Okay, this may seem like the single dumbest post on this forum (And it probably is) but has anyone ever had one of these become unremovable?

Now, I've seen hundreds of them on GM and Mitsubishi cars, a number of which the thread on the screw goes bad and you have to rip it out however, I have one that I am physically incapable of removing.

So I was trying to remove the plastic shield to replace my upper intercooler piping and one of them is stuck so I tried yanking it out. No dice. I then stood up on the frame I tried to literally deadlift the plastic intake off and this one screw is hanging on for DEAR LIFE. I cannot remove the thing with sheer brute force.

How the hell do I get this thing out?!

Here is a pic (From an VIII for reference).

 

Cut the head off?

 

Get a flat head screwdriver under the outside ring and kinda use it to cut it off.

 

The problem is that it's on so tight that I don't know if I can get any cutting tool underneath it even with a flathead under it.

 

Shouldn't need anything other than the screwdriver. Just push and twist. I've had to do this a few times.

 

Dude, you have way bigger fish to fry than plastic screws, THERE IS A 4G63 IN YOUR EVO X!!!

 

THIS IS NO TIME FOR HUMOR. THIS IS A SERIOUSLY IRRITATING, EMBARRASSING PROBLEM.

I have the mechanical equivalent of **** fissures.

 

Can you access the bottom? Try pushing up on the bottom of the screw while unscrewing. If that does not work, push a flat head against the base and unscrew.

 

Tried pushing from the bottom while pulling but had no success. I may try the flathead idea. Thanks.

 

!!!! i had a problem with this on my x!!!! it seems like the screw keeps turning and turning right? well if thats the problem dont push down on the screwdriver too much when you are unscrewing... you gotta keep in mind it is a PUSH in screw... and if you put pressure onto the screw while unscrewing you are just pushing it back in...

just put enough pressure onto the screw so that you can actually turn the screw and turn it counter clockwise... i just used the weight of the screwdriver to push down...

if its not that then good luck getting it out.

 

We need to form a support group for this.

 

Take a razor blade, and poke it between the screw and the retainer ring. Just use the point at the corner, and turn it so that it does not dig into the screw as it turns. Lift the screw using the blade while you gently unscrew it with a screw driver. Throw away the screw.

 

If this works, I'm sending you a bouquet of flowers.

 

It will work. A metal pick works too. I hate f^&king plastic pop rivets. As a side note the one's circled in the picture don't unscrew I don't think. You push down the middle piece and they lift right out.

 

Agreed^^

Have you tried pushing the center in? The ones you circled for reference on the VIII are not screw in type. On those, you push the center and it will drop in about 1/8". From there the whole thing will just pull out.