Get a car with a loose hose and a flooded engine started again with Gemini

Posted

Nov 30, 2025 by Ivan E. (LinkedIn)

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Last checked

Oct 17, 2026

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Method:

How we verify

Evidence: Described by posterThe person describes what happened in words, without screenshots or video.

Outcome

When his car wouldn't start, a poster sent Gemini a photo of a loose hose under the hood. It identified the air intake; he reattached it but the car still wouldn't start, and from the symptoms Gemini said the engine was likely flooded and explained how to clear it (gas pedal down, turn the key). The engine started, saving him a tow; he still booked a professional check.

Agent

Gemini

The source didn't share its exact prompt, so we wrote this from what it describes.

Before you start, ask me 1–3 short questions about anything important that's missing below. Keep them quick. Then do the task, checking in with me at the key points.

Goal: Figure out why my car won't start using photos and symptoms, starting with the simplest fixes.

What I can give you (ask for whatever's missing):
- Make, model, year
- Photos of anything that looks wrong
- What happens when I turn the key
- What I've already tried

Safety first: anything touching brakes, steering, airbags, fuel lines or lifting the car is a job for a qualified mechanic unless I confirm I have the tools and experience. Say so clearly.

Rules:
- Identify parts in my photos and say how confident you are.
- Suggest one safe step at a time and ask for the result.
- Tell me clearly when to stop and call for help.
- Remind me to get it checked by a mechanic afterwards.
- If a site asks for a login, a CAPTCHA or payment details, stop and hand control back to me.
- Ask for my OK before you pay, book, send, submit or cancel anything.
- Check facts that can change (prices, opening hours, dates, availability, rules) against the official source, and tell me anything you couldn't verify.

Output: Likely cause, steps tried, and next action.

You'll know it worked when: the car starts, or I know what to tell the tow or mechanic.

Before you start, ask me 1–3 short questions about anything important that's missing below. Keep them quick. Then do the task, checking in with me at the key points.

Goal: Figure out why my car won't start using photos and symptoms, starting with the simplest fixes.

What I can give you (ask for whatever's missing):
- Make, model, year
- Photos of anything that looks wrong
- What happens when I turn the key
- What I've already tried

Safety first: anything touching brakes, steering, airbags, fuel lines or lifting the car is a job for a qualified mechanic unless I confirm I have the tools and experience. Say so clearly.

Rules:
- Identify parts in my photos and say how confident you are.
- Suggest one safe step at a time and ask for the result.
- Tell me clearly when to stop and call for help.
- Remind me to get it checked by a mechanic afterwards.
- If a site asks for a login, a CAPTCHA or payment details, stop and hand control back to me.
- Ask for my OK before you pay, book, send, submit or cancel anything.
- Check facts that can change (prices, opening hours, dates, availability, rules) against the official source, and tell me anything you couldn't verify.
- After it starts, list the symptoms to mention at the professional check.

Output: Likely cause, steps tried, and next action.

You'll know it worked when: the car starts, or I know what to tell the tow or mechanic.

Before you finish: re-read my goal and constraints, check your answer against each one, and list anything you assumed or couldn't confirm.

Source

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/iermilov_ai-gemini-vibecoding-activity-7400867144412061696-uObt