I was leaking oil near the top of my vtec solenoid and noticed it did not look to be completely tightend I tried to tighten it and discovered the screw was actually broke in half, so I have the head of the screw in my hand and the actual threads are still stuck in the socket. I need to get those threads out to replace the screw and have no idea how...any suggestions please?

 

If you remove the VTEC solenoid are there any threads showing above the surface of the head?

If there are you can take a small torch and carefully heat up the cylinder head area around the broken bolt. Then with a pair of pliers or a stud removal tool try and remove the broken bolt.

If there are no threads showing you are going to have to use a drill bit and an easy out. they usually come in kits with a drill bit and easy out bit. Not sure if you are going to have enough room in the engine bay to get at it this way or not......

 

if its broke flush you will probably have to remove the intake manifold to gain access to the work area.

 

I know on my 97, I can remove the whole VTEC assembly without removing anything except some electrical plugs. Once you get it out, it will be much easier to work. You can take off solenoid(Which I would loosen the three solenoid bolts before you remove valveassembly) once you get the valve assembly removed and see if you can extract the remaining piece inside the valve. use a pair of vice grips, if you can, if not you can drill it out. Or, you can just got to junkyard, get a whole new assembly(But i would buy both new orings from honda) before you go back with it.

 

I would have thought that the workshop manual gives instructions to remove the VTEC assy. ?

 

Sure does, However, removal of the solenoid was not the original question. The OP found that one of the 3 bolts was broken and asked how to remove the broken bolt. I don't know if that sort of information is found in a Honda workshop manual.

 

You just need a screw extractor kit. You drill a hole you tap in the extractor and you turn the extractor out which pulls the screw out.

 

good luck with extracting it. best to just start with a small drill bit, and work up to larger bit, clearing out the hole and re-tap to a slightly bigger bolt size.

 

If u can find reversed drill bits (drills hole when spinning counter clockwise) sometimes bolts come out when drilling the hole. Be careful if u go too small with the hole, the extractor could break off and you'll have an even worse problem. I agree with applying heat with a torch.

 

reverse threaded drill bits are the way to go, be careful with easy-outs, i use them all the time at work (i'm an aircraft technician) if you can get good ones, go for it, they are usually pretty sturdy, DO NOT get parts-store brand easy-outs, they are extremely brittle and are a SOB to drill out once you snap them off, and you will, its only a matter of time, (i have snapped all but one out of my OEM brand set from autozone)

i would reccomend getting a name brand set, the snap-on set i have at work i have used so many times that they are stripped and the only that has broken is the smallest one


ALSO the reverse threaded drill bits are the ones labeled "left handed"