[Shop-talk] New engine for a Honda? RESOLUTION

[Jimmie Mayfield]

ChatGPT and Gemini and Claude are useful tools.  But I've run into a 
couple situations where AI answers, Gemini's in particular, were 
complete fabrications.  Most recently, I'd asked Gemini to summarize the 
backstory for an online novel that I've been reading.  Gemini's answers 
were completely believable and, in some cases, completely false. 
Descriptions of events that never occurred and events that did occur but 
involved different characters.  (It was fascinating how the answers wove 
a cohesive picture that wound up at the same place as the original novel 
but took a different path to get there.)

Trust but verify is the name of the game.


On 12/18/25 18:25, Jim Stone wrote:
> I thought I would resurrect Moose’s discussion to share a recent 
> article from Haggerty on the use of AI to diagnose vehicle problems. 
>  In a nutshell, their experience mirrors Moose’s and suggests we might 
> all want to add ChatGTP into our toolboxes.
>
> hagerty.com 
> <https://www.hagerty.com/media/maintenance-and-tech/tested-is-ai-your-next-classic-car-mechanic/?utm_source=SFMC&utm_medium=email&utm_content=MED_UN_NA_EML_UN_UN_WeekendRoadTrip&hashed_email=c8a202749fb3ee180da46bc01753dfea37cacafc792579d503edc6e326ce4e4e&dtm_em=c8a202749fb3ee180da46bc01753dfea37cacafc792579d503edc6e326ce4e4e>
> 	<https://www.hagerty.com/media/maintenance-and-tech/tested-is-ai-your-next-classic-car-mechanic/?utm_source=SFMC&utm_medium=email&utm_content=MED_UN_NA_EML_UN_UN_WeekendRoadTrip&hashed_email=c8a202749fb3ee180da46bc01753dfea37cacafc792579d503edc6e326ce4e4e&dtm_em=c8a202749fb3ee180da46bc01753dfea37cacafc792579d503edc6e326ce4e4e>
>
> <https://www.hagerty.com/media/maintenance-and-tech/tested-is-ai-your-next-classic-car-mechanic/?utm_source=SFMC&utm_medium=email&utm_content=MED_UN_NA_EML_UN_UN_WeekendRoadTrip&hashed_email=c8a202749fb3ee180da46bc01753dfea37cacafc792579d503edc6e326ce4e4e&dtm_em=c8a202749fb3ee180da46bc01753dfea37cacafc792579d503edc6e326ce4e4e>
>
>
>> On Nov 21, 2025, at 6:42 PM, Moose <eric at megageek.com> wrote:
>>
>> Well gurus, I fixed the Honda and I'm almost embarrassed to say it.
>>
>> First, I checked the intake for oil thinking that would show me if it 
>> was a pcv valve that failed.  It was clean.
>>
>> HOWEVER, I didn't realize the best way to check them is to just pull 
>> them out and replace them. (It was $4.50 and $8 for the grommet.) 
>>  Actually, if you pull them out and shake them, you should hear it 
>> rattle.
>>
>> Well, I replaced it. And no more oil leak!!!!!  I also borescoped the 
>> cylinders (all were near perfect) and replaced the spark plugs while 
>> I was there.  Car runs much smoother now as a result!
>>
>> So, who was the winner that told me this...
>>
>> AI.  That is right, I put the question to ChatGPT and that was the 
>> first thing it told me to try.  It gave me a nice list of things to 
>> try in order.
>>
>> Since I figured, I was on a roll, I pushed on.  One of the problems 
>> with the car that we never had the 'radio security code' and after a 
>> battery replacement, the radio was locked.
>>
>> So I found a link to a Honda site where you can recover the codes, 
>> but it required the S/N of the radio (and car VIN.)  No problem I 
>> figured.  Taking the radio out was 2 clips and 3 screws to get the 
>> dash off of it.  HOWEVER, there was a surprise hidden for 'non-Honda' 
>> mechanics that may try to do this.  The button for the hazard lights 
>> has an electrical connector attached to it.  Like all automotive 
>> connectors, it requires a magic spell, 2 incantations, and a bit of 
>> unicorn farts to disconnect it (Seriously, why can't they standardize 
>> electrical connectors?)
>> Anyway, when you get it apart, the spring that returns the hazard 
>> light button is held in-between the switch and the connector.  So 
>> guess where this spring shoots one you disconnect the plug.  That's 
>> right, straight into the depths of the dash board.  CRUD!
>>
>> Luckily, I found a spring that worked in my 'springs and things' draw 
>> and was able to get it all back together. So the car now has a radio 
>> as well.
>>
>> In the end, I'm a happy man and the SO thinks I can walk on water. 
>>  Don't worry, I'm sure I'll screw up soon enough to dispel that 
>> image.  8>)
>>
>> Moose_______________________________________________
>>
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>
>
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