 TL). Took one of the bolts out and then the 2nd one snapped off about a quarter of the way out. So I get one of those screw extractors and drill a hole, put the extrater in the hole, and start to attempt to remove the sheared bolt. Well, as luck would have it, the extrator broke the same way.

In attempting to drill out the bolt and extractor, I discovered that the extractor metal is made of hardened steel of some sort and will not budge for any drill bit I have or later bought. In fact, all I did was dull the bits I had.

So I proceed to try to reach it from the back side by taking the trunk apart. Well, thats a no go unless I drill a hole through the trunk metal because the two attachment areas are behind solid sheet metal for the trunk.

In doing a little research, I discovered that I may need to purchase a diamond tip drill bit ($50 + in price) or a carbide drill bit (again pricy and very fragile) to even have a chance at removal. But even with either bit, there is no guarantee. And as you are well aware, you cannot heat that area due to the plastic surrounding the area. It can be removed but will not help out much because that piece is one with the trunk. I am sort of at a loss as to how this can happen to a car that has been well taken care of and has no other problem. I guess Murphy's Law was working against me on this one.

Any ideas or solutions on how to resolve this problem would be welcome. Thanks in advance for your comments and ideas.

 

You said you were able to unscrew it about a quarter of the way before it snapped, is there enough sticking out where you can grip it with small vise grips?If so I would make it grip as tight as I possibly could. Vise grips have been my savior in the past in situations such as yours. Why is it such a PITA? is it rusted in there or stripped threads?

 

I'd spray something in there to help loosen it up and then try the vise grips as mentioned above. Good luck.

 

If you can get ahold of it screw it in some then spray it with PB Blaster and work it in and out .. every out try to go one more 1/8th turn.

 

cant you take that section of plastic off the car so you can work on it easier...or just replace it all together....

 

 

There is nothing sticking out. When the bolt snapped, it just snapped basically flush with the threading. I attempted to use vise grips to begin with but there was just nothing to hold onto. I thinkit is just a PATA because it is rusted (or seems to be). It should not be stripped. I was ablt to remove one of the bolts and it was slightly rusted. Why it would be rusted on an 04 car cannot be explained in my opinion.

 

Prior to attempting the bolt extractor, I purchased some of the PB Blaster and sprayed the bolt several times. It didn't 1) seem to penetrate or 2) did not not have any success with the product. It would not turn at all.

I would be in a lot better shape if the extracter that is made out of hardened steel would not have snapped off into the center of the drilled bolt.

I will try to take a pic of the bolt. I have never posted a pic though and may need some help there.

 

I basically had the plastic off the car last weekend but stopped and put it back together when I discovered that to get to the bolt from the back side would require drilling a hole through the sheet metal. In the end, I may have to take that approach. Although I imagine if I do mess up the plastic on the back, it isn't a $40 replacement.

csmeance, I do appreciate you posting the diagram. I had been looking for that online and was unable to find it. I was able to follow those steps though.

 

did it work?

 

Well, did not drill from the backside yet. I am still going to try and find a carbide drill bit to drill from the front. Some recommend a fluted bit for this purpose.