Not much to say about the pictures; Just another evening of digging holes.

Yesterday while testing a repair on a Prius C, I saw a 3rd Generation Prius stranded on an off-ramp just as they were about to turn the corner. I saw they were pulling stuff out of trunk area, and I had a feeling they were trying to disconnect the battery to clear a code. I got on the freeway for my test drive, that wasn’t going perfectly. That other Prius stayed in my mind, so I told myself, “If this test drive isn’t going well, maybe I can make another Prius go well.” After a few miles, I turned back around and headed to where I saw the broken Prius. They were still there so I parked in front of them, got out and asked, “So what’s going on?”

At first the guy looked a little nervous, while his partner stayed behind the car, but asked “Are you a mechanic?”

Then he noticed my lab coat, and said, “Your coat even says Prius.” indicated where it said “Reprius”, the prior name of our shop.

I said, “Yes, I’m a mechanic, and we specialize in Prius, can I help?”

He explained that they ran out of gas, and they got some already, but now he was trying to disconnect the battery to clear the code. The internet taught him this was what to do, so they had pulled out all they their luggage (they were traveling), and exposed the battery in the trunk. Then they realized they didn’t have the required 10mm socket or wrench. He asked if I had one. I checked my pockets, I only had a 14mm on me. So I said, “No I don’t, but I’ll tell you what, open engine hood for me”, and I started walking to the front of the car.

He started to try to argue that the battery was in the back, and I said, “I understand, please open the engine hood.” He doubtfully complied and opened the hood, then joined me in front. I removed the engine fuse cover, took a house key, and used it to disconnect the white plug; explaining that cable carried the 12 volt power from the battery, to the fuse box, and then the rest of the car. We waited a minute, while I made some small talk about the eucalyptus leaves and seed pods in the wiper area. After plugging the plug back in, I told him to try to start the car.

The car started to great relief. I said, “Okay, your good to go, and I need to get going”, and started walking back to the Prius C. He thanked me, and tried to offer lunch, money, anything, which I refused. Their relief, and especially her still slightly seemingly baffled smile of gratitude made those few minutes of time, way more then worth it.

It made me miss the days when it was safe to stop and offer assistance. To often I feel I passed people by because I afraid of being shot for offering help.

-Duckin’ Kev