The Unofficial "Ask a Stupid Question" Thread

Question, not computer savvy in the least. My current computer (lenevo thinkcentre m910) has about a terabyte of storage. Is it possible to run an additional external storage device through a USB port?? Also, I’m currently buying cheapy games off of steam ( pretty much a place to buy games) would I be able to download the games on thy external device that way my computer’s storage isn’t used up?IMG_0223.jpeg
 
Chingon1 said:
Question, not computer savvy in the least. My current computer (lenevo thinkcentre m910) has about a terabyte of storage. Is it possible to run an additional external storage device through a USB port?? Also, I’m currently buying cheapy games off of steam ( pretty much a place to buy games) would I be able to download the games on thy external device that way my computer’s storage isn’t used up?View attachment 17262
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Yes to both questions. On the Steam one though, you'd need to point Steam to tell it where to install the game once you've added that external storage device.
 
Troubleshooting question:
passenger side blinker is fast blinking, I smacked the twilight and it started working again
Opened it up and cleaned the socket some, reinstall and works. Then it doesn’t.
The weird thing: my cruise control has canceled a few times. This morning the blinker was working, cruise cancels then fast blink. :unsure: Cruise did not turn off b/c hitting resume set it right back, so its like the brake was pushed.
Any thoughts of where else to look. I’m going to clean that socket again tonight and look over the wiring.
 
Kidd-7 said:
Troubleshooting question:
passenger side blinker is fast blinking, I smacked the twilight and it started working again
Opened it up and cleaned the socket some, reinstall and works. Then it doesn’t.
The weird thing: my cruise control has canceled a few times. This morning the blinker was working, cruise cancels then fast blink. :unsure: Cruise did not turn off b/c hitting resume set it right back, so its like the brake was pushed.
Any thoughts of where else to look. I’m going to clean that socket again tonight and look over the wiring.
Click to expand...

When the turn/brake light filament of the taillight is out cruise will disable.

You’re certain it’s not the bulb?
 
While it fast blinks the taillight is not functional. The filament looks good and manipulating the socket everything works again. I guess it could be an intermittent connection internal to the bulb itself. This does point me to it just being the connector or the bulb and not further wiring issues.
 
XR7-4.6 said:
When the turn/brake light filament of the taillight is out cruise will disable.
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As long as there's  one functional bulb on the entire brake lights circuit, cruise control functions. In fact, since I have all LEDs, I have a single 194 bulb in a fitting in the trunk wired in with the center brake light, which keeps my cruise functional.

My suspicion is that the fault is somewhere in the wiring, potentially at the multifunction switch or BOO switch.
 
1997ThunderbirdLXV6 said:
As long as there's  one functional bulb on the entire brake lights circuit, cruise control functions. In fact, since I have all LEDs, I have a single 194 bulb in a fitting in the trunk wired in with the center brake light, which keeps my cruise functional.

My suspicion is that the fault is somewhere in the wiring, potentially at the multifunction switch or BOO switch.
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Gotta be the bearer of bad news huh?
 
CDsDontBurn said:
Yes to both questions. On the Steam one though, you'd need to point Steam to tell it where to install the game once you've added that external storage device.
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Thanks for the reply! I’m going to keep an eye out for a hard drive next.
 
Is there an easy way to change the aim on the windshield fluid sprayers (97 Bird)? Right now they send most of their spray up high and even onto the roof a bit.
 
Kidd-7 said:
Made it to work today with no fast blink and cruise held.
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Fast blink and cruise cancelled on the way home, I realized I didn’t take a good look at the connectors on the bulb last night. That’s my next step.

Do the taillight wires run in the bundle with the speaker wires along the passenger side?
 
Kidd-7 said:
Do the taillight wires run in the bundle with the speaker wires along the passenger side?
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I doubt it, though I'm not at my computer to verify at this moment.

In the trunk, the wires for lighting are on the driver side just below the fuel inertia shutoff switch; the connector for the CHMSL is on the driver side on the back of the rear seat. I think it all comes from the driver door sill area.

Since cruise is canceling, in my opinion, you need to find the fault somewhere  before the brake light wires are separating between left, center, and right.

And just to verify, your fast blinking is on both sides, correct?
 
Stanley said:
Is there an easy way to change the aim on the windshield fluid sprayers (97 Bird)? Right now they send most of their spray up high and even onto the roof a bit.
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I have used the needle part of a safety pin (metal needs to be just thick enough to not bend) and inserted it into the hole and moved it around to aim the spray.
 
1997ThunderbirdLXV6 said:
...that would contradict my theory. Sorry. I just don't see how a single light out or wiring to a single light would cancel cruise control.
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FWIW I had to use TWO dummy 194s to get mine to work, the cruise modules might vary in what current they expect for some reason
 
Kidd-7 said:
Only LEDs are in the 3rd brake light and those have been in there for a while.
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Ha!

Now that explains a few things.

The cruise module needs at least one functional bulb. It sends a small current through the brake light circuit. Since your center light cannot function for that purpose, that leaves your left and right brake lights.

If one of those isn't functioning, that leaves the respective other. But...anytime you use the turn signal, the respective bulb is taken off the brake light circuit and onto the turn signal circuit by the multifunction switch.

So, if your rear right brake lamp is out, your cruise control will still function until...wait for it...you use your  left turn signal, because the left bulb was the last bulb on the brake light circuit.

Next time cruise cancels, check if it happens when you signal left!


Meanwhile, since your bulb isn't the problem, that leaves us with all the wiring between the multifunction switch and the right rear brake light. Since it's intermittent, it'll be tough to find...
 
Don’t remember if I added that the brake light is out when this happens also. So it really acts like the bulb is bad, but it’s not…
 
Kidd-7 said:
Don’t remember if I added that the brake light is out when this happens also. So it really acts like the bulb is bad, but it’s not…
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We're talking about the right brake light only, correct.

That's consistent with what I was saying. It's a single connection from the multifunction switch to the light for brake and turn.
 
Here's what I suggest:

Next time it happens, pull to the side of the road gently. Put on hazard flashers. Get out gently. Don't slam the door. Open the trunk gently. Start wiggling the wiring starting from the lamp and working along the wiring until the lamp comes on.
 
1997ThunderbirdLXV6 said:
As long as there's  one functional bulb on the entire brake lights circuit, cruise control functions. In fact, since I have all LEDs, I have a single 194 bulb in a fitting in the trunk wired in with the center brake light, which keeps my cruise functional.

My suspicion is that the fault is somewhere in the wiring, potentially at the multifunction switch or BOO switch.
Click to expand...
My experience is the multifunction switch gets a little corrosion on it. Try depressing the Em. Flasher button on top of steering column a couple times as that power goes thru brake switch to tail lamps too. Had intermittent issues like that w/ my '04 Excursion and the dealer couldn't Replicate and as he backed out of service bay I pointed it was not working and he unplugged the connector and back in and it has worked for a long time now.
 
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