MX-3.com

just finished replacing my valve cover gasket. everything went great...

...until i started the car and did a test run...everything ran great. after i shut it down. i had been told to let the car run and then go back and re-tighten everything up. so when i did, i broke a bolt!

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v386/ ... C00544.jpg" alt=" - " />

now it's stuck IN the valve cover. should i be worried? i dont think it's going anywhere and i guess as long as i dont need back in there again i'll be ok, what do you guys think???

hmm its stuck in the valve cover???

you more than likely will end up with an oil leak if you leave it like that.

take the cover off and see if you can get the bolt out I'm pretty sure the bolt isnt threaded into the cover so you can probably just lift it off of the bolt

where do i get a replacement? can i just run to home depot and pick one up?

Holy crap your engine is nasty! What'd'you use for oil? Molases? Mine was a million times cleaner than that when I changed mine,

If you can't find the right bolt size at a hardware store, you could always order the nice zinc ones at ProbeSport.com.

remember, all MX-3 parts are metric pretty much

yeah, i know it's dirty, 140k miles and still rolling. i've only had it for about 40 and i've treated it like GOLD! penzoil every 3-4k...? i dont how i'd clean it even if i wanted too.


i'll check tomorrow at autozone...hopefully theyve got it. (10mm dont know the threading or anything like that)

Replace them all order em from a local mazda shop came out to like 32 bucks total for me , I ordered the caps and everything , the bolts lose their temper after a while from all the heat , dont cheap out just buy all new ones , You wont regret it .

is there anyway to clean the inside of the valve cover? i've got engine block cleaner, i've used it to clean the outside but what would i use to clean the inside?

Carb Cleaner can do the job, with a little elbow grease. No, you can't buy elbow gease at AutoZone

[quote]Originally posted by projexladen:
... No, you can't buy elbow gease at AutoZone

Yea, use cheese cloth. Be wery wery deliate when cleaning inside.

Originally posted by MazdamaniacMx3:
Replace them all order em from a local mazda shop came out to like 32 bucks total for me , I ordered the caps and everything , the bolts lose their temper after a while from all the heat , dont cheap out just buy all new ones , You wont regret it .

$32? Screw that! Like I said, www.probesport.com has some nice ones with a nice zinc gloss to them. Under $20 shipped for the set.

Did you manage to get the bolt out? If not you might have to drill it out and tap it to a larger size....

that may be a mistake, check it out before hand with a mazda dealer.
they do have methods of removing snapped bolts, they probably have the tools at the dealers as well.

so far no leaks, but i still want that thing outta there, im gunna see if i can get the cover off tomorrow morning and see what im working with, if i cant, someone mentioned i should try a "easy-out" somewhat like a drill bit that allows you to drill into the broken part of the bolt and actually "unbolt" it...?


either way i'll keep you guys up to date...