UPDATE: Hey LCRW readers/The Absolute State podcast listeners,

Bad news: after a couple weeks of arguing with a bad mechanic and finally getting work done by my regular, trusted mechanic, my engine's still misfiring. We're figuring out what the problem is, but I'm in the hole way more than I thought I'd be and I have to re-upload the fundraiser and ask for more help paying for my repairs.

In the interest of transparency, here's an accounting of what's happened so far: I went to a mechanic who overcharged me for new plugs and new coils and broke my windshield in the process of replacing them. That mechanic didn't clean shit out like I asked, didn't check it thoroughly, didn't fix the problem at all, so I'm currently fighting to get some of the $1300 I spent back there. The shit mechanic gave me a "free" second diagnosis before I said to hell with them and said the problem was apparently the EGR valve being old and full of carbon from eight years of driving up and down the West Coast. I went to my regular mechanic and got that replaced and had it all cleaned up. It made the misfire less harsh—and the car runs MUCH better than even before the misfire started. In the middle of this, my brakes went from a mild squeal to no squeal at all, so I needed those replaced too. In total for the EGR and brake job, I had to pay my regular mechanic $1200, (still better than the ripoff mechanic that wanted $1300 just for the EGR.) So that's what I'm currently in the hole for—$1200. But it gets worse! It's still misfiring on cylinder two. We think it's either a fuel injector that's clogged up or more likely the intake manifold, so that'll be another $300-400 in parts and labor.

So I'm looking to raise at least another $1700 for costs.

It's a lot to ask, I know. At this point, I'm grateful for anything at all to offset the costs. Hell, even money to help pay for a taxi to and from the mechanic while the work's being done helps a lot. Again, I can't emphasize how grateful I am that supporters came together and chipped in to help me get back on the road. Because of your help so far, the car can at least take me around town for my daily needs. But as you know, this work takes me traveling far and wide and I need this car to be reliable for that. Please help if you can.

Abner

ORIGINAL POST:

Hey LCRW readers/The Absolute State podcast listeners,

I hate asking again just after we've had a successful travel fundraiser, but my poor car's got engine trouble and I'm in the hole a lot of money to fix it. Guess that last trip to L.A. did it in.

I'm kind of desperate here—I can't travel to help my family as I often need to or do the weekly travel working for LCRW necessitates. On top of that we've got a lot of travel planned for our reporting for the rest of the year and I don't want to have to cancel any of it.

Anything you can do to help us out would go a long way. Any money over the goal goes straight to our writers. If you donate, email us at leftcoastrightwatch@protonmail.com with your address and we'll mail you some stickers and a thank you note.

Thanks everyone for your continued support.

Abner