Signal lights started flashing for no reason and won't stop flashing.

[wolfie1959]

My wife just came home and said " did you know the lights on your tractor are flashing?" I went out and looked and the signal was on. The switch is in the off position. So I turned it to the on position and it went off.. turned it back to and it stayed off for a few...looked again and it was flashing again.. nothing I do seems to stop it for long. Would it be a bad switch causing it? Something else? Another thing... Should they even work when the ignition switch is off? That seems like a bad idea to me.

 

[wolfie1959]

Forgot to say it's a TC35D

 

[Wagtail]

It's possible that the switch (a rotary, multi-position) has physically shifted one position 'over'.

OR that the external selector knob has done the same. I'd try this (the selector knob) first.

 

[wolfie1959]

I guess that's possible but it just started doing it yesterday and no one ever touched the switch. It has been raining. I think it must be wet inside the switch.

 

[Wagtail]

If you reckon that it's due to moisture then you could get a spray can of "contact cleaner" (basically compressed air & isopropyl alcohol). Aim it at the back of the muilti-position switch and then turn the switch' knob (gently) fully (to all positions) several times.

Do NOT use WD40... I know that the "WD" stands for water displacement however it's a petroleum based lubricant.

 

[LouNY]

The 4 way flashers are hot all the time, I have seen the relays hang and keep them on and the switches get moisture in them.

 

[mddorange]

I can guarantee that the flashing lights will work without a key in the switch. They are made that way on purpose for safety reasons.

 

[wolfie1959]

I'm pretty sure the 4way flashers only work with the ignition on.. the signal lights are all the time. Makes no sense to me... I would think both would be the same. I don't like the idea of someone being able to turn them on and run the battery down when I'm not around.

 

[wolfie1959]

The owners manual says that the turn signals are only supposed to work when the ignition switch is on. But mine have always worked when it's off.

 

[RickB]

I guess that's possible but it just started doing it yesterday and no one ever touched the switch. It has been raining. I think it must be wet inside the switch.

Typical. Water gets inside the switch. Take a hair drier to it from the top or replace it.