Learning to fix cars
that make no sense.
Can an ordinary car enthusiast learn to fix complex cars with AI as his copilot?
Modern diagnostic tools and AI changed what I thought I could take on myself. So I decided to see how far I could take it.
Then the technology
changed.
I’ve always loved cars, but taking on something genuinely complicated — diagnosing electrical faults, understanding complex vehicle systems or tackling major mechanical repairs — was something I never really had the confidence to attempt myself.
Then the technology changed. Modern diagnostic tools put information in my hands that once belonged almost exclusively in specialist workshops. And AI gives me something I’ve never had before: a copilot I can ask questions, research problems with, challenge ideas against and work through a diagnosis with step by step.
So I decided to find out how far I can take it.
More About This →I’m Rob. I’m not a mechanic. I’m learning as I go. I turn the spanners, take the measurements and make the decisions on the car. ChatGPT is my AI copilot — helping me understand the systems, research the problems and work out what to try next.
Sometimes we’ll get it right. Sometimes we’ll fit a part and discover it made absolutely no difference. Either way, you’ll see it.
That’s the experiment behind Kennedy Auto Sourcing: how far can an enthusiast go with the right tools, AI alongside him and a willingness to learn?
Three Things To Know
The Cars
The cars I’ve always wanted to get my hands on — particularly the complicated ones that can be difficult to justify owning long-term.
The Experiment
I do the work. ChatGPT helps me research and work through the problems. The car decides whether we’re right.
The Journey
Buying it, diagnosing it, getting things wrong, fixing it, driving it and eventually moving it on. I document the lot.
Where I’m Starting
Two big Mercedes V8s. Plenty to learn. No guaranteed outcomes.
Project 001 — Mercedes-Benz W221 S500
5.5-litre V8 · Electrical Diagnosis & Recommissioning
Follow This Project →Project 002 — Mercedes-Benz C216 CL500
5.5-litre V8 · Recommissioning & Restoration
Follow This Project →No guaranteed outcomes — that’s the point. Follow along as it happens.
Once I’m Done With
a Project
Once I’ve finished a project, experienced the car properly and I’m ready for the next challenge, this is where it’ll appear.
Nothing available right now? Have a look at the current projects to see what’s coming.
Following a Project?
Know something about a car I’m working on, or just want to talk cars? I’d be glad to hear from you.
Get in Touch →Projects, Diagnostics & Everything I’m Learning
Notes from the workshop as I go.
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