High 5 anxiety attack...

[hey,littlecobra]

ohmigosh!
What an adventure. My dear friend drove me up to Keith Craft to pick up Pepe this morning. Made a couple of errands, then went to get on LBJ east coming home. Well, sitting in traffic on Hillcrest and LBJ service road, it starting "cutting out". Well, I made it through the intersection and stopped at the corner gas station to check things out. Turned it off. Started it back up. Gauges looked good. Pressure fine, idled nicely, and decided it was just hot sitting at that light for 5 minutes and took off to get on LBJ east. Slid on the entrance ramp, and immediately realized there was no where to go but taking that frickin' new entrance ramp to N/S 75 (central expy.) This huge truck ( not one of ours, thankfully) wouldn't let me over (should have gone under him!), and there I was, stuck on the ramp to go back to Oklahoma or south to Mexico. UGH. I've said for months I do not ever want to be on that high ramp at high 5. nuh uh. no way. And just to my friend this morning I said I didn't ever want to do it in the Cobra; would feel like I was in a prop plane! Well, guess what. The cutting out started again. Panic set in. Oh sh!t! Broke down on the top of the frickin ramp heading north on high 5. Crud. Crud. Phone rang. Dang, ain't no way I'm answering that while having a panic attack on the high 5 while little cobra dies on the shoulder at the highest elevation in the city of Dallas. UGH. Well, quick thinking and handling by yours truly, and all of a sudden I'm south bound on the ramp, dropping in altitude by the second, and feeling better about that, but remember, car is cutting in and out all the time. Started the old brain up, and realized, I'm out of gas! Sh!t!! again. First exit off this gravity pulling, south bound roller coaster is Forest. Hmmm. Is there a gas station near this exit?? Hmmm. Took the exit. YES! A chevron sign. Can I make it??? Geez. It's across the intersection, tho'. Stop at the light. 2nd car in line. Turn off the engine, as it had already stopped and started 20 times with my finesse at popping and jumping the clutch/gas. Light turns green. Go dumb lady. go! I've got to get across 7 lanes to that stinkin' station! Geez. Died in the intersection. Wave my arms madly, hoping the honkin' big truck behind doesn't rear end me and send me into Cobra heaven. (well, no gas, so no fiery explosion) Start the ignition pop the clutch/rev gas and it lurches 15 feet forward. 4 more times and it makes it into the station, and I roll smoothly to the first available pump, even on the "right" side of the car. Good golly. Fill up the tank, thinking how much does it hold? (oh, yes, side bar- the gas gauge doesn't work- takes me back to my MG days). So, think back to that first station I pulled into when it first started cutting out. Geez. Staring me in the face. Gas. Stupid stupid. Thinking back to Oklahoma. Filled up on the way to Hallett. Drove an hour there. 7 laps (at full throttle??!! ) on the track. Back to the hotel -an hour. Remember now, the speedo didn't work in OK. so don't know my mileage. Trailered to Keith Craft. They "played" with it, then my toodling around a couple of errands, and yeah, dummy, outta gas! Well, to add insult to inury, after Pepe got all full, ($30. + worth) I headed back home, again. Looked to check speed, and lo and behold, speedo doesn't work, AGAIN. What the heck?? Have called KC and am waiting for call back... When hell freezes over???
geez. I need a drink. Oh no. I've just got 6 kids here, looking at me like deer in the lights, we're hungry! We wanna go to a movie! Where's lunch? Can we go swim?? AAAhhhh. Dear hubby, picked up Sonic, took 4 hoodlums to movie, baby cobra girl is napping, little cobra girl is watching t.v., and that's it for me! I'm gonna go read a book. Oh yes. My new "Ken Miles" book by Art Evans just arrived, by FEDEX (thanks Steve S.!), and I'm outta here. Somebody take my call from Keith Craft!!!!
Oh, yes, all you liberal commies, I said "thank you Lord!" 10,000 times for letting me make it to the station without dying or having to push (it's only 110 outside, well not that hot, yet) or for me not being stranded at the top of that evil high 5.

Roger, Over and Out Kristen

[Doug I]

did you have a bad day ?

I wasn't really reading ....

[392cobra]

Kristen,
You certainly have a different way of having fun.

Did you get any of this on video ???

[DoubleR]

Your day sounds like mine... only my Cobra was safely tucked away in the garage. My kids are watching a movie and I am going to have a drink.
So Kristen sit back relax and lets have a Vodka & Tonic together. Here's to e-cocktailing!

[fordnut]

Kristen,

Even a day like the one you had, Is better in a Cobra than 10 minutes in a grocery getter. Welcome to the suprise and reality of owning a Cobra.

[hey,littlecobra]

Well, maybe tomorrow I'll think it was fun....

Never did get that drink. CiCi's pizza. yeah, uh huh. yum yum. Boys leave for Scout camp Sunday morning, and am trying to purchase last minute grub clothes, etc. Taking them shopping is like pulling teeth. Just a few shorts and jeans. Pair of shoes. So what? The girls think it's a party going shopping.
Fred, I was wishing I had a camera. If I had actually been stuck on the side of the road on the top of the high 5 I would have been missing my digital camera. The view from up there must be spectacular. Especially for the tv crews filming the hysterical woman having a nervous breakdown hoping the wind doesn't blow her "over board". I mean, don't ya'll think it's scary up there??? I'm just not going to do it!! no way, man!
anyway, we don't even have any tonic. Went looking for some earlier. Might go get me and hubby a couple of beers, get the kids to bed....

And yeah, fordnut, it was still better than driving around the mommymobile tonight! I mean, I had to think to drive. think to solve the problem. Adrenaline was flowing, for sure. Driving the pleasant but boring sequoia is like robot land.

nighty nite, boys...

[HI Cobra]

Aloha,

Guess I'm not the only one with a questionable gas gauge.
I ran out 3 miles from home and had to have it towed - was
on a steep incline and after 3 runs for gas (1 gallon at a time)
it still wouldn't start so free towing with an auto club paid off.
I learned the hard way that here in Hawaii once back and forth
on the island is ok but twice won't get it. I was using the trip
odometer and figured I might be close but, oops. Bad feeling
when it just dies like that (mine didn't pop or anything, did
die and go again, for a 1/2 mile, then very quiet). I was fortunate - I was
overlooking a mini airport where they were flying model airplanes
so I was entertained while my wife brought gas (3 times then -
enough already!) Oh the memories - in this case hopefully not
to be repeated.

Glad you made it to the station ok - that sounded real exciting!
Also not to be repeated, I'm sure!

Flip

[James Baldwin]

I read this three times and enjoyed it more each time!! Sorry Kristen, but I really had to laugh at your expense.

Glad you made it home safe!

[ERA600hp]

Wow, What a Day??

What can we do to fix your Fuel gauge problem,I'll be glad to see if it's the gauge or the float, neither would take long to fix, the float is easy to replace, drop the tank, six bolts, either would be easy!!
Let me know!

Glad it wasn't anything serious, a lesson learned ALLWAYS fuel up before going anywhere!!

The Royal Rhubarb

[Ron61]

Krtisten,

Reading your story made my morning. Get the fuel gauge fixed. The cops will tell you how fast you were going. If Royal Rhubarb is close have him take a look at it. Is your speedo mechanical or electric? You probably drove to fast and broke it while trying to run out of gas.

Ron

[hey,littlecobra]

Well wasn't it sweet of my "caretaker" to call and offer his deepest concern?? Oh wait, scratch that. Gary called to tell me he was "lying on the floor laughing his head off!!!" haha. I know the gauge was never hooked up. Oh wait, on that one, too. Couldn't I get in on the Shell class action suit and get a new setup from Shell? anyway, I'm glad everybody has had their chuckle for the day! But wasn't it clever to switch to South bound 75 and more or less coast down the ramp? I will get the speedo fixed. Again. I just like to know my speed, not wait for the ticket, thank you very much Ron! Is it mechanical or electrical? uh, I don't know. I know how to open the hood....Of course I could do the dumb blonde thing and ask the issueing cop if he'd see if he could "fix the cable thingy" and maybe all that dumbness would get me out of a ticket....

anyway, I just couldn't resist sharing with my closest buddies my tale. I feel somewhere between "I love Lucy and Bridget Jones Diary". Group hug, Dallas gang!!

Kristen

(edit to add)- hmm, that sounded too real for a dumb blonde thing, I'm going out on a limb here- it's, it's, it's mechanical! 50/50 hypothesis. Hey, Gary, Tom, Matt, help me out here!!
I guess we could fix it..... but wouldn't ya rather be entertained with these fun stories??

P.S. Aloha guy- you had it made with your wife fetching the gas for 3 trips! Now why didn't she get to watch the RC planes and you fetch the gas??!!

[Ron61]

Kristen,

If your speedo has a cable then it is mechanical. If it works and then just quits, it would almost sound as if you might be sheering the plastic gear in the transmission. I have an electronic one with a computer chip that controls it and love it. Checked it it with the highway patrol radar at 60-70-80- and 90 MPH and it and the tach were right on the the very RPM. Anyway hope that you get it fixed and it works, but it is more fun to read your stories and adventures. Just think what you could post if you could get all of the gauges to quit working.

Ron

[WACO BLUE COBRA]

kristien dont worry you are not the only one who has ran out of gas in a cobra been there to on on the twin bridges over lake waco thank goodness i had some speed going and barely made it off the bridges then wife was at the steering wheel while i pushed 2300lbs (the car not my wife) for a 1/4 mile to the off ramp. great weight loss program. oh well the joys of owning a cobra.
james in wacko texas

[ERA600hp]

It's mechanical!!

We need to determine whether or not it's the Spedo or the gear in the transmission, either is easy to determine and or fix!

Let em know if I can help!!

The Royal One!!

[HI Cobra]

Kristen,

It was only a 3 mile run and she felt better
with me watching the car. Guess I didn't
tell her about the RC planes, but I know she
could have cared less about them. My problem
was that I was halfway up a steep incline on H-3
and I would have needed ?more gas to reach the
pickup. It took a bit of priming to get it going
once I got it home. I now have an auxillary (switch
operated) electric fuel pump.

You're right about my wife - she a sweetie!

Flip (Aloha Guy)

[hey,littlecobra]

Been to Waco, James, even know those bridges. Spent my freshman year at Baylor. Been to Hawaii, too, Flip. Great honeymoon, locale, but can't tell you where H-3 is. I love RC planes. My dad did those, too. Long long time ago.... We have a RC airstrip just around the corner from our house, and we can hear them buzzing on the weekend....
I'm gonna see what Keith Craft says first about the speedo.... nobody called yesterday I know Gary said he had an extra gizmo that's in the gears... speedo was doing really nicely. Not jumping around, staying steady. I'm SURE all my frenzied antics yesterday had NOTHING to do with it... Sure glad I guessed, I mean KNEW that it's "mechanical". I'm learning...
Got 2 big trunks on the floor; packing hoodlums for scout camp. Golly, i'm gonna miss them. Will keep ya'll posted on the speedo fix. Amazing how the car drives after the tuneup at KC. Yikes! barely touch the pedal and zoommm...!!!! Fast start, smooth idle, and quicker response. Just the way I like 'em...

I'm talking about the car, you goofs, not my hubby!!

have a great day!!

[gsharapa]

I remember a few years back at the annual Feb Cobra meet in Austin, a bunch of us followed someone back to the hotel and ended up on I 35 at night in all that traffic because of the constant construction down there. NOT FUN!

One thing for sure with these cars, stay out of traffic and expressways and watch your gas as not too many of the gauges work or are very accurate anyway!

[HI Cobra]

You wouldn't recognize a lot of Oahu now.
H-3 is a connector from Kaneohe Marine Base
to Pearl Harbor and ties in to H-1 near the
Aloha Stadium. Plenty govt. $ for the state
($1 B ++) and was completed about 6-7
years ago. Great for me in Kailua to get
to the "other side"!

Flip

[BMK]

Hi Kristen,

Thanks for the email.



I just read this 'Thread'. Now there's no problem with running out of gas on the High5 there.



I know the guys there would stop and help. O yeah.



I ran out of gas on a run (recently) with a few friends. I pulled over or rolled outside a coffee shop and went in and had a coffee until everyone was passed.



Then I went down and got a can or two of gas.

No way was anyone going to see me lugging gas back to my Cobra. I found out quickly that when the fuel gauge says "E" its is empty.

My fault I set the float that way.

But, the upside is you drive around for most of the day with the tank gauge showing "F". When it starts going down it really goes down quickly.

Thanks again for telling me about this 'Thread' Kristen.

Have emailed you back.

Cheers to all in the TCC and Texas there.

Bernie

[hey,littlecobra]

Clever. And how handy to have the coffee shop nearby. How far was the gas station? I sat in the cobra, in the station for 5 minutes while I recovered. You know, I'm surprised my 5 dearest buddies in TCC didn't say they all saw me as they drove by, and meant to volunteer to help push, if needed!!
Kristen