[MSCW list] MSCW 2025 Maintenance Day 01 - March 15th

[Timothy Metzinger]

Before we get our driving skills in shape later in March, we'll take some time to get our cars in shape, and do any needed simple maintenance work.  Tire rotations, fluid changes, lighting repairs, plugs or filter changes.  Simple stuff here - no timing belts, suspension upgrades, etc.  Pads and rotors are the most complex things for this session. Wash/Wax (on the street by the curb) is fine. I'll host another maintenance day later this year where more complex stuff can be done.  The goal here is for folks to be comfortable doing their own work, and learning from each other.   So by all means come if you just want to observe and learn more by watching us work on other cars.  One caveat - this is not where you learn by watching people work on YOUR car.  If your car is getting worked on, your hands had better get dirty.

We'll do the work in my driveway (which can generally handle two or three cars .   You should bring your own parts/fluids, and any specialty tools you might need, though I've got the hand tools below which you can use:
*              Full set of sockets and hand wrenches
*              Torque wrenches
*              Compression tester
*              Radiator Pressure Tester
*              Coolant Tester (ratio of coolant to water)
*              Brake Fluid tester (how much water in the fluid)
*              Pressure/vacuum tester
*              Timing light
*              Motive fluid pump (for trans/diff)
*              Motive power bleeder for brakes or clutch
*              Impact wrench
*              Impact screwdriver
*              Jack
*              Ramps
*              Two sets of jack stands
*              Air pump for inflating tires
*              Electrical stuff (soldering iron, multimeter, wire cutters and crimpers, shrink tubing)
*              Stuff to clean up (gojo and hand/nail brushes)

Logistics:
Assembly - The event will start at 10 AM.  My house is at 13120 Melville Lane in Fairfax.  I'll have moved the Subaru to the side of the road - you'll see my Miata up on stands (I'm doing tire rotation, brake slider lubrication, and coolant replacement) and you'll see small traffic cones along the curve where you can park your car.
Food - I'll have a charcoal grill and burgers/dogs/buns, as well as some chips, and bottled water.  Feel free to bring beer and your own snacks.  I will say that anyone who wants to drink alcohol has to surrender their keys - Catherine or I will be the keymasters.
Car limits - there will be 8 slots for people doing work on the car, and another 10 slots for people who want to show up and help/learn.  Only choose one slot, so we'll have a maximum of 18 cars.
Weather - If the weather is bad on the 15th, we'll try again on the 16th.  If it's bad all weekend, we'll cancel the event.

RSVP via signup genius at https://bit.ly/mscw2025-md-01.  Don't use Facebook to indicate you're going.

Drive safely and HAVE FUN,
Timothy (Tim) Metzinger
Scenic Drive Coordinator - Mazda Sport Cars of Washington, DC
tim.metzinger at outlook.com
703.963.3015