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Can ChatGPT Diagnose this Car? | Chevy Trax P0171, P1101, P0420



Let’s see if an “intelligent” large language model can correctly diagnose a broken 2015 Chevy Trax with a 1.4L turbo. Send us a …

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48 thoughts on “Can ChatGPT Diagnose this Car? | Chevy Trax P0171, P1101, P0420”

  1. Chatgpt gave you general knowledge, because chatgpt is intentionally designed for this behavior.

    If you want AI to be car mechanics tool, you need to design a system for that purpose. ChatGPT (or any other LLM) would be just one part of the system.

  2. I am a computer programmer and I asked ChatGPT to wrote some code for my business.
    So far, it has failed. The code it writes will not run and throws errors. Mind you, I did not ask it to write a full blown app. I started with something very simple. However, based on what I saw, I do think that in few years, it will be able to do it and then hundreds of thousands of business programmers will be out of s job. Same for network and system "engineers".
    Glad I am too old to care. If I was in my 30s and in this field, I would be looking to switch to something else.

  3. I once considered becoming an auto mechanic. Dodged a bullet on that one. I may reconsider when I can just talk in the hot-tub, and AI fixes everything to better than new while fetching drinks. By then I'll probably be a child math prodigy.

  4. Unless cars become totally electronic with everything having a sensor there’s no way a computer can diagnose a car. Ai isn’t real life it can’t see, feel hear or touch how is it gunna diagnose anything

  5. This Video is a about a weird misunderstanding of what ChatGPT is and what it can do.

    ChatGPT is a generic LLM. It can´t diagnose car issues, it is not build with this task in mind nor trained for it.

    It is like taking a hammer and then complaining that it does not work properly to paint your house with.

    i bet within the next 12 month we will get "CarGPT 1.0" that will outperform 98% of all car mechanics by a huge margin and CarGPT 2.0 will beat 99.99% of the "experts" in terms of efficiency and effectiveness.

    Yes, the expert for Chevy Trax might have a slide advantage in terms of experience with the specific car – but CarGPT will be trained from interactions with thousands of cars and after a couple of years it will have recorded every type of mistake, will have an insane amount of training material – much more than any human can every acquire in a lifetime.

  6. Good video
    I'm a high school auto shop teacher
    I have played with Chat GDP
    I have ask my students to use Chat GDP to answer some of my assignment questions and other students to read our textbook.
    The Chat GDP students only achieved a 60% percentage and those that used the textbook achieved 90%.
    I don't think it plays a major role in our trades. I don't think it's any different than Google for technical problems

  7. I had some of these come up with a failing turbo on my sonic. Probably the least reliable car I ever owned. Went through 3 of those things by 100,000 miles I got rid of once the warranty ran out. I believe also with a broken pcv and a bad intake manifold also. They came up.

  8. MAF reading at idle "equal to engine displacemet in litres" but with grams/second unit, probably applies to non-turbocharged engines. Turbo engines will ingest more air per second because the turbo increases the effective displacement.

  9. If you had asked Chat GPT for more details about the steps of each inspection, and which of these inspections to try first, it would have told you.

  10. looks real good Mr. Wes, ship it, but this IS how you fix it… BUY A NEW VEHICLE… throw that absolute junk POS out! …you're HILARIOUS AF! certain mechanics truly do understand other mechanics, you would know exactly what I mean NOW!

  11. I tried to prompt it to give me the best steps to diagnose this issue based on the codes to minimise time and money spent on diagnosis and it basically gave me similar steps. I think because replacing the Cat is expensive and time consuming so it had some sense of that as a last resort. Which isnt totally irrational. 🤷‍♀️

    This is the output I got:

    The combination of error codes you provided for your Chevy Trax can indicate a few potential issues. Here are the most likely causes and the steps you can take to diagnose and minimize the time and budget spent:

    1. P0171 – System Too Lean: This code indicates that the engine is receiving too much air relative to the fuel, resulting in a lean air/fuel mixture. The most common causes for this code are a faulty Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensor, a vacuum leak, or a clogged fuel injector.

    – Start by inspecting the air intake system for any leaks or loose connections. Check the intake hoses, clamps, and the air filter box.
    – If there are no visible leaks, the next step is to clean or replace the MAF sensor. It's located between the air filter and the throttle body.
    – If the issue persists, you may need to have the fuel injectors professionally cleaned or inspected for clogs or malfunctions.

    2. P1101 – Intake Air Flow System Performance: This code typically indicates a problem with the Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensor or the Throttle Position Sensor (TPS).

    – Since you already checked the MAF sensor while diagnosing P0171, verify that the sensor is properly connected and clean. If necessary, clean or replace the sensor.
    – Additionally, inspect the wiring and connectors related to the MAF sensor and the TPS for any signs of damage or corrosion.

    3. P0420 – Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold (Bank 1): This code suggests a problem with the catalytic converter or the oxygen (O2) sensors. The catalyst's role is to reduce emissions by converting harmful gases into less harmful ones.

    – Before jumping to conclusions about a faulty catalytic converter, check the O2 sensors first. There are usually one or two sensors located before and after the catalytic converter.
    – Inspect the wiring and connections for these O2 sensors, ensuring they are in good condition.
    – If the sensors are functioning correctly, then a failing catalytic converter may be the issue. Consult a professional mechanic for further diagnosis and potential replacement.

    By following these steps, you can cover the most common causes for the combination of error codes you mentioned. Remember to proceed with caution and consult a qualified mechanic if you're unsure about any steps or if the issue persists.

  12. We’re forced to push the evolution of AI because other countries like China and Russia are doing it regardless of what we do. AI is an arms race, whoever gets the most powerful one first, wins. But the cost to civilization will be harsh.

  13. Youd figure Chat GPT would know common issues with the Trax and the service bulletins on it. In the future I’m sure the Ai could narrow it down a little better. It’s probably just playing it safe and generic in its current stage.

  14. I tried chatgpt with a relatively simple diagnosis. None of the suggestions it gave me were anywhere near correct. I had to lead it to the correct answer and it took several additional steps.

  15. IN the year 2100 AI will have finally taken our jobs. In the meantime, I think they will be great sources of information. The present burden of AI is that it doesn’t get more current and smarter fast enough. It will take a lot of the tedious jobs that nobody wants to do anymore. Those will be the first to go. But in the near future your job is safe. The dog too.

  16. I always tell all my friends to just treat an AI like an really young apprentice or junior role. It's kinda dumb, and it makes mistakes all the time, but it's spunky and willing to write as much as you ask it to. Obviously it's not going to turn any bolts unless you connect it to hundred grand robot, and spend a million on programmers, but it can handle a lot of paperwork, and emails, and extract business information that may be relevant to you. It's that standard meme; AI isn't going to take your job, the guy using AI will.

  17. You’re mixing up the ability to make conversation with the knowledge !
    It can emulate the way a doctor speaks to a patient, but that doesn’t mean it possesses ANY medical knowledge whatsoever… it will use pieces from conversations about the car issues you present, but then it’s mixing it all together. Good luck with that….

  18. The Trax is a rebadged Opel Mokka. But Lord knows where they are cobbled together.
    The Mokka and the Trax are both god awful cars. That funky PCV problem, coolant loss from the reservoir, coolant supply line to turbo charger leaks, VVT adjusters leaking oil, handbrake cable frozen and ripped, horrible squealing noise when reversing (fixed by adding wheel weights to the heat shield of the rear brakes).

    And those are just the common ones.

    My theory is that in peak GM Opel fashion the car was rushed as cheap as possible as its based on the corsa which is a compact car.

  19. 8:20 it actually does know.

    Chatgpt is trained on a LARGE amount of data from the internet, that includes cars and common problems.

    If multiple data sources on the internet have the problem recorded, chatgpt has also learned that it is a common problem.

  20. Imagine if they trained an AI with all the service manuals and procedures and any comments from mechanics in relation to those manuals.

  21. In reality OBD2 is already an AI protocol somewhat and with canbus communication a lot of the error codes are readable and diagnosable.

    Those errors scream of LSPI and the wrong oil being used – these 1.4 engines like the right Dexos type oil – otherwise you end up having piston issues.

    Probably up for a rebuild – but yes typical holden garbage 😂

    I had an exhaust leak repaired on my 1.4 engine which was fixed under warranty.

  22. These AI like cchat GPT and Google BARD are dependent on excellent thoughtful prompts. It may very well know this is a common problem., it may know those codes are related, and its probably knows GM has a service bulletin about the issues as all of this is on the internet where it samples its base knowledge from…you just need to prompt it. ChatGPT in conversational…

  23. Is the problem what you or we get from chatgp is far from real knowledge. Normal user very limited in chatgp. But still very powerful in some area. I'm a hobby programmer,learned things from boulding own cnc,3d printer before chatgp and my native language is Hungarian. But with the chatgp and Fushion 360 I was able to write a full working code and make a irobot970 replica. Told me wich parts I have to buy,also gave me links to parts like aliexpress. Of course 90% of the link wasnt working,but still can see the item or part name.First was like a Frankenstein but by time I made my own PCB board etc so could fit everything nicely.

  24. Hey Wes, I've been following your channel for a while now and I always appreciate your honest and informative content.

    To your point on AI like ChatGPT and its implications, you're right to an extent – AI won't be holding a wrench anytime soon. However, the reality is a little more nuanced than just physical labor. In fact, AIs are increasingly complementing humans in many professional fields, and not just those traditionally considered 'intellectual'.

    The role AI plays could be better seen as a powerful tool that assists us, much like how a mechanic uses a set of tools to fix a car. Imagine a world where an AI can diagnose a car issue based on its sounds, or predict potential problems before they become serious, all while explaining the process in an understandable language to the mechanic or car owner. This would not only make your job more efficient, but it could also help those who have less knowledge about cars understand the problem better.

    Moreover, as time goes on, AIs are expected to become more sophisticated, even capable of guiding someone through complex repair processes step-by-step, much like you do in your videos. While they may not physically turn a wrench, they might guide someone else's hands that can.

    Ultimately, it's not about replacing jobs, but augmenting them. AIs are here to enhance our capabilities, help us make informed decisions, and to democratize knowledge – not to take our jobs away. It's important for us all to understand the implications and adapt, in order to make the best use of these advancements.

    Keep up the great work, Wes. Love your content, and always looking forward to your next video!

  25. Cars are a lot like code. You start with a problem and look at everything linked hoping to get a new foothold. Then you trace that other issue until you find something wrong.
    In my case, the vacuum hose fell out of the clip and melted a hole while resting on the engine. I just taped the hell out of it with hose tape and clipped it in properly. Lasted the 5 years or so until I got rid of it. My only real redneck fix.

    Google actually lead me wrong. Reading forums and searching and whatnot made me think sensors could be bad, etc. For people who know nothing, AI could be a lot better than reading stuff online. I'd suggest trying again next time you find yourself stumped. Compare that with searching google.
    That is where I've found it useful as an experienced coder. I use it like a consultant. A smart person to bounce ideas off of.

    Cheers.

  26. ChatGPT is ok-ish. It's biased and it knows it. But, it's OK, just like Google was OK until Google monetized search results. When someone decided to buy the answers, we'll get the same garbage we get today, sadly.

  27. Wes, interesting that you mentioned the internet being a dumpster fire and GPT's best use case would be general internet searches. Microsoft's Bing search engine now has Chat which ties in nicely with web search, but it seems the bad habits of the "dumpster fire" follow it. When you try to use it, it says that you need Microsoft Edge for it to work, when in fact you can use any browser you like, just need to spoof the User Agent using an addon to make Bing think you're using Edge, and it's all well…

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