The screws holding my passenger side fog light in were pretty well rusted and I think I tore up the head trying to get one out. Any tips for getting the screw out? The head isn't totally stripped but the screw driver slips a lot when I try to turn it, and I don't want to make it any worse. I've been putting a lot of WD40 on it. Would putting some heat on it with a blow torch do any good or would it probably just melt my fog light lense? I don't really want to pay a shop to drill it out, so any tips or ideas would be appreciated!

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Pat
86 944
95 Audi 90 CS

 

Depending how bad its rusted/stuck in there, I've had some goodluck with the stripped screw removers that are sold at sears. You put it in the drill and apply pressure on the head, while slowly rotating it counterclockwise. I have a set of 3 that range from big to small. I start with the small and work my way up. With any luck it'll start spinning. Otherwise, you can always just drill the head off with a big enough bit and then visegrip/plier the shaft.

As many on the list will attest to, getting out rusted broken fasteners is an art and it just takes feel and patience. It will come though. goodluck.

 

Sometimes a reverse pitch drill bit will work. I bought mine at Harbor Freight.

H2

 

Go to Sears and get there tool for taking out screws... it fits into a screwdriver or coorless drill it looks like a drill bit with out the flutes. It is the only Sears tool I own... (It is the only tool in the whole store world wide that is worth a ****)...Well there is a Lawn mover that I hate but that is a long story that involves a store owned and a cop.

 

I want to hear that story!

 

If all else fails (and if there's enough room to work), a VERY gentle hand with a cutting wheel on an angle grinder will do the job...

 

first apply some rust eez or whatever they call it. then get a screwdriver one shot bigger than needed. then apply a little of the valve stuff in a tube (it is a sort of liquid with what feels like very fine sand in it) on the screwdriver and try again.

 

Since the screw is embedded in plastic, I would very carefully apply a little heat with a heat gun. That might soften the plastic just a little. Then I would use a good phillips bit to remove it. I have an impact screw driver from Lisle tools that has a great phillips bit. Even when using it without a hammer it provides very good grip on phillips head screws.

 

Go to Sears.......damn you could have gotten it out by now.