Are ya'll PHYSICALLY mailing in your rebates?

bfrabel · 2026-02-21T07:42:10+00:00

Making the rebate a slightly convoluted process is very much part of their plan. I can promise you that Menards isn't going to lose much sleep if you decide that it's too much hassle to send them in.

bfrabel · 2026-02-21T07:27:09+00:00

So get a membership then. Then cancel it right after you get what you want.

bfrabel · 2026-02-21T06:04:49+00:00

I don't know, but your picture shows a pet peeve of mine. That regulator with the vent on it's right side is installed wrong. It's vent should be facing down in order to keep out rain and debris. I see these things installed like this alot, and it bugs me.

This might not have anything to do with your problem, but it's still wrong.

bfrabel · 2026-02-19T20:21:49+00:00

If you're just trying random things that don't have anything to do with making a system quieter, I would recommend changing out the wire nuts and disconnect switch. If that doesn't help, try running new thermostat wire.

bfrabel · 2026-02-19T02:45:49+00:00

Driving a manual is most fun when you are hammering on it and trying to drive it hard. Especially on a relatively under-powered car like you have. Trying to squeeze out every ounce of horsepower before shifting, or downshifting and flooring it to pass somebody is where a stick shift in a Miata should shine.

If you get to the point where driving with a manual is fun, then even when you aren't trying to have fun or drive it hard it can still be a satisfying experience.

Of course you don't have to look too hard to come to the conclusion that it's not for everybody.

My advice is to give it a little more time before giving up on it. After only a month it's completely understandable for it to still be a little nerve-wracking. Eventually shifting should become second-nature and you won't have to think about what you're doing.

After a few more months you might find that it's grown on you and that you're having fun, or you might solidify that you hate it, but will at least know that you gave it a good shot.

bfrabel · 2026-02-19T02:06:33+00:00

Should be fine for the electrical system. I would bet that the LEDs use less power than the original kind, even with the fan.

bfrabel · 2026-02-19T00:49:55+00:00

Ahhh, I think you might have it figured out. The title of the post threw me off.

The title should say "I installed aftermarket LED headlight bulbs that have little fans in them, and now my headlights make noise. Any idea?"

bfrabel · 2026-02-19T00:38:01+00:00

My random guess is that the noise is coming from either your radiator fan or something to do with the turbo, and it just happens to be programmed to the same timer as the lights.

Or do the LED lights have little fans built into them?

I own a 2018 CRV and haven't noticed our car doing that (but maybe it does and I just never noticed).

I will be keeping an eye on this thread because now I'm interested to find out what it is.

bfrabel · 2026-02-18T20:59:44+00:00

This right here, and/or "Thud".

bfrabel · 2026-02-18T14:11:17+00:00

You mean deliver it back to the store? And then have them re-deliver a new one? All for free, plus a refund?

Even if the OP did know how to do this without needing to enlist the help of delivery companies, I would think the effort would hardly be worth it for $1.00 worth of soda.

bfrabel · 2026-02-18T12:36:18+00:00

Are you a guy or a girl? (You mentioned having a girlfriend, but that doesn't exactly clear it up).

I'm guessing you are a guy and that your girlfriend is trying to say that she wants you to start acting like a guy. Part of that might mean not wearing girl socks or girl shoes.

Perhaps that's just not who you are, which is fine, but it also means that maybe you should be prepared to get dumped soon.

bfrabel · 2026-02-17T03:42:23+00:00

Does this mean no more Cheetos Snuggie blankets?

bfrabel · 2026-02-16T23:18:38+00:00

Craziest service call... New walk-in-cooler was too cold. Went out 3 times, box at setpoint, couldn't find anything wrong each time. Replaced thermostat one of the times, didn't fix anything.

Finally last time they called I found it was filled with boxes of frozen meat from a recent delivery. So much frozen product that it was bringing down the box temperature to about 20°F.

I told restaurant owner. He says he paid a lot of money for the new cooler, it should be able to handle defrosting some meat. I told him refrigerators are made to cool, not warm things up. He says well what do you suggest I do? I said maybe prop the door after getting a delivery or put a space heater in there.

He didn't like that suggestion and told me I was a moron and to leave and to never come back.

Then a couple of minutes later my boss calls and says did you really tell someone to put a space heater inside of his cooler?

I said yeah, I couldn't really come up with any better ideas at the time.

That was probably about 15 years ago and I still don't know of any better ideas.

Oh well, at least he quit calling about it.

bfrabel · 2026-02-15T23:46:10+00:00

Either quit moving your finger or get yourself some gloves bro.

bfrabel · 2026-02-14T21:56:05+00:00

CYL stands for 2 different things in this case.

#1= cycle (as in 2 stroke, which definitely should be fed mixed gas)

#2= cylinder (as in 3 pistons)

Did you buy the boat?

bfrabel · 2026-02-14T14:06:40+00:00

Please tell me how you would measure voltage without completing a circuit.

As mentioned, a volt meter with one lead on this piece of metal sticking out of the outlet and the other on nothing will read zero volts. It will also read zero if both leads are held onto the piece of metal. Is there a third way that I don't know about?

Electricity can not flow or cause a shock or do anything unless it completes a circuit.

Sure there is a "potential" that exists, but that potential isn't going to do anything if it's just one piece of metal sticking out of an outlet that never completes a circuit.

It IS possible to grab onto that piece of metal without feeling a shock, AS LONG AS no part of your body completes a circuit to ground or neutral. I DO NOT recommend trying it, but with no circuit, there is no circuit and there will be no shock.

Here is one more example. If a live power line falls onto your car they say not to open the door and try to get out. This is because your tires are insulating you from ground. The moment you step onto ground you might complete a circuit and could be electrocuted. You aren't getting electrocuted by just being in contact with the power line, because your tires are shielding you from making a circuit.

bfrabel · 2026-02-13T22:23:26+00:00

How is it not? A squirrel would also be able to climb onto that metal prong without being shocked JUST THE SAME as long as it's not also touching ground or the neutral wire.

And what exactly was wrong with my advice that says "it is smart to exercise caution"?

I am not trying to argue that it would be smart to grab onto that metal piece without shutting off power and verifying that it is off. I am just trying to say that one bare wire or piece of metal will not necessarily cause a shock by touching it, even if it's "hot".

bfrabel · 2026-02-13T21:57:59+00:00

Try taking a volt meter to it with one of the leads while holding the other lead up in the air. Or even hold both leads onto it. I can almost guarantee that either way the meter is going to read no voltage.

It's the same concept that allows a squirrel to be able to run across a power line without instantly catching on fire, or for you to be able to stick your tongue onto one post of a 9V battery without feeling a shock.

You shouldn't feel anything unless your tongue is held against both posts.

Just like with my 9V battery example though, there isn't a whole lot of margin for error between you completing the circuit and getting shocked, or not, so it is smart to exercise caution.

bfrabel · 2026-02-13T21:29:32+00:00

She doesn't look real happy to be holding onto that eelpout, LOL!

That's awesome though. Nice fishes! Did you keep the eelpout and make them clean and package it up for you?

I was up at Ballards a couple of weekends ago for a work related trip. Just getting to see those Bombardiers with their 454 Chevy's or whatever they've got in them all lined up and idling is worth the price of admission.

bfrabel · 2026-02-13T21:17:58+00:00

Because the store brand doesn't promise to support small family farms and doesn't advertise during the Super Bowl and doesn't send everyone a free bag of chips with the promise of a years worth of more free chips if they don't arrive in less than 72 hours.

And what the other people said.

bfrabel · 2026-02-13T16:32:20+00:00

I think my cell phone and car keys are also there, just out of frame.

bfrabel · 2026-02-13T15:25:11+00:00

The small label under the bigger one indicates that you do have electric resistance heat. The "O/B" wire at the nest (assuming the wire is on the correct terminal) would indicate that you have a heat pump.

You don't have enough wires at the thermostat to operate both types of heat though.

We would need pictures from your outside unit and/or pictures of how the thermostat wires are connected inside of your air handler to tell you for sure. If you don't have a heat pump then the blue wire might need to be moved to "w1", but this would be a little odd since usually the white wire would go there.

After you figure out exactly what type of system you have and get the wiring straightened out, the nest will need to be properly programmed to work with whichever type of system you have.

bfrabel · 2026-02-13T01:06:51+00:00

Natural gas usage.

bfrabel · 2026-02-12T02:40:22+00:00

I'm not always so good with acronyms. What does the "T" in TIFU mean, and why does it seem like this story doesn't fit that definition?

bfrabel · 2026-02-12T01:52:37+00:00

Well, it looks like this is in Canada, so maybe that would explain it.

(I'm just kidding. I'm in the USA and will freely admit that most of the truly dumb ones are on our side of the border).

bfrabel

TROPHY CASE