ATTN: Mechanic question

[Tom Schindler]

A friend of mine has a daughter that is in the Navy. Well, being a young girl in the Navy, I am working with my friend to get the car ready for her to take with her now that she is out of basic and now working as a SeaBee.



It is a 2002 VW Beatle (aweful car!!!). The striker for the door is loose. I tried using a Torx bit to tighten it up, but it is not a torx bit. The fasteners for the striker have the splines screwed up from her Ex-Boyfriend from trying to use a flat screwdriver to fix it. Me using my Torx bit screwed them up even more.



He called the VW dealer and they have the screws, but will not tell us what tool is required and will not sell us one. "Bring it in and we will fix it for you" (A-holes)



If that a triple square bit? Do you know what it is called?



Been doing some work to it and I will tell you, VW has some really oddball designs. They were never meant to be worked on. Heck, they are still using Lug Bolts. Are you freaking kidding me?!?!?!?!?!?!?!





Tom

 

[EddieS'04]

Tom, Is it possible to grab the head with hook jaw chanell locks. That what I always do.

Of course I dont know how the vw striker is made.

 

[TRACket Paul]

Use a screw extractor, like Grabit, then try a 10mm triple-square bit on the install.

 

[Tom Schindler]

I can get the fastener out. So, you are saying it is a triple square bit?



Eddie, the screws are flat head, so a channel lock will not work.





Tom

 

[TRACket Paul]

Caymen, yes.

 

[Richard L]

Yes, TRACket Paul is correct. It is a metric Triple-Square head. I had to buy one socket to fit my daughters VW Rabbit headbolts (blew a head gasket)



It's probably a 10mm, but if you can get the bolt out, take it with you since the sockets are rather expensive...Typically $20-$30 per socket and the larger 10mm and 12mm are the more expensive ones. Sometimes you can buy a complete set that includes 6mm, 8mm, 10mm, and 12mm for about $50, but the VW is the only vehicle I have encountered with those odd bolts, so it's probably not worth the extra money for a complete set...Unless you plan on doing a lot of work on VW's



...Rich

 

[scott degroot]

Yep they are triple squares and the Europeans love these things. My first run in with them was on a Toyota head gasket some years ago. As far as VW goes...I love em, they have made ALOT of morgage payments for me. Most mechs don't understand how they function but once you spend a little time with them you realize just how simple they are and are actually easy to work on