Stan944

I'm rebuilding the AC compressor, and found a few Philips (a.k.a. plus) screws inside. They are tight, and even a hammer-driven impact wrench didn't work. Both the bit and the plus grove on the screw got partially damaged.
Any suggestions? I would prefer not to drill it through as it's inside the compressor, and would be hard to clean from debris.
Thanks, Stan

red9four4

i would try a philips screwdriver before a impact wrench. try lots of penitrating oil also

Stan944

Thanks. I guess I skipped the obvious part in the details of my question... No, it didn't work - it's seized.

josephsc

I had the same problem with a couple of alternator screws this winter (tried oil and impact wrench) -- ended up getting a rebuilt one and called the old one a core.... I wish you luck!

Stan944

Sounds bad...
If I was a lawyer, I would make it illegal to use Philips screws! They are so prone to damage.

Perry 951

Use a Dremel and a cut off tool to cut a groove in for a large flat blade.

Zero10

^^
That's my best guess.
If you are worried about metal shavings inside the compressor, then this will not work either though =(
Just keep hitting it with PB blaster, and check it to make sure it's not locked in there somehow, like that damn allen bolt on the PS pump, lol.

Perry 951

If you are worried about shavings, cover the surrounding area with grease. The shavings will stick to it, then just wipe it away.

Stan944

Thanks, I'll try to slot it as suggested, and cover with grease (nice idea!).

I also though about drilling and using a screw extractor, but honestly, I tried it twice in the past, and broke the extrcator bit both times... And then it goes pretty much hopeless.

I know some people heat stubborn bolts with a torch, and then supposedly it goes easy. I never tried it myself. Do you think it would work here? Probably not the best solution - heat might ruin the compressor plate. I don't know..

Bhj0887

Heat might help, just like when you remove exhaust bolts. But I always thought heat expands things.

88BlueTSiQuest

The hammer driven impact should of done the trick. Maybe you need to get some more bits to fit the impact, could be the phillips bit you used wasn't quite big enough.

bloodraven

i have two bolts on my starter that are REALLY irritating...

83na944

Did you try a Phillips bit socket on a breaker bar? You can press down really hard on the socket to maintain good contact with the screw while you try to rotate it with the breaker bar.

mike_hammond

Hit it with a F'kn big hammer, works wonders for relieving stress even if it doesn't move the screw

Mike

Porsche-O-Phile

If not, drill 'em out and be done with it.