Trace a car transmission problem to a faulty fuse with Grok
- Posted
- by @4evrshepherds
- Last checked
- Method:
- How we verify
Evidence: Described by posterThe person describes what happened in words, without screenshots or video.
Outcome
A driver with a transmission problem talked it through with Grok, which suggested troubleshooting steps. The driver says the cause turned out to be a faulty fuse, avoiding an expensive repair shop bill.
Agent
Prompt Recreated prompt
The source didn't share its exact prompt, so we wrote this from what it describes.
Let's work this out together. I'll tell you what I know, you suggest options and ask what you need, and we'll narrow it down step by step. Nothing gets booked, bought or sent until I say so. Goal: Troubleshoot my car problem starting with cheap, simple checks like fuses before a shop visit. What I'll share as we go: - Make, model, year - Exactly what the car does and any warning lights - When it started and what changed - Tools I have 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: - Start with fuses, relays and battery connections related to the symptom; tell me where the fuse box and the right fuse are. - Explain how to check a fuse safely. - Ask for each result before moving on. - Tell me when it's time for a professional diagnosis. - Check facts that can change (prices, opening hours, dates, availability, rules) against the official source, and tell me anything you couldn't verify. Output: A short checklist with what each result means. You'll know it worked when: the fault is found, or I take the car in knowing what's been ruled out.
Optional stronger version
Our rewrite with extra checks. The poster didn't test it.
Let's work this out together. I'll tell you what I know, you suggest options and ask what you need, and we'll narrow it down step by step. Nothing gets booked, bought or sent until I say so. Goal: Troubleshoot my car problem starting with cheap, simple checks like fuses before a shop visit. What I'll share as we go: - Make, model, year - Exactly what the car does and any warning lights - When it started and what changed - Tools I have 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: - Start with fuses, relays and battery connections related to the symptom; tell me where the fuse box and the right fuse are. - Explain how to check a fuse safely. - Ask for each result before moving on. - Tell me when it's time for a professional diagnosis. - Check facts that can change (prices, opening hours, dates, availability, rules) against the official source, and tell me anything you couldn't verify. - If replacing the fuse fixes it but it blows again, tell me that points to a deeper fault for a mechanic. Output: A short checklist with what each result means. You'll know it worked when: the fault is found, or I take the car in knowing what's been ruled out. 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://x.com/4evrshepherds/status/1896656129733882315
Related cases
- Replace a car sensor with Grok's help (it pointed the wrong way for 40 minutes)Recreated promptEvidence: Described by posterPartial
A driver replacing a sensor to clear a check engine light says Grok led them astray for 40 minutes; they had to use Google to find where the sensor was. Once they found it the job was easy, and the light went off. The poster's conclusion: AI is not good at fixing cars.
Grok · Personal · Source date:
- Repair a collision-damaged Honda Civic for under $1,000 instead of $10,000+ with Gemini as a mentorRecreated promptEvidence: Described by poster
After a collision left his daughter's 2019 Honda Civic with a $10,000+ shop quote and no collision coverage, a father spent weeks of evenings working with Gemini using photos, sensor data and questions. He says it helped him find a single crushed solenoid instead of a $4,000 transmission replacement, and guided which parts to buy and how to rebuild the front end. He reports a DIY total under $1,000 and the car running smoothly at 70+ mph.
Gemini · Personal · Source date:
- Find a check-engine air leak a mechanic missed with Grok and ChatGPTRecreated promptEvidence: Described by poster
After their mechanic swapped 3 parts without fixing a check engine light and was about to replace another, a driver stopped the mechanic and used ChatGPT and Grok instead. The driver says they found the air leak on their own and fixed the light.
Grok, ChatGPT · Personal · Source date: