It was a first for the mechanic. A customer printed off Google’s AI Overview answer to their car repair query. They stuck it prominently in front of the vehicle’s infotainment screen. The driver even highlighted a section of the print-off. 

The technician posted a photo of the paper message on Reddit’s r/Justrolledintotheshop sub. Having worked in a shop for many years, I’d figure the driver’s attempt at clear communication would get totally ripped apart. After all, I’d heard my share of “I Googled it, and a forum said it was…” only for the mechanic to diagnose and repair something different. But I was wrong.

Google AI Overview helps drivers make vehicle inspection suggestions to their mechanic

The driver seemed concerned about their car’s serpentine belt and associated components. It’s possible they’d heard squealing or rotating, grinding noises coming from the engine bay.

In any case, they’d decided to print the Google AI Overview response:

“To instruct your mechanic to check your belt accessories (like the serpentine belt, tensioner, and pulleys), tell them to ‘Please thoroughly inspect the condition of the serpentine belt and all associated accessories, including the tensioner, idler pulleys, and any other pulleys it engages, for signs of wear, cracks, or damage.”

Let the roast begin, right? Nope.

The top response, with 6,400 likes, told it straight:

“Ya know what? At the rate my service writer forgets to tell me pertinent information because “I’ll figure it out and I don’t really have time to type that all out”, I’m totally fine with that. Check the belts. Done.”

After that, it’s pretty much support for the clearly written request

“better than some gibberish on the back of a napkin i guess.”

“To be quite honest, this seemed very clear. I mean, you may want to talk to them and make sure they understand how much that’s gonna cost but otherwise I would just find this convenient.”

Another told his piece from a customer standpoint:

“Hey now, I gave the guys at my local shop multiple chances, four times in a month, where they had my car for a total of fourteen days when the new battery in my car just kept dying after they had installed it. Their recommended fix was me paying for them to install a kill switch going from the battery to the interior of my car, where it would ensure there wasn’t a way for it to be drained after they couldn’t find the cause. I looked online, saw it was most likely from the secondary battery needing to be replaced and asked if they could try that first. They reluctantly agreed, did it, and learned what I had read online was right while I saved a few grand by only having to buy a new battery.”

Sure, there were a couple naysayers to the use of AI to relay car problems to your mechanic. “We’re doomed,” one remarked. “It’s all computer,” another added.

Now, as a former service advisor, I’ll say that the Google AI Overview recommendation really isn’t bad at all. It even has “Please” thrown in. Now, I did take it upon myself to get as much information about symptoms as possible over to the attending mechanic. 

To me, the AI Overview note is just missing what actually triggered the Googling. Combine that information with the note, and you’ve got a pretty good inspection target for the mechanic.