Fix a washing machine that won't fill using Gemini, after ChatGPT picked the wrong part

Posted

Feb 11, 2026 by Mateusz Nowotka (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 poster described his broken washing machine to Gemini, which helped him run diagnostics, found it wasn't taking in water and pointed to the inlet valve. He used ChatGPT's shopping help to find and order the part, but the first part didn't fit even though ChatGPT said it would. He installed the right one with Gemini's guidance in about 1.5 hours total, saving about $120 on labour.

Agent

Gemini, ChatGPT

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

Run this task now, exactly as written below. Everything you need is here, so start straight away and only stop if something required is missing or a rule below tells you to.

Goal: Diagnose my washing machine and order a replacement part that definitely fits.

Fill in before running:
- Brand and full model number from the label: [MODEL]
- Symptom: [e.g. not taking in water]
- Country/store I'll buy from: [STORE]

Safety first: if this involves gas, the electrical panel or mains wiring, structural work, or anything that smells of burning or gas, stop and tell me to call a licensed professional.

Rules:
- Run me through checks that confirm the faulty part before buying.
- Match the replacement by the manufacturer part number, not just the machine name.
- Show me the part number on the listing next to my model's part number.
- Give fitting steps with water and power off.
- 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: Confirmed fault, a part listing with matching part number, and fitting steps.

You'll know it worked when: the part fits first time and the machine fills and runs.

Run this task now, exactly as written below. Everything you need is here, so start straight away and only stop if something required is missing or a rule below tells you to.

Goal: Diagnose my washing machine and order a replacement part that definitely fits.

Fill in before running:
- Brand and full model number from the label: [MODEL]
- Symptom: [e.g. not taking in water]
- Country/store I'll buy from: [STORE]

Safety first: if this involves gas, the electrical panel or mains wiring, structural work, or anything that smells of burning or gas, stop and tell me to call a licensed professional.

Rules:
- Run me through checks that confirm the faulty part before buying.
- Match the replacement by the manufacturer part number, not just the machine name.
- Show me the part number on the listing next to my model's part number.
- Give fitting steps with water and power off.
- 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: Confirmed fault, a part listing with matching part number, and fitting steps.

You'll know it worked when: the part fits first time and the machine fills and runs.

Run this task now, exactly as written below. Everything you need is here, so start straight away and only stop if something required is missing or a rule below tells you to.

Goal: Diagnose my washing machine and order a replacement part that definitely fits.

Fill in before running:
- Brand and full model number from the label: [MODEL]
- Symptom: [e.g. not taking in water]
- Country/store I'll buy from: [STORE]

Safety first: if this involves gas, the electrical panel or mains wiring, structural work, or anything that smells of burning or gas, stop and tell me to call a licensed professional.

Rules:
- Run me through checks that confirm the faulty part before buying.
- Match the replacement by the manufacturer part number, not just the machine name.
- Show me the part number on the listing next to my model's part number.
- Give fitting steps with water and power off.
- 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.
- Before I buy, compare the listing's part number and photo with my old part.

Output: Confirmed fault, a part listing with matching part number, and fitting steps.

You'll know it worked when: the part fits first time and the machine fills and runs.

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/mateusz-nowotka-34aa1018a_gemini-chatgpt-ai-activity-7427437526329479168-KG3W