We’re going into Fall 2024 and we just had our 4th monthly meeting last weekend. We’ve done over a dozen oil changes now, we’ve done a brake pad replacement, fixed a couple side mirrors, used our OBD code reader to diagnose check engine lights, changed headlights, replaced a bumper, and discovered that an “emergency brake job” a mechanic told one of our members they needed was incorrect, their brakes had 3-6 months of use left, saving them over $1,000 from what the mechanic quoted them for.
We’ve saved our community several thousand dollars cumulatively, taught do it yourself skills, safety practices, tips and tricks, the proper use of tools, and de-mystified automotive maintenance and repair. We’re doing what we can to counteract the often exploitative, predatory, misogynistic practices of mechanics in a capitalist society… We’ve all heard stories of our femme friends bringing a masc companion to the mechanic shop in order to not get ripped off, and honestly, that we all know that, yet it continues is bullshit.
Our meetings have been attended by a diverse group of people; young, old, femme, masc and non binary, cis, trans, gay and straight and from basically every ethnic background. We’ve had a diverse set of folks come teach, and people who were just learning when we started are helping teach now!
Thanks to your support we have several sets of basic tools; socket sets, wrench sets, torque wrenches, breaker bars, and even an electric impact wrench. We have a couple floor jacks, a couple sets of jack stands, and ramps. We have a creeper (for sliding under cars), diagnostic tools like brake pad gauges, a code reader, a compression tester, alternator/battery tester, and spark plug tester.
Going into the fall we need to restock some of our expendable items, like threadlocker, caliper grease, penetrating catalyst, brake parts cleaner, and RTV silicone, as well as get some general items like an assortment of gaskets, washers and O-rings, as well as some additional specialty tools, like a brake line bleeder.
We’re going to be posting some polls here and on our IG about organizing some public facing clinics, wether that’s a free brake light replacement clinic, a free windshield wiper clinic, or even a catalytic converter theft deterrent clinic, as well as future fundraising for that.
We’ve made it thru 4 months now, and we’re just getting started! Thank you all for your past and ongoing support. The amount of interest we get for our meetings shows what a needed service this is, and hopefully we will be able to produce some how to videos and zines, as well as how to start a community car care group of your own for our comrades who can’t attend our meetings either due to scheduling or distance.
Thanks again.