Stripped sunroof screws

[Danz13]

So I tried to remove the sunroof and I got all the screws off except one, the inner most left side (when on tilt the screw thats on the down part). I tried getting it off until the point where it started to strip. Then in my anger I fully stripped it. I tried getting it off with small vicegrips but I cant get a good grip on it due to clearance issues, when i do get a grip and twist it it slips off taking some metal off the screw with it. Any ideas, suggestions? because im thinking about breaking off the tab, replacing the sunroof seal and being done with it.

 

[hawkeye18]

whoa, whoa there, killer. Go to a hardware store, and buy some ez-outs. Those are those left-handed drill bits that get stripped screws out. Make sure you drill it out first to get a nice round DEEP circle. You may have to get a dremel with the flexy-bendy-thingy attachment to do this. Then, you'll probably have to get a socket with an extension, or a drill if you can get it in there, and get it out with that. The deeper the hole you drill with the dremel, the more effective the ez-out will be.

All is not lost!

 

[Danz13]

So I use a drill bit to drill the deep round circle in the screw... then i drill in the ez-out?

 

[JRA2000TL]

Yeah that's how ez-outs work. Drill a deep hole into the enter of the screw; then buy the ez-out bit. I think it has reverse threads on it and looks cone shaped (so it will back the screw out). Drill that in there and it should come out.

Your example right there is why I HATE working on cars. Crap like that happens to me every single job I do. I had to drill out the "screwed on" rotors on my TL when replacing them. Because of that, my brake job took all day with extra trips to the parts house. It sucked. I know how you feel.

 

[Danz13]

Well I dont have to worry about getting the screw out anymore since my sunroof ripped off while driving on the freeway. it was my fault for having only 2 screws on though. After teh incident I very easily removed the stripped screw with some vice grips. Thanks anyways guys!

 

[jthod]

oops. that was probably a little on the scary side for you and the people behind you.

 

[hawkeye18]

uh..............

..........

Well, I guess that fixes the problem...