Use of ChatGpt for diagnostics?

[Vonkie]

I have not been on this forum for yonks, and apologise if this topic is traversed somewhere and I have not seen it. I did try to see if it was a topic and could not really find anything on it here.

I have a few classics, including a 1963 Series 1 E Type, and my mechanical knowledge and skills are on the low side of the spectrum - especially among typical club members or enthusiasts. So, although I have learnt a lot book-wise since I acquired my cars late in life, and have built up a pretty decent knowledge-base on things like what is and what is not original in a Series 1 E Type, I am still pretty unhandy with my cars and rely largely on others.

Forums like these have over the years been of enormous help (although I have been off them for a year or more lately). Even if only to sanity-check what my mechanics may be telling me.

Lately, I have turned to ChatGPT for diagnostics with very different problems on three very different cars (two of them are pre-war), and the level of assistance and accuracy I get appears impressive. I know, however, how badly it can get things wrong when it is talking in areas where I feel more knowledgeable.

To what extent have people on this forum had recourse to ChatGPT for diagnostics? Cannot hurt to second guess the mechanics this way, at least for other possibilities, right?

[mgcjag]

Why not just ask here and get proper help/advice....or take your chance and ask AI....good luck....Steve

[Gfhug]

Why not just ask here and get proper help/advice

The best place for E Type knowledge, help and advice is here! The search facility, properly used, is very good, too.

Geoff

[Vonkie]

Too true - and here has been wonderful over the years.

But my current issues are with three other cars, and the forums are not always as helpful as this one. I was just wondering on general thoughts about using ChatGPT for this kind of thing.

[mgcjag]

There is a lot of nonsense on the Internet AI is just quickly pulling together all the info for the questions you ask...including the nonsense.....as you aware treat it with caution or it could cost you......Steve

[johnetype]

The cautionary warnings are justified up to a point but also the Luddites are out in force on the use of AI.

AI is basically searching and scraping information for you across the internet and then aggregating it. When your source(s) are likely to be limited such as for a car like an E type then as suggested above you're better off using the forum search function and then honing down on a specific question to real people on here.

However, based on my personal experience and starting originally from the same Luddite view, what I've found in reality for more modern cars where there's a multitude of sources of information an AI tool can effectively search across a far wider information set than I could possibly hope to and I've had several significant successes which I'd never have achieved in the old world. I've never had rubbish back, just blandness that doesn't help but it's easy to rephrase your input to try and get a more sensible answer.

Has it made the earth move for me - no. Is it a useful (free) extra that uncovers previously unknown information - undoubtably.

[angelw]

Frank Wrote:

To what extent have people on this forum had recourse to ChatGPT for diagnostics? Cannot hurt to second guess the mechanics this way, at least for other possibilities, right?

Hello Frank,
Just for giggles, I put AI to task on a few common jobs encountered with an E Type, and it was just so wrong; one being to remove and replace the gearbox. I suspect that an unknowing New Chum would have been so frustrated by the step by step instruction, that they would sell the car. No need to remove the engine, just unbolt gearbox from Bell Housing, leaving the Bell Housing intact on the engine.

Regards,

Bill

[malcolm]

I'm not too dismissive. I've used AI for info on my boating requirements and It's been very good. I did ask it how to adjust an over rich engine on a series 2 E Type and the answer wasn't bad - this is what it said

"Engine Condition: Ensure carbs are clean, floats are set, jets are centered, and air valves move freely; issues here prevent proper tuning.
Tools: A large tachometer, Carb Synchronizer (flow meter), Colortune (optional), and potentially jet centering tool.
Steps for Richness Adjustment (SU Carburetors):
Initial Setup: Set jet height so the jet is flush with the bridge (carb body) initially, then screw the jet down (richer) by 2-3 turns for starting.
Balance: Set the slow running screws for equal airflow or RPM across all carbs (use a flow meter).
Mixture Tuning (One Carb at a Time):
Check Exhaust: Feel the exhaust pipes behind each cylinder; if one is too hot, that carb is too rich.
Lean Out: Turn the mixture screw (on the carb body) slightly in (leaner) in small increments (e.g., 1/4 turn) until the idle smooths or RPM peaks.
Richen Slightly: Go slightly richer (out) from that point for best performance, typically until the exhaust note is even.
Throttle Lift Test: Briefly lift the air piston (remove air cleaner/bell) at idle. If it dies immediately (lean), if it struggles and dies (rich/OK), if it hesitates (rich).
Repeat: Do this for each carb, checking balance and exhaust temperatures as you go.
This video demonstrates the initial setup and jet leveling process for SU carburetors:"

At least it knows roughly what I'm asking! And the advice wouldn't make you do anything horrific

[Philk]

I definitely would not be "feeling" the exhaust behind each cylinder!! Not without a visit to the burns unit afterwards!