A few weeks ago, my wife had a minor accident (dodging a deer in the road) and knocked the side-view mirror off my truck. No one was hurt, and the damage looked simple enough. I figured I would just replace the mirror, try to buff out the scratches, and move on.
The next morning, the check-engine light came on. And as I started the truck, I noticed the air conditioning had stopped working. I wasn’t sure if the two issues were connected, but it seemed like more than a coincidence.
I plugged in a consumer OBD-II diagnostic tool to check for any trouble codes. It returned a code: P0073. The tool said it was related to an air temperature sensor. That didn’t mean much to me, and when I took the truck to a mechanic, they said they would investigate and try to figure out the problem. I figured even if they didn’t find an answer, the labor itself would cost around $200.
While I sat in the shop waiting room, I started searching for answers. I Googled the error code, hoping to find out what it meant and how serious it might be. I got dozens of results. Automotive forums, blog posts, YouTube videos, and some not-so-helpful articles. Most of the results pointed to wiring problems or sensor failures buried deep under the hood.
Then I decided to try something else. I opened Perplexity, a relatively new AI-powered search tool that is gaining attention as a smarter alternative to traditional search engines. I typed in the error code.
Within seconds, Perplexity gave me a clear answer. It found that many vehicles have their air temperature sensor built into the side-view mirror. If the mirror is damaged or missing, the sensor cannot report back to the system. That causes the check-engine light to come on and can also disable the air conditioning to prevent damage.
It wasn’t in a link to a website; it was clearly included in the one or two-page summary of what Perplexity found after searching websites, Ford manuals, and Reddit communities.
I showed the result to the mechanic. He was surprised but agreed it made perfect sense. Rather than spend time chasing a non-existent wiring issue, we decided to hold off on any repairs until the mirror was replaced. That decision saved the shop time and saved me about $200 in labor.
Google gave me lots of information, but not much clarity. Perplexity gave me one clear answer in less time. It is no surprise that companies like Apple and Meta have shown interest in buying it. Perplexity is not just a different way to search. It is a better one.
If you have ever searched Google for help and ended up more confused, Perplexity might be worth a try. It just might save you time, money, and a whole lot of frustration.
