Hey all, I'm having extreme difficultly (in a W126), and I mean extreme, of getting a screw out. The track that the passenger seat is on, not the silver track, but if you lift up that brown cover there is a black track. I unscrewed the factory screw and put a longer screw in, and now it won't come out! I've tried prying it out with all of my force, hammering at it to strip the screw and pull it out, but it seems that you can push on it, and it pushes in, like its caught on some sort of device that's meant to keep it in there. Anyone know how i can get this thing out? I've spent over 2 hours trying to pry and unscrew and get it out. I'd really appreciate it. Thanks!

Hey again,if no one knows what it could be caught on, is it possible that either by getting underneith the car or taking something off that I could find out what the screw is caught on? It turns and turns and turns but never tightens or loosens. I've tried using the force of 2 people to yank it out, pry it out, but it nearly broke my wrench trying that. Anyone have a clue? I really need it out!!!!

You probably put in the longer screw with enough force to strip it in the center threads so the threads below the part it is screwed into is is probably keeping it there. Two thoughts:
1) If top access is good - take a heavy pair of wire cutters and get it's jaws under the head of the screw between the track and the screw head,and squeeze the handles fairly tight. The V shape of the jaws should act as a spreading device between the track and the screw. Don't squeeze so hard as to cut the top off the screw. Once the pliers are under the head of the screw and you are sqeezing the handles to put upward force on the screw - try to unscrew it using the cutters for upward assistance. Be careful as you turn the screw it might tend to slide the cutters out - scraped knuckle time! It has worked for me.
2) if you can get under the track and see the bottom of the screw as it turns - use a dremel tool to cut the bottom off the screw and remove from the top.
PS if#1 works - it is quick and you won't swear much!

Hey, i tried #1, there is so much room i could fit plyers under the screw head, and pulled or pushed on the handles to push the screw up while my dad tried to unscrew it, and again, it went no where. He tried pulling and turning, and no matter what we tried with no matter how much force, it won't budge.

For #2, What are you saying? Ok heres how it looks:

(Screw)
___
|___|
__|___ <--- black track
__|___ <--- floor of the car
__|___<---- something it is caught on that is flimsy because if i
hit the screw with a hammer, it goes downware and
pops right back up

So the screw is in 3 things, first its through a black track, then it goes through what I suppose, is the floor/bottom of the car, and then what it is caught on is something undernet the floor, which is what I'm guessing it screws in to? Well atleast you all know now that your car seat isn't going anywhere anytime soon without the force of another car pulling on the screw I can't budge it at all!

How do i get to see what is it catching on? How do i get underneth the screw to cut the bottom off? Because it goes through the floor right? Or am i missing something? I would love to just cut the screw instead of the screw pulling my arm off trying to yank it out instead of my arm pulling it off.

If it is going through the floor - look under the car where the screw end should be - if you have too scrape off any undercoating and see what it is catching on. If the screw keeps popping up - you should see the floor pan flex where the screw is. Out of curiousity - How much LONGER is the screw you put in??

Did you try pulling AND turning at the same time? Try pushing and turning the other way to unscrew whatever has gotten your attention.

I've tried both tightening and loosening it while putting the appropriate pressure (up or down, depending) to try and get it out. Nothing will move it. The screw i put in is only a quarter of an inch longer, i don't understand the problem. But at any rate, it's stuck, so if i get under the car i should see where it is? Should there be a panel covering where its coming out? If it's coming out? Do they come out?

LOOK under car - "seek and ye shall find"

Sorry for the last post -was not trying to belittle you - if you look under car you will see roughly where the screw comes out - if it goes into the floor but not through it - you should see an intentation under the car where you kept hitting the screw as it bounced back. Make sure nothing under the car is in the way (like catalytic converter heat shield, exhaust shield etc) then as a last resort drill out screw through to bottom of floor (underside of car) - tap and put in bolt. If you don't think there is enough threads for strength - put on a washer and lock waher and nut from bottom of car, tighten and cover nut with a little roofing tar to prevent rust.

just a tip if you drill it out use a left hand drill from the top and a right hand from the bottom this will aid in loosening the screw

__________________
Ricali

03 C240 4matic wagon
95 300E 234,000
7 prior 240;s 5 still going
81 300sd gone
65 230sl gone
49 Studebaker Champion
90BMW convert.167,000
60 Dodge D-100

sounds like the screw has screwed it self into something in the third layer and has now broken it off so it is rotating as you turn the screw. at this poing it would be almost impossible to simply unscrew it without a lot of pressure(i dont like doing that because bad things can happen.) . if there is room for the screw to fall through and it is spinning freely in the sheet metal you could try cutting the screw head off the screw and let it fall through. then tap out new threads. and insert a new screw or bolt.

There is a nut that is welded in before the channel is installed. You have broken the nut free so that it spins. You will have to drill a hole in the side to reattatch the nut.
Good luck.

__________________
Benzmac:
Donnie Drummonds
ASE CERTIFIED MASTER AUTO TECHNICIAN
MERCEDES SPECIALIST 11 YRS