Thread: Just another day.....

Today was great I knew the thermostat on my 1998 4x4 durango was stuck open so I decided to replace it, it's kinda hard to get to compared to others I have done in the past but no biggie. I unbolted to bolts, pulled to old one out, cleaned everything up, put the new one back in with the gasket, bolted it back up, I add fluids....it was leaking out of the housing. I go to make sure the bolts are snug and snap I broke a bolt into the block.....At this time a friend comes by with a few tools and we go get some bolt extractor stuff. I drill the bolt with a reverse thread bit. My friend puts the extractor on there and puts a little pressure on it then, snap! the extractor broke just as the bolt was coming out! So I went to the store and got the strongest bit they had thinking I could drill through the extractor, that's a negative. I tried everything, now I have to miss work and spend I don't lnow how much at a shop, also I will be missing on holiday pay and probably OT at the end of the week...Not to mention my girlfriend is at work and doesn't have a ride home. FML!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh man, i can relate to this. Hope the repairs go smooth from this point. It sucks being a one vehicle family.

Yep, we both have jobs, hers is part time nights so thats good, the kids have school but the oldest can walk and the youngest starts next year. I have to replace the intake manifold. On most cars no biggie this 5.2 dodge has everything stacked on top of it. So I'm missing work and the kids won't be having any new years fun this year.

I did that on a strut tube once replacing ball joints on my BMW... You can break the extractor apart sometimes with a punch since the hard steel is very brittle. Also heat is your best friend! Heat it way up with a propane torch and then try to get it out. I've been stuck a few times due to my car being down...