Chevy cavalier, 1996 2.4 overhead cam. I was tightening the bolts on the Transmission pan and 3 of them broke off leaving me with the heads. I am a female doing this work. I am single mom, can't afford a mechanic. Just tell me what to do. Can I drill a left handed drill bit on it and remove them? (read it somewhere??)

Laura, January 2010

No, not a left-handed drill. Using a High Speed Steel or carbide tipped drill, you drill a small hole into the centre of the screw (or bolt as you have called them) sufficient to use a stud extractor to wind them out. It will be difficult to get it centralized so take your time and get it right. It is the stud extractor that has the left handed spiral. The diameter of the hole that you drill needs to accommodate the stud extractor which is a tapered spiral. Insert the extractor into the hole you have drilled and wind it out using the proper handle on the extractor.

Get some new replacement screws and don't overtighten them next time.

ChicksFan, January 2010

You will need to buy some "easyouts" most good motorfactors will sell them try Sears, you drill with a normal drill into the centre of the sheared bolt then screw the "easyout" in anti-clockwise it will bite onto the old bolt and then unscrew the bolt

nigel, January 2010