was changing water pump and broke bolt off....now what do I do???? Just a beginner mechanic. Help??

 

You must get the broken bolt out, and replace it with exactly the same size bolt. The pump will need all the bolts put back and torqued correctly. There are probably a few options, but you haven't given us any details, and left us stumped.

What engine? how much of the broken bolt is sticking out? Did you get the water pump off?

I guess you will need some good drill bits, an extractor set, and some rust busting oil. If it broke because of rust the oil may help. God forbid someone put that bolt in the block with high strength thread sealant! All of the engine block holes( the water pump mounting holes) will need to be cleaned up with a tap of the correct thread pitch and diameter.

If you are a beginning mechanic, then I'll give you some good advice...always use the right tool! If you don't have the right tool at the right time, then every project will take 4 times as long. Fixing your own vehicles is an expensive hobby.
Every time I had to fix something on my own car and didn't have the right tool, I bought it. Over the years I have really gathered up a great set of tools.
You try to save money by not paying a shop, this saves you the labor charges, therefore you should always treat yourself to some new tools at that time. A shop would try and charge you 200 dollars in labor, so try to spend that in tools, you gain tools, but also knowledge, once you get it running again.

Come on back, what's the situation???????

 

Ok sorry engine 5.0 302 Ford XL supercab.

Water pump is off...but have 1 long bolt, head off still stuck in block...rusted on.

The other bolt...3/16th of thread left in engine block.

All other bolts out...but bolt holes are rusty and dirty.

Thanks for your input....cleaning holes now and Tuesday will get drill and extractor set.

 

If there is any bolt sticking out that you can get ahold of you can heat the bolt itself, then tap on it a little, let it cool back down and wiggle with visegrips. Did this with mine. It took a couple times but beats trying to drill through a bolt without messing up the threads. You do need a torch though.

 

I was fearing one of those long bolts breaking off when I did my water-pump. If it's one of the bolts I'm thinking of, then it goes all the way through the front-cover into the block. In that case, your best bet is to take the front cover off and hope that the part of the bolt sticking out of the block is strong enough for you to vise-grip it out or to use a stud-remover.

 

i would get a wire brush and clean down all the threads on the bolts after there out, also recomend a can of brake parts cleaner of carb cleaner and spray it in each of the bolt holes to clean out all the threads, then run the bolts in and out one or two times to make sure all the debris is out...good luck gettin that bolt out,,,i hate when that crap happens

 

Somebody in the Bronco forum recommended a stud remover for getting those broken bolts out. It sounds like a pretty good idea. I've never had good luck with extractor sets; it's usually a trip to the machine shop if I break a bolt off flush.