Off to a slow start

I finally had time to start my timing belt replacement. Step one was to remove the skid plate. First 12mm bolt came out like a dream. Second bold had the head snap off, but I wasn't going to let that get me down. Third, fourth, and fifth bolts wouldn't budge. Hit them with some PB Blaster and tried again. Third and fourth bolts finally let loose. Fifth bolt...stripped! And it is one of the ones near the rear so it is recessed about 0.5 inches. I'll tackle that next weekend...

 

Sorry to hear this... if you have a propane torch, heat that last bolt up cherry red, then spray the snot out of it with PB and use a 6 point socket on it. If that doesn't work, lots of heat and vice grips might break it loose.

 

Never happens to me...

Seriously, the community feels your pain. ( I just had to do a drill and tap on a busted bolt this week, but a lot easier.)

Can you 'tighten' the fifth bolt and go back and forth tightening and loosening and maybe catch a thread? Can you get a screwdriver under the bolt head and apply pressure while loosening? (Mine doesn't have a skid plate so just spitballing on this one.) Torching method N84434 describes also works.

Best of luck next weekend!

 

I got tired of removing the skid plate on/off for oil changes so I pitched mine. It was also tweaked and some genius decided to use body shims to hold it up.

Heat will be helpful but they might be seized enough that you’ll need to drill them out.