Broken Bolt

Q: When I was replacing my water pump one of the bolts broke off. What should I do?

A: Breaking off a bolt is frustrating. First thing to do is to spray it with a high quality penetrating oil and wait for 30 minutes or so. If part of the bolt is still protruding out, try to grab it with a set of locking pliers and work it back and forth. If the bolt is broke flush with the block, you will need to use a tool called a screw or bolt extractor to remove it. This usually involves drilling in the center of the bolt and using the screw extractor to remove the remaining material. Follow the instructions that come with the tool. You may need to use a tap to clean the threads or to make new ones if the screw extractor method fails.