Some stupid ass stripped the auto tensioner bolt hole.

[yel-low]

Either way you are drilling through the frame rail. I would hate to do that on my car. If it came down to it; I would just pull the engine now.

[T2T]

Something came to mind. I once had to use a helicoil in a tight space, where a drill would not fit. Since the component was aluminum, I held the tap in place and with a hammer tilted sideways, I gave it a few small taps so the tap would hold in the hole on its own. From there, I slowly turned the tap with a wrench until it grabbed. Granted, the tap was a bit harder to turn since more metal was being cut since a larger hole had not been drilled out. I was then able to back the tap out, install the coil and finally the bolt. It worked! Though, I doubt if I'll ever be able to use that same tap again since the initial threads did get a bit corrupted - but, at that point, I really didn't care.

[Xedosman]

Baker, are you sure the threads are strippes right to the bottom, and not just the outer half? This happened to me as well when I was struggling with getting the thermostat housing bolts entered. I reconditioned the original threads with a tap. Remember NEVER to enter alloy threads with a rachet! They are almost as fragile as Audi transmissions.

[yel-low]

Originally Posted by Xedosman

.....fragile as Audi transmissions.

[xfxBaker]

Originally Posted by yel-low

lol lesson learned. I thought about reconditioning the threads too...maybe I should try that first. I know for a fact the drill and drill bit isn't going to fit in there.