Track down a 1996 Volvo's stalling to a $35 fuel pump relay with Gemini

Posted

Mar 26, 2026 by Rich Minardi (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

A driver whose 1996 Volvo kept stalling, and whose two mechanics couldn't pin down why, spent about 15 minutes going back and forth with Gemini. It suggested a failed or failing fuel pump relay that acts up when the car isn't warmed up. He says the part cost $35 on eBay and plugs in with only a screwdriver needed to open a compartment.

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: Help me narrow down an intermittent car problem that's hard for a mechanic to reproduce.

What I can give you (ask for whatever's missing):
- Make, model, year and mileage
- Exactly when it happens (cold, warm, speed, weather)
- What's been checked or replaced

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:
- Ask 1-3 questions to pin down the pattern.
- List likely causes with how each matches my symptoms.
- Start with cheap, easy checks or parts.
- Tell me when it needs a mechanic.
- 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: A ranked list of likely causes with checks and part costs.

You'll know it worked when: the problem stops after the fix, or I know what to ask the 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: Help me narrow down an intermittent car problem that's hard for a mechanic to reproduce.

What I can give you (ask for whatever's missing):
- Make, model, year and mileage
- Exactly when it happens (cold, warm, speed, weather)
- What's been checked or replaced

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:
- Ask 1-3 questions to pin down the pattern.
- List likely causes with how each matches my symptoms.
- Start with cheap, easy checks or parts.
- Tell me when it needs a mechanic.
- 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.
- Confirm the part number for your exact model before buying.

Output: A ranked list of likely causes with checks and part costs.

You'll know it worked when: the problem stops after the fix, or I know what to ask the 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/rminardi_recently-i-used-ai-to-diagnose-a-mysterious-activity-7443008542304964608-tm9b