That is the funniest thing I have read in a long time.... because it could describe the Types of things which happen to me all day long week in and week out. Do you think anyone that has not had those types of things go wrong on a regular basis appreciates them when you finally get them worked out ? Not a chance. My solution is to just make damn sure that when I am AT a job like that that each and every thing which needs to be fixed for the NEXT time you are in that area of the car/project gets fixed THIS time. It takes a little longer... but you know what you have when you get through... and you really enjoy the situation and your foresightedness the next time you have to be there dealing with anything.
More leverage is about the only answer to some of these situations.. like a " cheater pipe" put on the end of your tool.
As bad as the situation may be for access.... taking off the cover to deal with a stuck plug is probably a bad idea... because you then have the added chore of HOLDING it... without warping it. Usually better to just up your tools/leverage or whatever while it is bolted to the third member...