When Florida-based YouTuber Samcrac couldn’t get his C6 Corvette Z06 to run properly, he turned to an unlikely mechanic — ChatGPT. The popular content creator, known for reviving salvage and project cars on his YouTube channel, had bought the Z06 for just $16,000, but the deal quickly turned into a high-horsepower headache.
Despite rebuilding the engine with fresh components, the Corvette ran terribly. It stalled constantly, smelled of raw fuel, and required excessive throttle just to move. A faulty cam position sensor led Sam to tear into the engine, where he uncovered an array of troubling surprises: loose crank bolts, damaged oil pump gears, plastic debris, and even a hidden Apple AirTag tucked inside the car.
Still, the Z06 refused to run right. Out of options and eager to get the car roadworthy, Sam asked ChatGPT for help — specifically, to guide him through tuning the Corvette’s ECU using HP Tuners software. To his surprise, the AI tool provided step-by-step suggestions on how to review the fuel and airflow tables, modify idle and enrichment settings, and safely flash a revised tune file.
The results were immediate. Sam reported that the first AI-assisted tune dramatically improved drivability. The car idled smoothly, throttle response sharpened, and the overwhelming fuel smell disappeared. Later tuning revisions offered only minor refinements, leading him to wonder if further changes were even necessary.
While Sam plans to have a professional tuner perfect the setup, the experiment raised an intriguing question about the future of DIY automotive repair. If AI can help decode complex engine maps and guide owners through troubleshooting, it may soon become another indispensable tool in the enthusiast’s garage.
For now, Sam’s Corvette — once an undrivable mess — is running better than ever, thanks to an unlikely virtual wrench-turner named ChatGPT.
