I liked what the Volkswagen Beatles used to have. They had a reserve tank
lever that you flipped with your foot when the engine started sputtering
(out of gas). This gave you access to another 1.2 or so gallons of gas in
the tank to get you to the nearest gas station. In my college days I would
often drive my VW Beatle for a couple of days on the reserve setting. Of
course then when the engine sputtered I would REALLY be out of gas! I tried
to time this event so that there were several other people in the car who
would then chip in for gas. Hey, money was tight for us college students
back then, it was either buy beer or buy gas - you make the decision.
Reid
'79 Spitfire (original owner)
-----Original Message-----
From: Laura.G@141.com [mailto:Laura.G@141.com]
Sent: Thursday, August 03, 2000 4:41 PM
To: mikep@michindust.com
Cc: spitfires@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: Troubleshooting
A similar thing happened to me when I first got my first Spitfire about 15
years ago in Italy. I had been accustomed to driving my Alfa-which had a
light that came on when gas was low. When it came on, you knew you had maybe
another 14 miles before the car would stop.
Well, it was beautiful weather, I was driving and driving-and the light
never went on! But the car stopped-and I realized that for the first time in
my life (and last time-so far!), I'd run out of gas!
Laura G.
>
>From: "Mike Perry" <mikep@michindust.com>
>Date: Thu, 3 Aug 2000 21:43:22 -0400
>To: <spitfires@autox.team.net>
>Subject: Troubleshooting
>
>
>Wonderful spitfire day...about 75 and sunny, and my job had me on the road
>for most of the day. After about 150 miles (I guess, the speedo cable
broke
>this am), and about 1/2 mile from home, the car mysteriously lost power.
>
>I pulled over, and the car would fire briefly, and I couldn't keep it
>running. Went through the usual subjects...check the plug wires, pull the
>dizzy cap...all OK. What else could it be? Check the fuel lines, looked
>for an obvious vacuum leak, made sure the linkages were working...again OK.
>Pulled the air cleaners and made sure the carb pistons were moving...again
>OK. Hmmm.
>
>Pulled the fuel line and cranked the engine to check the fuel pump. No gas
>flow! As I was feeling proud of my detective work, it occurred to me....
>
>These things need gas occasionally! The danger of such a good driving day
>is sometimes you don't pay as much attention to ALL the gauges!
>
>Then of course, I had to make the humbling phone call to the wife..."honey,
>you know that big gas can I keep for the mower..."
>
>I wish you all as good a driving day as I had today...but watch that gas
>gauge!
>
>
>Mike Perry
>72 Spit (now with a full tank)!
>
>
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