My Dipstick Broke... No Kidding!!!

[Stephen R.]

On page 9-34 of the 2001 PT Service Manual, there are two diagrams showing a screw that secures a bracket near the top of the dipstick to the underside (?!?!?!) of the intake manifold. Well, that screw fell out and caused enough wobble in the tube to snap it off at the block.

I saw a mention with the Neon crowd that you need to drop the oil pan and hammer the residual tubing out of the block. Getting in there with an EZ-Out is too tight, not to mention even trying to get that screw back in there without getting all PO'd. The dealer is going to have a look at it tomorrow with an estimate at $200.

EVERYBODY!! Go out to your PT right now and check that the screw/bolt is in there and TIGHT! If you have a "mystery" oil leak, check the dip-to-block area for leakage.

[Ant]

I believe the dipstick tubes are poorly made and have a tendency to break off near the bottom. I had the same problem, except my screw did not break. The bottom of the dipstick tube seperated during and intake man. swap (stock plastic to GT).

All I did was get a small metal hook and insert it in the hole in the oil pan where the tube presses in. When I felt it was far enough in I altered the position as to hook the remaining part of the dipstick tube from the bottom. It pulled out of the oil pan very easily, no problem.

As for your broken screw. The best bet is to remove the intake so you can get it on a bench and work on it. Should be pretty easy. It is the lower half of the intake.

Ant

[Stephen R.]

I had to EZ-Out one from a small-block Chevy years ago. Never thought about the hook method then... or now.

Unfortunately for my situation, the $$ deed is done.

[2step]

This sort of reminds me of that old saying......

For want of a nail, a shoe was lost.
For want of a shoe, a horse was lost.
For want of a horse, a battle was lost.
for want of a battle, a war was lost.

Sorry about your bad luck, Stephen.[:I]

[ptgt03srt]

I have the same problem.I tried a clothes hanger and that didnt work.Any other suggestions?