TC33DA lights have me stumped!

[jbman45]

I work on lots of stuff and normally get it done!...but boy have I had trouble fixing my lights on my 2004 TC33. After a real dirty job, cleaned it up and evidently got water in something! It's been two weeks and hot and still not working so I went through every relay and checked ignition and turn signal switches but nothing fixes it. Flashers work when ignition is off. Turn ignition on and no flashers and no turn signals. Flasher module checks out ok per manual and so do all relays. You can hear the flasher module clicking very very fast! but no lights work.

These tractors are sensitive to water as we know but normally they fix themselves or you can dry them out. Any ideas of where to check next??
Maybe a bad ground? With the fast flashing clicking on the flasher relay that may mean no connection?

Any one out there ever had similiar problems.

thanks much!

 

[adlertom]

Maybe a bad ground? With the fast flashing clicking on the flasher relay that may mean no connection?

Yes, no load on the circuit therefore flasher operates much faster than normal.

 

[Soundguy]

Depending on the type of the blinker module.. a short or too heavy a load can cause a fast blink as well ( mechanical bi-metalic strip type.. )

soundguy

 

[FULLPULL]

Could it be a bulb?

 

[jinman]

It's been two weeks and hot and still not working so I went through every relay and checked ignition and turn signal switches but nothing fixes it. Flashers work when ignition is off. Turn ignition on and no flashers and no turn signals. Flasher module checks out ok per manual and so do all relays. You can hear the flasher module clicking very very fast! but no lights work.

I think I understand your description, but let me check:

1. When the ignition is OFF, the flashers work normally: normal lights and speed
2. When the ignition is ON, the flashers and turn signals will not work.
3. You can hear the flasher module clicking faster when the ignition is ON, but nothing works.

Are all those statements true or did I misunderstand the situation?

Right now, all I can suggest is to take the cowiling off and dry everything with a handheld hair dryer. It can take a long time for moisture to evaporate out of tight spots. I dropped a cellphone in a bucket of water and it was almost a month before it quit doing weird things from time-to-time. It started out vibrating and going nuts on the display and gradually got better as more of it's innards got dry. I suspect your relay sockets or the inside of your switches may have collected a little moisture and will also take a very long time to dry out.

 

[jbman45]

I think I understand your description, but let me check:

1. When the ignition is OFF, the flashers work normally: normal lights and speed
2. When the ignition is ON, the flashers and turn signals will not work.
3. You can hear the flasher module clicking faster when the ignition is ON, but nothing works.

Are all those statements true or did I misunderstand the situation?

Thanks to all for your comments! Many are very helpful.

Jinman, yes all the above statements are correct exactly as you state them. And I have taken out each relay and flasher/turn signal module and checked them by the tech manual and they all work on the bench! All bulbs work with ignition off, but when on the flasher cut out relay works and turns everything over to the lights/flasher mode which is where it all stops, but I can hear the flasher module tripping very fast.

So good thoughts on either a bad ground or short, think I'll jury a jumper ground to the modules and see if that helps.

I'll let all know what it was when it's fixed! It's due to water getting into some area so it would be good for all to be careful when we find it!

 

[jinman]

Jbman, the flasher circuit is composed of a flasher and a converter (NASO converter) that takes the switch imputs from the blinker switch and emergency flasher switch and supplies the logic to determine what lites should be flashing and what lights should be off. The flasher only supplies a constant on/off signal to the NASO converter. My gut feeling says there is nothing wrong in this circuit since it works perfectly when the ignition is off. I think when you turn the ignition on, there is a "sneak path" through moisture or another circuit that is causing either a partial short and reduced current to the flasher circuit or it is putting power on the ground circuit so there is not enough potential to operate the circuit.

I think I would try to monitor the input voltage to see if it drops when the ignition is turned on. I'd also monitor ground to see if it is not a good ground and it is being elevated to several volts when the ignition is turned on.

If you got a connection wet and it is no longer a good ground because of slight corrosion, you will have multiple weird things happening. Loss of a good and proper ground is a common problem in circuits that are exposed to weather. You should be able to observe this happening by monitoring with a voltmeter. Unfortunately, there is no quick fix unless you get lucky.

My Repair Manual for the TC35/40/45 shows a test procedure for the flasher circuit where you remove all the components and hook them to a battery and lamps using alligator jumpers. I just don't think that test would do you any good because your circuit works normally when the ignition is off. I think you need to monitor the circuit and what it does while turning the ignition on and off to help point you in the right direction. Good luck...

 

[erosol]

When I wash my tractor, the lights start to act funny too. Open the cover on the fuses inside under the hood and let it dry out. Mine always works good the next day.

 

[jbman45]

Eureka! Problem Solved, and thanks to those who helped with ideas and direction. For all to maybe benefit the problem was non working turn signal lights as described in the above thread.

I checked all components by the manual and they checked ok, i.e. relays and flasher module. Finally I jumped +12v to each light at the flasher module and got the lights to work, tracing back it turns out the problem was low voltage getting to the flasher module. Following that back I found the hazard cut off relay, which comes on when you turn on the ignition, was latching but the contacts were corroded and not enough current was getting through the contacts. It was getting hot as well confirming the problem.

I switched out relays and low and behold all works!

Bottom line I guess is to have on hand some of the less expensive components like extra relays, which tend to fail. The problem in finding the real fault was the relay was working just not well enough to pass enough current.

I also found you can buy these relays at your local O'Reillys or other Auto Parts Store; they are common to turn signal systems on GM and not a New Holland special part.

Thanks again for all those who offered suggestions and ideas, it really helped get this resolved.

jbman45

 

[schmism]

did the orange lights on the TC33 always flash?

my 2001 they dont flash... they just turn on... (i use them as my backup lights when i pull into the barn at night).... they are surpriseingly bright....