Trying to remove the FITV on a 93 Civic. Can turn two out of the three bolts with my socket wrench. The third bolt seems to have rounded a bit, even though it's never been touched to my knowledge. I tried a vice grip on it and one of those sockets that supposedly fits eveything. Neither worked
Any mechanics' tricks for getting this bolt to turn so I can take it out?
Thanks.

 

Hack off the bolt head to remove the FITV. Dremel in a slit to use a screwdriver on or if there is enough space use the double nut trick on the visible threads.

 

That bolt should come loose with a TIGHT grip from the vice grips and maybe some hammering (on the vice grips). Otherwise maybe it's time to start cutting. I would not risk a flame in that part of the car.

 

That or just cut the notch for a flathead into the head of the bolt . . .

 

Got a suggestion to try one of those sockets you bang on with a hammer to remove it. Gonna have to replace the bolt one way or the other. Anyone have any experience with those sockets? Craftsman sells a low profile set for about $25.

 

I have a set of cheap chinese impact sockets, which are useless for regular impact work because the metal is a bit too soft and they wind up expanding out and wallowing. It turns out, though, that the softness and malleability makes them perfect for pounding onto stuck nuts and bolts that they wouldn't fit otherwise, and then breaking them loose. A lot of what sticks a nut down in the first place is surface tension, and pounding a socket on it will bust up the surface tension pretty well, helping the process. Regular high-quality or chrome sockets are too brittle to work well for that.

 

Even easier. I was thinking about sheared off bolt heads.

 

I bought the craftsmen damaged bolt extractor, hammered it in and it started catching and my rounded bolt came right off.