Replace a car sensor with Grok's help (it pointed the wrong way for 40 minutes)

Posted

Oct 11, 2026 by @nonphysical9

·

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 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.

Agent

Grok

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: Show me exactly where a part is on my car and how to replace it, with sources I can check.

Fill in before running:
- Make, model, year, engine: [DETAILS]
- Part to replace and its code: [PART]
- Tools I have: [LIST]

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:
- Point to a source (repair manual, parts diagram, or a video for this exact model) for the part's location.
- If you're not sure of the location on my engine, say so instead of guessing.
- Give the steps and torque specs only if a source confirms them.
- Tell me what to check after replacing it.
- 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: Part location with a source link, steps, and post-repair checks.

You'll know it worked when: I find the part within minutes and the light stays off after the swap.

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: Show me exactly where a part is on my car and how to replace it, with sources I can check.

Fill in before running:
- Make, model, year, engine: [DETAILS]
- Part to replace and its code: [PART]
- Tools I have: [LIST]

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:
- Point to a source (repair manual, parts diagram, or a video for this exact model) for the part's location.
- If you're not sure of the location on my engine, say so instead of guessing.
- Give the steps and torque specs only if a source confirms them.
- Tell me what to check after replacing it.
- 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: Part location with a source link, steps, and post-repair checks.

You'll know it worked when: I find the part within minutes and the light stays off after the swap.

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: Show me exactly where a part is on my car and how to replace it, with sources I can check.

Fill in before running:
- Make, model, year, engine: [DETAILS]
- Part to replace and its code: [PART]
- Tools I have: [LIST]

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:
- Point to a source (repair manual, parts diagram, or a video for this exact model) for the part's location.
- If you're not sure of the location on my engine, say so instead of guessing.
- Give the steps and torque specs only if a source confirms them.
- Tell me what to check after replacing it.
- 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.
- If I tell you the part isn't where you said, stop and search for a diagram for my exact engine before trying again.

Output: Part location with a source link, steps, and post-repair checks.

You'll know it worked when: I find the part within minutes and the light stays off after the swap.

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/nonphysical9/status/2109145101637435794