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Diagnose a noisy toilet from a tank photo with ChatGPT (wrong fix)
FailureEvidence: Described by posterPosted Last checked
ChatGPT told Tom Bragg to fix a broken Kohler toilet part with a cable tie; it was wrong, and the real fix was a Kohler AquaPiston.
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- Tap Copy prompt.
- Open ChatGPT.
- Paste it into the message box.
- Send it, then read the answer before acting on it.
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Prompt
These are the person's own words, as shared in the source.
My toilet makes a funny noise when flushing. I think it's a Kohler. There's a mechanism inside the tank that looks like it has come apart. Here's a photo of the inside of the tank, can you diagnose the problem and recommend a repair?
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Optional stronger version
Our rewrite with extra checks. The poster didn't test it.
Before you start, ask me 1–3 short questions about the details below and wait for my answers. Once I've answered, confirm the plan in one line and run the whole task start to finish. Goal: Identify what is wrong inside my toilet tank and the correct replacement part, not a temporary patch. Questions to ask me first: - What brand and model is the toilet, if it's printed inside the tank or lid? - What does the noise sound like, and when does it happen? - Can you send a clear photo of the whole flush mechanism and any part numbers? Inputs (fill in or confirm): - Brand and model: [BRAND / MODEL NUMBER] - Photo of the tank interior: [PHOTO] - Symptom: [NOISE / RUNNING / WEAK FLUSH] - Part numbers visible: [NUMBERS OR 'NONE'] Rules: - Name the flush system type first (flapper, canister, piston or other) and say how sure you are. - Prefer the manufacturer's replacement part over a generic fix. - Don't suggest cable ties, glue or clips as a repair unless I ask for a temporary patch. - Tell me how to shut off the water before I touch anything. Checkpoint: Tell me which flush system you think it is and why, and wait for me to confirm before suggesting parts. If you get stuck: If the photo isn't clear enough to identify the part, say so and tell me exactly what to photograph or which number to look for. Verify before you finish: Check that the part you name matches my brand and model and say where to confirm it (the maker's parts page or a plumbing store). Output: The likely problem, the exact part to buy, and short repair steps. Done when: I know which part to order and how to swap it.
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Your prompt
Before you start, ask me 1–3 short questions about the details below and wait for my answers. Once I've answered, confirm the plan in one line and run the whole task start to finish. Goal: Identify what is wrong inside my toilet tank and the correct replacement part, not a temporary patch. Questions to ask me first: - What brand and model is the toilet, if it's printed inside the tank or lid? - What does the noise sound like, and when does it happen? - Can you send a clear photo of the whole flush mechanism and any part numbers? Inputs (fill in or confirm): - Brand and model: [BRAND / MODEL NUMBER] - Photo of the tank interior: [PHOTO] - Symptom: [NOISE / RUNNING / WEAK FLUSH] - Part numbers visible: [NUMBERS OR 'NONE'] Rules: - Name the flush system type first (flapper, canister, piston or other) and say how sure you are. - Prefer the manufacturer's replacement part over a generic fix. - Don't suggest cable ties, glue or clips as a repair unless I ask for a temporary patch. - Tell me how to shut off the water before I touch anything. Checkpoint: Tell me which flush system you think it is and why, and wait for me to confirm before suggesting parts. If you get stuck: If the photo isn't clear enough to identify the part, say so and tell me exactly what to photograph or which number to look for. Verify before you finish: Check that the part you name matches my brand and model and say where to confirm it (the maker's parts page or a plumbing store). Output: The likely problem, the exact part to buy, and short repair steps. Done when: I know which part to order and how to swap it.
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AI tool
Outcome
Tom Bragg's toilet made a funny noise when flushing, and a mechanism inside the tank looked like it had come apart. Bragg sent ChatGPT a photo of the inside of the tank and asked for a diagnosis and a repair. ChatGPT suggested holding the loose part together with a cable tie or a generic clip. That wasn't the real problem: the toilet's Kohler AquaPiston flush valve was broken, and the fix was the genuine Kohler replacement part and tower, which Bragg ordered. Bragg's takeaway was that the AI's confident patch would not have fixed the toilet.
Evidence: Described by posterThe person describes what happened in words, without screenshots or video.
Known limitations
FailureThe source says the AI did not get the job done.
What went wrong: ChatGPT suggested a cable tie or generic clip; the real problem was a broken Kohler AquaPiston that needed the brand's replacement part.
Source
- Posted
- by Tom Bragg (LinkedIn)
- Last checked
- Method:
- How we verify
Context: Original prompt: quoted in the LinkedIn post. The date comes from the post's activity ID.
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