This got me stranded in a Stop & Shop parking lot at 100 degrees in the sun with 2 kids, wife, and piles of cold shopping.

Anyone guess what it is?

 

what is that a screw stuck in your tire?

 

its the spare wheel hold-down bolt. . .

 

^ lol!, if that really is what he says it is. how the hell did that strand u?

 

Flat tire, can't get the spare out. Although, I thought it was a bit longer.

How/what chewed up the plastic **** that allows you to un-screw it from the trunk?

 

i thought that was electrical tape at first..

 

Congratulations - it was the spare tyre bolt-down bolt. Where it screwed into the floor was rusted up nicely. The plastic handle was turning (with huge effort I might add), and I thought that it was spinning the nut under the floor.

But - I was saved by a woman! She asked me if it was the handle that was moving, and I peared in and saw the thread itself was stationary. She even had a claw hammer in her car and lent it to me as I mangled it out with huge effort and sweat. Then I used her socket set to remove the bolt (properly, this time, you know, actually turning it) and then all was well.

For the record, Stop and Shop does not sell repair kits, pumps, or green slime.

Check yours now if you have ever spilt water in the trunk.

-Dean

 

Ouch.

I learned a good lesson with my Celica when one of the seals around the rear tail light began leaking. Washed the car and next day I drove off and noticed a trail of water. Returning home, I checked the trunk to find the top mat quite wet. I then checked the rear quarter drain holes and those had plugged up from road grime. Each side "pocket" was filled about 4" high with water. Cleared those, wiped the spare tire well out and the side pockets.

Then went hunting for new weather seals. Which was quite challenging I might add since the car was about 18 years old. Luckily one of the local Toyota dealers had old parts so my Celica has pretty fresh weather seals.

 

My Dad recently overturned a cooler in his way to full trunk.
I will have to let him know that he will need to apply some preventive maintenance!

 

if you recall, that bolt is supposed to have a bit plastic bead on it so you can screw/unscrew with your hand. the tool kit doesnt come with anything to remove that except pliers....which wont work well on a rusted up bolt on the inside of a wheel...

 

Correct. Additionally, it was so badly siezed, you'd want all 6 sides of a socket on that thing - rounding it over in a parking lot would be a royal PITA.

 

On a 90LS this part is all metal, never the less it was rusted from the recent cooler spill so I am grateful that this was brought to our attention.