Help: Free spinning torx bolt on fuel filter canister

[FistLaw]

I'm stuck and could use some advice.
Performing my first maintenance and one of the torx bolts free spins in place on top of the fuel canister. I the others were really tight, but came loose and out. This last one was completely loose and it won't back out.

Any suggestions for extraction?

Thanks

 

[JSWTDI09]

It sounds like the dealership oil change guy felt quite free of care, when he did your "care free" maintenance at 20k miles. He seriously over tightened the screws.

The good news is that it sounds like they might have stripped the bolt instead of stripping the threaded hole in the filter canister. Is there any up-down play in the loose bolt, can you get a thin flat blade screwdriver under the head of the screw? If not can you push up against the bottom end of the screw? It is worth trying to lift the screw while turning it. If it is only the screw with damaged threads, it might start unscrewing.

If this doesn't work, you might have to remove the entire fuel filter canister from the car (its only a few screws/bolts). The screw will have to get replaced no matter what. The question is, will you have to replace the filter canister too? If the threads where that screws goes into the canister are damaged as well as the screw, you will need a new filter canister.

Have Fun!

Don

 

[FistLaw]

Argh!
Thanks for the advice.

Well, I can't get any lift when turning and pulling up on the bolt. Also cannot get even a razor blade under the bolt thread.

I may just take it to the dealership that did the last change and let them deal with it.

What a pain!

 

[JSWTDI09]

I may just take it to the dealership that did the last change and let them deal with it.

What a pain!

I would make sure to remind them that they were the ones who last tightened those screws, so they should fix the damage they caused. You might also remind them that the fuel filter canister cover has an O-ring type seal and those screws do not have to be tightened any more than about 4 to 6 ft-lbs (6-8Nm). No air wrench required.

Have Fun!

Don

 

[JLMurphy]

Which bolt is the problem? You could try putting a flat blade screw driver in between the metal canister lid and the base. Pry up slightly and it should put enough tension on the stripped bolt to allow you to get it out.

The little tab at the lower edge is just for this purpose. If the problem bolt is on the other side you may need to start at the tab and pry around (2 screwdrivers help a lot here) until you get one close enough to the bolt to be able to pry up on it.

The problem is, even if you get the bolt out, it's probably the threaded hole in the canister base that's stripped. If that's the case you'll probably have to replace the whole assembly.

One more reason I never took advantage of the "free" maintenance.

Bummer man, good luck getting the dealer to own up to the mistake.

 

[JB05]

There are a couple of Guru's in the Dallas area as an alternative to the dealer.https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Lucw8ALCkLtt79MMw9JOG1E_dX57-raBhbhIFdtHnEQ/edit?hl=en_US&pli=1

 

[FistLaw]

Thank you for the direction and insight.
I took it back to what is now Randall Reed VW in McKinney and they gave me no hassle at all and simply switched out the canister at no charge.
The service guy Tomi said the bolt was indeed stripped and they even couldn't get the top off after trying the techs suggested above.

In the pic, the bolt in question is at 2 o'clock, between the fuel lines.

Thanks again for the help!

 

[erose]

Same problem but worse!

I was going to attempt to change the fuel filter on my 2011 Golf but when I tried removing the 5 torx screws from the fuel filter canister they were very difficult to loosen and ALL ended up free spinning! I have already tried pushing from the bottom of each screw and using the tab to loosen the top but nothing is working. Any suggestions??

Also, I had the last fuel filter change done at one of the recommended TDI mechanics in my area (not going to call them out) during my 40K service. Do you guys think they will fix the problem they caused?

I'm out of ideas so any suggestions would be great!

 

[Conrad -JSW]

I was going to attempt to change the fuel filter on my 2011 Golf but when I tried removing the 5 torx screws from the fuel filter canister they were very difficult to loosen and ALL ended up free spinning! I have already tried pushing from the bottom of each screw and using the tab to loosen the top but nothing is working. Any suggestions??

Also, I had the last fuel filter change done at one of the recommended TDI mechanics in my area (not going to call them out) during my 40K service. Do you guys think they will fix the problem they caused?

I'm out of ideas so any suggestions would be great!

Lefty loosy correct?

I would certainly take it back to the guy who screwed it up to start with.

 

[Rico567]

I would certainly go back, in this case, to whoever changed the filter last. Don't tell them squat about being unable to get the bolts out. See what happens.....and whatever you do, be sure to put a drop of paint or nail polish where the lid joins the canister, so that you can see if they actually got the lid off- otherwise, you might get the car back from service with the same old filter.

 

[erose]

Spoke to the mechanic I took it to and he said he would be willing to replace the canister depending on the expense. Any ideas on where to find a fuel filter canister other than a dealer?

 

[Drivbiwire]

Take it back and let the gorillas replace he housing...

That's why those hacks have never worked on any of my cars...EVER!

They last worked on it, they can replace it, cost be damned.

 

[JB05]

I'm curious; what town is this mechanic located?

 

[oilhammer]

We replace a half dozen of these housings a year due to morons mangling the threaded holes. Local dealer usually stocks one.

 

[erose]

its one of the mechanics suggested on this forum in the Chicagoland area. Local dealer said the housing is $175 so hopefully the mechanic shop will take responsibility for what they did and replace it with no problems