Stupid screw wont come out - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

critical nyy fan · 07-08-2008, 11:53 PM

I got a 97 camry le v6 and the D gear light on my dashboard blew out the other day so i bought a new bulb for it from the dealer. Thing is one of the screws is stuck. Its one of the two screws facing down that holds on the black trim around the dashboard and the clock. I tried everything from an impact screwdriver to all sorts of wrenches and screwdrivers combinations but it wont budge. Anyone got any suggestions

critical nyy fan · 07-09-2008, 12:02 AM

i was thinkin maybe i can go to a local shop and charge me maybe 10 bucks to get the screw out

samarai912 · 07-09-2008, 12:15 AM

thats odd that the screw is stuck. its stuck right? not stripped. never had that problem.

ghettosled · 07-09-2008, 07:03 AM

your last option is to drill it out.

critical nyy fan · 07-09-2008, 11:10 AM

i used a drill with a philips bit already no luck

Mr.Nutcase · 07-09-2008, 11:17 AM

ghettosled said to drill it out with drill bit,
does the srew has head for a socket?

Kep · 07-09-2008, 01:12 PM

I'm with Samarai912, is the screw spinning around but not coming out (stripped) or frozen?

Kep

critical nyy fan · 07-09-2008, 11:41 PM

its not stripped its just so tight in there i tried a drill but no use its too tight w.e not a big deal ill live thanks for tryin guys

Creeps228 · 07-10-2008, 12:37 AM

used a drill and cant get it out, wierd, those botls shoudnlt be on tight at all they screw into plastic. BUt what kind of drill you using, id suggest get a cordless drill with a 19.2V battery fully charged it shoudl be agble to get it out

best of luck

djb2 · 07-10-2008, 01:16 AM

Sears has a "bit out" set that works really well on stripped screw heads.

I've replaced that light myself, but didn't have any problem with the screws.

ghettosled · 07-10-2008, 06:52 AM

those screw extractor kits should take care of it. basically you drill a pilot hole with a bit in the screw. then there is a cone-shaped gripper thingie that screws into the hole and keeps gripping harder until the screw comes out. this screw shouldnt give any problem coming out.

djb2 · 07-10-2008, 09:11 AM

With the Sears set you don't have to drill a pilot hole. It's triangle shaped with biting edges. I'm usually a skeptic, but it's a tool that has worked in cases where I didn't expect it to. Worst case is that it just eats the head off and you can remove the rest when the cover is off.

If you do drill, use a left-handed bit.

xylium · 07-12-2008, 11:45 PM

Mine got stuck too but not that bad. I simply put one hand on top of the dash on top of the cluster and used the other to apply force with the screwdriver (too much flexing) and then it came out. I imagine you tried the same thing but I thought I'd add my two cents.