What I did today thread...

[alanoconnor]

Spent all morning looking for the screw that I dropped near the gear lever when changing the stereo yesterday. I cannot find it

I hope it doesn't cause any damage if I drive it.

I guess I could start ripping out more of the car.

[jasmith44]

Iv'e lost 3 down there in the last 2 months and it still drive ok.

[alanoconnor]

Decided to search for screw again, without success.

Unfortunately, on sticking everything together it was getting really hot in there (25 degrees here), headbutted the mirror and heard a strange noise.

I thought I would wash the car and found out what the noise was - I have a 3 foot crack in my windscreen. I had a feeling it was risking it a bit leaving it in Birkenhead for 2 weeks. At least my new tyres were still on. I reckon it was done there and my head just made it worse.

Phoned the windscreen place who are coming out tomorrow. Very impressive.

I now have a yellow warning light on my dash but the adaptive information doesn't work so I don't know what it is. I'm sick of this car so have booked it into Volvo for a full diagnostic and to get the dash working again. Whilst it is there I thought I might as well go the whole hog and have the timing belt, pump and auxiliary drive belt replaced. At least I know it has been done then.

[js7799]

Today I replaced the front rotors (again!) and tried, unsuccessfully, to get the rounded-out oil drain bolt out. Luckily the shop I was using had a sump, so I was able to drain the oil out through the dipstick tube. It took awhile, but the job is done. Now to sort out that bolt...

[oragex]

Originally Posted by js7799

Today I replaced the front rotors (again!) and tried, unsuccessfully, to get the rounded-out oil drain bolt out. Luckily the shop I was using had a sump, so I was able to drain the oil out through the dipstick tube. It took awhile, but the job is done. Now to sort out that bolt...

Have you tried a pipe wrench ?

[js7799]

Originally Posted by oragex

Have you tried a pipe wrench ?

Tried that, a different sized socket, vice grips, a chisel and hammer...Next up is a torch set on low or maybe an easy-out. Not sure how many options are left after that. Whoever put that bolt in last must have taken his steroids that day!

[oragex]

A garage may weld a nut on it, not sure how resistant the pan is to that heat but worth a try.

At this point I'd fear the threads will strip next time the bolt is torqued down. Hopefully not.

[alanoconnor]

I tried all of those things on an over-torqued locking wheel bolt. Nothing worked. Took it to an engineering shop and they tried welds on it and still would not shift. They drilled it out in the end.

[js7799]

Thanks for the suggestions. I have an easy-out kit so I might try that and see how it goes.

[reggit]

Originally Posted by js7799

Today I replaced the front rotors (again!) and tried, unsuccessfully, to get the rounded-out oil drain bolt out. Luckily the shop I was using had a sump, so I was able to drain the oil out through the dipstick tube. It took awhile, but the job is done. Now to sort out that bolt...

I had this issue - ended up hammering a slightly small imperial socket of the bolt and giving it some gentle pressure with a big breaker bar - it worked!

That's just reminded me to buy a new sump drain plug.