Spare tire stuck in trunk

[amosmj]

I apologize for skipping the formality of the "introduce myself" thread, I'm having an issue and Google has not been able to work its usual magic.

I came home today and saw that my rear driver's side tire was flat. I pulled my 2007 Vibe (the bottom end model, FWD only) out of the garage and got out my tire changing equipement. It apparently had started to get a fair bit of rust after I last used it 3 or 4 years ago. When I unscrewed to cap that holds the plastic cover over the tire, removed that cover and found that I could not unscrew the large lug that holds the tire in. It wouldn't budge. I got pliers and just ended up tearing plastic. I tried applying them to the screw that points up and just pealed off metal. I assume the thing got cross threaded the last time it was put in or that settling of recent years just got it wedged in oddly.

Can anyone think of a why to get that bolt out so I can actually get to my spare?


Any help is appreciated


For reference, I'm talking about step three on this page

[Chiadog]

Hope this isn't too late for you.
WEARING EYE PROTECTION! Take a hammer and chisel and bust-up the plastic "nut" around the shaft. The spare tire will then come out without removing the frozen bolt!
To remove the frozen bolt: find two nuts that fit the bolt. Thread them both on as far as possibly. Back-tighten the bottom nut to "lock" it onto the top nut - this grabs the bolt solidly. Using a vice-grip or a box-end wrench(that you put on the bolt before the nuts) Back out the frozen bolt. PB-Blaster or WD-40 may help.
Replace the broken plastic/bolt with one from a junk yard!
good luck,

[A Psycho Martyr]

that's strange

mine has never done that