Latestarter's ramblings/musings/gripes and grumbles.

[Latestarter]

Radar is clear but it's been a steady mist since I got up. Can barely feel it hitting you but stand there and you get wet. Got more rain after my post last night. Another wet, gray day. GB, I know you're a ways from civilization, but can't you go get her some new wipers? Or can't she pick some up while she's out?

 

[Wehner Homestead]

I was going to say...GB you know better than to say that without an explanation!

 

[Latestarter]

I'm watching the football games and look out the window and April is over at RJ's fence flagging away at him and he's trying his darndest to figure out how to mount her through the fence. I felt sorry for them both so put on my new slipons and went out and caught her, then put her in the buck pen. He mounted her immediately and she stood for him and arched when done (& here I though I might be too fast... ) Only lasted like 5 seconds. He's still following her around in there with his face up her butt. I'll leave her there till dinner time then release her to be back with the girls. So I'm guessing first doe done! Think I'll start a kidding thread this year too. She should be due on or about March 13th. Exactly the time frame I wanted to start kidding! So now watch and we'll have a danged winter storm right at that time too.

 

[greybeard]

GB, I know you're a ways from civilization, but can't you go get her some new wipers? Or can't she pick some up while she's out?

A bit more complicated (and expensive) than that.
For whatever reason (this is the explanation she gave me) she went to turn the wipers off one night last week and turned the knob on the end of the turn signal stalk the wrong way, forcing it past it's stop...don't ask me why she did this after using those wipers for the last 5 years.. This caused the knob on the end of the stalk to jump out of it's 2 engagement "vees" inside the turn sig stalk, right at the edge of the steering column and the knob then just turned with no resistance. She then (she was sitting in a parking lot in town) decided to see if she could pull the knob off the turn signal stalk and put it back in the correct index............she was able to get the end off, but.................here's where the expensive part comes in............there is a thin and narrow ribbon cable that runs from the switches on the end of the stalk (washer and delay) down into the steering column "somewhere" and pulling the end off broke that ribbon cable. That cable runs to either the washer and delay modules or, to the Body Control Module (BCM) and the 2 aforementioned modules are actually inside the BCM as part of a circuit board, and not actual individual components that can be replaced. The schematic is a bit hard to understand.

A few years ago, NTSB mandated that an electric failure of US automobile wiper control had to result in a default to "on and low' speed any time the key is inserted and in the run position, so now the wipers will not turn off until the ignition is switched off and key removed.

Temporarily, in order for her to be able to drive in clear weather without the wipers running, I had to remove both wiper arms from their pedestals at the windshield cowl, as the fuse for the wiper motor also controls other 'need to have' functions.

This, ain't gonna be cheap or easy to fix and will most likely need to go to the dealership.

 

[Latestarter]

oh... ouch... so sorry. That more or less sucks. Sounds like nothing you'd be able to fix yourself either...

 

[greybeard]

No, not something I would try with my poor eyesight nowadays, tho I do know how to get around it and still have wipers (but no washer) and wipers would turn off but operate only on low speed. The control runs from the wiper module to a wiper relay under the cowl and it uses real wires between the relay and the wiper motor. I 'could' cut the low speed wire, splice in a jumper back thru the firewall into the people compartment and put a simple on/off switch in, then put the cowl cover back on, re-install the wiper arms and she would have wiper on off functionality..at least until next vehicle inspection comes around in April.

There was a time tho, I'd haul out the little soldering gun and forceps and splice that ribbon cable back together. Now, not so much.
Poor picture, but you get the idea..The end of the stalk with the wiper controls are in the foreground and arrow is pointing to the ribbon where it exits the stalk and proceeds to points unknown

 

[Mike CHS]

Just caught the tail end of the Bengals and Pittsburgs game and was glad I caught that one.

 

[Latestarter]

Really had hoped the bengals could win that... They don't have a history of doing so and that history is now another game longer. A few games went other than expected/wanted (by me anyway). Jets win was a surprise. Browns loss was a shame. Texans lucked out with 2 interceptions at the end. Miami surprised me. Really thought the bears were better than they played. Missing the game winning FG in OT kinda sucks, but then if Miami hadn't fumbled on the 1 yard line in OT, bears wouldn't have even had that chance.

Really anticipating the game tonight... My Pats welcome the Chiefs into Foxborough... Could either be a very good game... or a blow out... in either direction.

 

[Bruce]

Somehow I knew there was more to @greybeard's story than just needing new rubber.

 

[Baymule]

Somehow I knew there was more to @greybeard's story than just needing new rubber.

EEEEEERRRRKKKKKK!!!!!! That is my mind skidding off into the gutter.....more to the story than just needing a new rubber...….because the old one broke after his wife twisted on it.....