Has your Cobra ever left you stranded?

[Argess]

Originally Posted by Got the Bug

Did I read that right...borrow a cell phone? My dad is 77, owns an iPhone and keeps telling me about the hottest app...and keeps asking me why I don't own an iPhone.

Maybe you should buy a prepaid phone and just leave it in the car.

I don't need or want a cell-phone, but there is the odd time I'd like one, so I borrow one. I did have one for a while, but only used it twice in 4 months.

I also went without a Debit card for years. Those silly young ladies that work at the bank kept telling me "you can do that at the machine". I kept telling them, "when everyone does it at the machine, some of you won't have jobs anymore". Their eyes glazed over and they tuned me out. But now I go to the bank, and it's only two girls working there. Used to be 5.

I'd like to get rid of my Cable TV. Almost $60 a month, and with 70 channels, very little worth watching on TV.

And DVDs......more trouble with DVD players. Never had an issue with VHS. Now I just buy the $40 DVD players. They seem to last just as long as the more expensive ones I previously tried.

And back to Cobras, simplicity...that's why I like solid lifters and points ignition, and a manual transmission, although I did break down and put in a Pertronix Ignitor instead of the points.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by Argess

I don't need or want a cell-phone, but there is the odd time I'd like one, so I borrow one. I did have one for a while, but only used it twice in 4 months.

I also went without a Debit card for years. Those silly young ladies that work at the bank kept telling me "you can do that at the machine". I kept telling them, "when everyone does it at the machine, some of you won't have jobs anymore". Their eyes glazed over and they tuned me out. But now I go to the bank, and it's only two girls working there. Used to be 5.

I'd like to get rid of my Cable TV. Almost $60 a month, and with 70 channels, very little worth watching on TV.

And DVDs......more trouble with DVD players. Never had an issue with VHS. Now I just buy the $40 DVD players. They seem to last just as long as the more expensive ones I previously tried.

And back to Cobras, simplicity...that's why I like solid lifters and points ignition, and a manual transmission, although I did break down and put in a Pertronix Ignitor instead of the points.

Darn electricity, you could probably save $100/month by using candles.

[RedBarchetta]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

Darn electricity, you could probably save $100/month by using candles.

I was going to ask him what the hell he's doing on the Internet asking questions about Cobra breakdowns?!? How did the 'puter sneak into his life?

[Rick Parker]

Once I had a coil fail and waited in 100 degree heat on the side of a hill waiting for a Slideback to show up. One other was when a rubber O ring on a remote adapter had unknowingly slipped out of the groove while being installed. It caused a BIG oil leak and could have caused the loss of an engine.

[BOURRET]

Yes, this happened many times, mostly due to ignition problems.
For instance when I went to Elvington in 2005, the small axis on the electronic distributor broke and a wise garage man between Dover and London made a similar pin from a strong piece of steel rod .
Once, I had to make 100 miles stuck in 3rd gear before reaching my garage.
Another time, I had to do 500 miles with a slippery clutch (I burned the disk during the drag races) that allowed me only 2000 rpm going back home. Both clutch and alu flywheel were dead and now, I always have at home a spare clutch and flywheel waiting...
A glorious one was when both the starter and the ignition box failed. Nice policemen offered me to push the Cobra to start but this had been useless as I knew it would not fire (thanks, otherwise I might have had problem if they had hear the sound upon starting!!!!)
Since, I always carry a spare new starter and ignition control box in my trunk.
The most frightening one was when I went to Poland, 100 miles before reaching the polish border, my water temperature fluctuated badly. I stopped and noticed an almost empty water system. I had to make the decision whether to keep going to my racing destination (still 300 miles to go) or to go back home (900 miles to go). I stopped for 3 hrs to decide to go to the race session in Poland, putting coolant in the system about 1-2 quart every 100 miles. The car did the race and I came back home stopping every 100 miles to check water level and adding fluid.
Last time was this september 2009 for an abnormal oil pressure value (20 PSI less than usual). I decided to stop the car before this could become worse or bad for this engine. I was coming back from a dragstrip and still 200 miles away from my home....So many thanks to my best friend who came to my help with a trailer.