Now that I think about it hahaha...

I have observed how I 'think' - none of these 'modes' seem to be more dominate than the other for me. But there is a pattern and order... maybe others can relate to this -

I find I start with that 'associative feeling', as if you know the solution or answer but need to put it into words - kinda like the feeling you get when you know something but have temporally forgot it. I lock in on that feeling, then comes a flood of visual images with what sounds like 'mental mumbling'. I like your 'search engine' analogy - I'm conscious of the process, but i don't "steer" it so-to-speak.