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Post by Kathymel on Dec 29, 2013 18:17:09 GMT
This is one of the most visible things that I do as a result of ADHD and it causes me (and my friends) much annoyance.
It's happened twice in the last 5 weeks, both times miles from any garages or friends, requiring me to sit in a freezing car and wait for the RAC.
I own half a dozen fuel cans from times when I've been close enough to a garage to get some or have been able to hitch to one. My S. Ex has had to come out to meet me several times in the past couple of years to rescue me as well. I've had to borrow friend's cars and I've been taken in the back of a police car, too.
My previous car was the worst because it had 2 warning beeps. I stopped using the gauge as the main indicator, but would wait for the second beep. By the time it happened, I would have forgotten there had already been one and ignore it. Ridiculous.
The last time, returning from Scotland last Friday, I pulled in to the border services to get coffee and diesel and then left with only the coffee. I didn't even notice the fuel gauge until the car juddered to a halt whilst passing Preston.
Every now and then I get it together to put a can of fuel in the car for emergencies, but it somehow never lasts long and I worry about having it there, too.
Does anyone else do this? How do you make yourself remember?
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Post by JJ on Dec 30, 2013 3:11:34 GMT
Amongst many many other things, my petrol gauge is broken on my car So not only do I have to contend with not filling it up when it's flashing empty, I now have flashing all the time, so have to actually keep an eye on it and make sure I fill after 200 miles, or risk breaking down This is hard Mega taxing my adhd-being hard The only way I deal with it is that 1) I only ever drive within 2 miles of my house 2) that 2 miles is completely within a city that has petrol garages 3) my ex comes and gets me when I run out of petrol 4) my mum comes and gets me when I run out of petrol 5) my dad comes and gets me when I run out of petrol 6) ASD son reminds me I'm about to run out of petrol - and has a charged phone for when I do run out of petrol... My suggestion to make yourself remember.....?...... Get a new brain - ask for one that doesn't have adhd .
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Post by Kathymel on Dec 30, 2013 8:37:07 GMT
I've never had to cope without a gauge at all - nightmare! I would promise myself to always fill up after 200 miles, but then keep forgetting to zero the counter or keep pushing it to see how far it would really go between fill-ups.
My current phone makes things more interesting, too. It doesn't hold a charge for very long and doesn't seem to get on with the car charger. The last but one time I ran out, I had enough battery to phone S. Ex and ask him to sort out a rescue for me. It was lucky I did as the RAC's computer decided not to recognise my name at my address and they refused to come out (complaint in process). Ex then had to phone the AA and pretend he was there so they would come out - I got told off when they arrived because Ex wasn't there, and the guy said I'd have to join, but then sold me a can of diesel when I refused. Phew! I'm now black-listed by them, I think.
What make and model is your car? I'm curious to know if this is a common fault and easy to fix.
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Post by meepmeep on Dec 30, 2013 10:59:27 GMT
Hahahaha, I had the same issue. I use to keep jerry cans filled with fuel, I always had major issues with filling up petrol...Just seemed so mundane...
Although spidey sense helped and I never ran out...Just got super close instead! Use to fill up on random residential roads instead of going to a petrol station like a normal person.
My Saab 9-3 (2003) had a broken fuel gauge...It didn't bother me in the slightest, when I sold it...The new owner went to the fuel station to fill up, I went along with him...I said the tank was empty...He filled £7s worth of super unleaded and realised it was on the brim!!!
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Post by nic on Jan 2, 2014 21:59:50 GMT
I run on empty most of the time.... Think I wrote about this one too.... It's so boring that I can be on empty and just keep going past the petrol station without filling up - mad eh! X
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Post by Kathymel on Jan 3, 2014 9:45:28 GMT
I almost did it again yesterday. Was so desperate to get away from where I was that I drove past the local garage, thinking there would be another one somewhere. Ended up randomly driving into towns until I found one. Phew!
I think I need to carry an up-to-date map of petrol station locations with me.
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Post by twix on Jan 3, 2014 11:18:35 GMT
If you have a sat nav or smart phone you can probably get the nearest petrol station on that.
I think this is one area where I have a good strategy that is well established, I always fill up the car when it gets to 1/4 tank. If not then my car makes a loud noise when I have 60 miles left and an annoying bright light. The noise comes on every time you start the engine as well.
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Post by JJ on Jan 3, 2014 11:32:19 GMT
I would like to go back to the 'good old days' when someone came and filled your car up for you - I would be more likely to do mine if I didn't have to get out of the car. Or you could pay to have someone just take your car from the drive and fill it up - I would pay for that. Kathymel - my car's a Fiat Punto 1.2 Active 2003 . The petrol gauge broke cos I let it run down to stranded-empty a couple of times on the trot, followed by getting to the garage 20 yards before actual breakdown. The light had been flashing for ages, then when I filled it up, it never turned off. The man said it was my fault (and that it was about £200 to fix ) But I did read this as a common fault for puntos on autotrader or which car the other day - power steering, windscreen wipers, fuel gauge and exhaust - the 4 top complaints - all 4 gone on my car....
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Post by Kathymel on Jan 3, 2014 11:43:46 GMT
Ooh! Ooh! Really cheap quick fix for wipers! I've got a Punto Active too. My drivers side wiper has been broken for months cos the garage said the whole unit would have to be replaced, costing loads. I was using zip ties and wire to keep it going (courtesy of PD, the first time. ) Found a chap who's made a £5 clip that fixes it in seconds. Is yours still broken? I can send you the link. My power steering has gone off once so far and I'm waiting for it to die completely. There's a garage that specialises in fixing that problem for £70, but it's in Birmingham. My exhaust is down to a single skin on the back box and the cat. has been removed. Can't do proper emissions tests on a diesel, so can't tell for the MOT. Haven't had the fuel gauge problem yet, but I wouldn't think that letting it run out would cause it to break. That would be absurd. We could add a fuel delivery service to our washing-up and laundry services wish-list.
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Post by twix on Jan 3, 2014 11:43:57 GMT
Maybe you could treat yourself to a chocolate bar when you get petrol and that will make it more rewarding.
There are still a few old fashioned garages that fill up for you, but I don't know where you would find them.
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Post by twix on Jan 3, 2014 11:46:24 GMT
I must admit I'm tempted to fill up a plastic box with washing up and take it through the car wash!!
I always had a dishwasher before I moved here and its a nightmare.
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Post by Kathymel on Jan 3, 2014 12:05:11 GMT
That's not a bad idea, but I stopped buying sweets when driving because I was eating so many going to uni and back that I started my very first cavity. I suppose a small thing might be enough to persuade me to stop. And I do keep a toothbrush in the car for those mornings when I'm THAT late that I do them on the way to somewhere. I love my mini dishwasher more than any other object in the house. I put my vintage type writer through it now and then, amongst other things. So much easier than dusting.
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Post by twix on Jan 3, 2014 12:22:05 GMT
I have a toothbrush in the car too.
I found I stopped eating so many sweets driving when I got meds. Its one of the ways I notice if I forgot them, I feel the need to crunch/chew things to help concentrate.
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Post by JJ on Jan 3, 2014 12:22:36 GMT
Kathymel - thanks for punto info - For the time being, I've glued a washer on the end of the wiper to stop it popping out. Tho last time was only a couple of days ago, in the rain, so not sure if it's taken - the other one's lasted a few months now tho. The clip thing sounds good - if there's any danger of forgetting the name, can u pm me it? At the time it sounded quite logical re the petrol (tho I don't know about cars) - he said the thing that gauges the petrol level would've got stuck in the sludge at the bottom by being exposed to it cos I'd let it get too low. He said I could take the inside panel off the back off and bang the petrol tank a bit to try and dislodge it. I never got round to it tho.... And £70 for the steering?!! Wow - I was told it needed a whole new 'thing' - and that even from a breakers, it was £150 ish plus getting someone to fit, or £1600 from fiat Mines been going on and off for a couple of years now. Trouble is, I don't trust the car to get me to bham... I've never been a scaredy cat driver, and I'm not averse to risk of course but even I don't think it's safe to go that far (Had my mum's car outside when I was thinking of rescuing you from Paris btw )
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Post by JJ on Jan 3, 2014 12:25:43 GMT
We could add a fuel delivery service to our washing-up and laundry services wish-list. Yes! Excellent idea!
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Post by twix on Jan 3, 2014 12:26:47 GMT
Sounds like you need to find a different garage, they might be trying it on.
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Post by Kathymel on Jan 3, 2014 13:34:31 GMT
Kathymel - thanks for punto info - For the time being, I've glued a washer on the end of the wiper to stop it popping out. Tho last time was only a couple of days ago, in the rain, so not sure if it's taken - the other one's lasted a few months now tho. The clip thing sounds good - if there's any danger of forgetting the name, can u pm me it? At the time it sounded quite logical re the petrol (tho I don't know about cars) - he said the thing that gauges the petrol level would've got stuck in the sludge at the bottom by being exposed to it cos I'd let it get too low. He said I could take the inside panel off the back off and bang the petrol tank a bit to try and dislodge it. I never got round to it tho.... And £70 for the steering?!! Wow - I was told it needed a whole new 'thing' - and that even from a breakers, it was £150 ish plus getting someone to fit, or £1600 from fiat Mines been going on and off for a couple of years now. Trouble is, I don't trust the car to get me to bham... I've never been a scaredy cat driver, and I'm not averse to risk of course but even I don't think it's safe to go that far (Had my mum's car outside when I was thinking of rescuing you from Paris btw ) I wouldn't expect there to be so much sludge in the bottom of a fuel tank that it would make a float stick, but I couldn't say for sure. However, I looked at the Fiat forum and found this thread. Hitting it with a hammer worked for him. There seem to be very few garages that actually question whether there are better ways to do things other than by the manufacturer's instructions. I suppose there is an issue when the car is within warranty, but otherwise it just seems to be lack of innovation or thought. The wiper fix is so cheap and quick compared to what most garages will do, it's ridiculous that it hasn't become the norm.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 3, 2014 14:50:11 GMT
I don't mind going to the petrol station for you - pay my travel expenses (50p/mile) and I'll do it - no charge, free, gratis and fer nowt!
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Post by Kathymel on Jan 3, 2014 15:09:52 GMT
If you have a sat nav or smart phone you can probably get the nearest petrol station on that. I think this is one area where I have a good strategy that is well established, I always fill up the car when it gets to 1/4 tank. If not then my car makes a loud noise when I have 60 miles left and an annoying bright light. The noise comes on every time you start the engine as well. I can't quite bring myself to fill it up until it's empty. I also have a thing about not driving with a full tank because that makes the car heavier and less efficient so I also only ever put £20-30 in the tank. Not doing myself any favours really, am I? No satnav or smart phone. I have been fighting the need for a satnav with a stubborn belief in the ability of my own brain to be able to get me around from A to B. This despite all the evidence to the contrary. Perhaps I should just give in and ask for one for my birthday. Not sure who from though, tbh.
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Post by shapes on Jan 3, 2014 19:33:33 GMT
You should keep it filled up really, the weight saving on driving on half a tank isn't really worth that much.
I haven't done much driving although I'm looking to buy a car now actually. I did almost run out of fuel once.
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Post by JJ on Jan 3, 2014 19:57:18 GMT
I can't quite bring myself to fill it up until it's empty......I also only ever put £20-30 in the tank. Not doing myself any favours really, am I? ? ? ? ? ? ? This makes life sooooo much harder You do know you have ADHD I take it I diagnose you mental on top No satnav or smart phone. I have been fighting the need for a satnav with a stubborn belief in the ability of my own brain to be able to get me around from A to B. Please see above Smart phone at least - worth every penny for an adhd'er IMO - and not just navigation.... You need to find someone to buy you one then, or sell your child or something - they're vital
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Post by nic on Jan 3, 2014 20:25:32 GMT
I always do the 20.00 thing! Ha x
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Post by twix on Jan 3, 2014 20:34:57 GMT
I think in some ways I was lucky, there is a lot of ADHD in my family, and I have learnt to do things like always keep the car filled up. Mind you that could be down to mum's impulsive side, if there is always petrol, you can go for an adventure any time you like....
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Post by purplepower on Jan 3, 2014 21:35:48 GMT
My tank had 20 miles left today. That's the closest I've ever been, and it will never happen again. I skipped a station because there was a song playing on the radio. I tend to fill up with about 40-60 ish miles to go.
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Post by Kathymel on Jan 3, 2014 22:00:08 GMT
I can't quite bring myself to fill it up until it's empty......I also only ever put £20-30 in the tank. Not doing myself any favours really, am I? ? ? ? ? ? ? This makes life sooooo much harder You do know you have ADHD I take it I diagnose you mental on top No satnav or smart phone. I have been fighting the need for a satnav with a stubborn belief in the ability of my own brain to be able to get me around from A to B. Please see above Smart phone at least - worth every penny for an adhd'er IMO - and not just navigation.... You need to find someone to buy you one then, or sell your child or something - they're vital
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Post by Deleted on Jan 3, 2014 22:18:02 GMT
I never buy fuel before the light comes on. The onboard computer tells me how many miles I have left, so I generally procrastinate the petrol station until I'm down to my last 15 miles, frequently have to find a station at '5 miles left' and have occasionally been reading 'zero' while still searching for a station. And it's not just any station - I will travel on fumes to get to a Shell station because I collect air miles and my car hates supermarket fuel (something to do with them adding bio thingy, I believe). I have never actually run out. Bizarre, huh? Must just be lucky. Thing is, my employer pays my fuel - so it's not as if I'm gaining anything by putting it off. But my last-minute hunts for a Shell station regularly make me late for important things! D'oh!
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Post by Kathymel on Jan 3, 2014 22:39:02 GMT
My onboard computer counts down until there are 30 miles left and then sods off. If I'm on the ball, I'll check what the mileage is when this happens. Not very often, then.
I'm left with a guessing game. Thank God I don't have the added stress of finding a particular petrol station. In wales, that would be fuel roulette indeed!
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