"Tim Zimmerman" <Z@UCBerkeley.edu> wrote in message
news:73aXd.5096$C47.404@newssvr14.news.prodigy.com ...
>I just had a flat tire. I get out, open the Civic trunk and find a spare
>tire, a
> jack and a lug wrench. Then I reach inside to grab the spare tire, it's
> stuck.
> Somehow the tire is bolted down with some kind of a rabbit ear nut. No
> matter how hard I try to twist it, the rabbit ears will not move.
>
> This was my scenario last night when I had to walk home two miles just
> to get a monkey wrench to twist the rabbit ears. If this were your car how
> would you do it differently?
>
> Thanks

Had a similar problem with a tire *on the car* (2003 EX with alloy
wheels) recently.

Went to remove to bring in for repair of slow leak. Wheel would not
budge from the hub. Stuck tight. Banged with fist a few times. Nothing.
Hit with rubber mallet a few times. Nothing. Hit over and over all around
the wheel figuring it was just a little rust spot somewhere between wheel
and hub that needed a little nudging. Still wouldn't budge.

Began to get frustartaed. Hit even harder with rubber mallet. Was
surpised to see it leave marks on the wheels. Put back against stone wall
that runs along my driveway, kicked as hard as I could at 3 spots where
rubber mets rim. Didn't even give the slightest hint of breaking loose, but
almost knocked the car off the jack. Now I'm getting mad. And sore from
all this kneeling, banging, and kicking. Got piece of 2 by 4 from workshop.
Strapped to wheel with bungie cord. Took heavey metal hammer. Wound up
like Tiger Woods for a 400 yard drive and smashed the hell at it. Yes -
came loose.

Lesson learned. A little grease where wheel meets hub before returning
repaired tire to car.

Wouldn't have expected the same situation the trunk. Moisture must be
getting in there. Same solution should keep from happening again.

Bob