Turn signal lights always on

I've been driving my Dad's third-gen 1999 Legacy wagon while my 2005 GT LTD was on blocks. This car is a peach, only about 64k on it, clearly he doesn't drive far and for some reason he still owns two cars.

 

Ain't she great?

http://pasadenagina.smugmug.com/Around-Town/1999-Legacy-Wagon/i-7mPZjJZ/0/M/1999Legacy-1-M.jpg

 

Anyway, it's time for this car to go home, so today I gave it a good wash, vacuum, and general attention.

 

In the process I noticed a vexing problem, namely the turn signal lights in the front are glowing ever so slightly. Mind you the car is turned off, in Park, and the keys are not in the ignition. I'm not making it up, it's a cloudy day and it's definitely not a reflection, even my neighbor noticed it.

 

The eerie glow (the amber lights inside, not the ones on the side)

http://pasadenagina.smugmug.com/Around-Town/1999-Legacy-Wagon/i-bKJ35sk/0/M/1999Legacy-2-M.jpg

 

I pulled the fuse, and they are STILL glowing. How could this be possible? Verified I had the right fuse, because I turned the key to accessory mode, and the turn signals stopped working.

 

I'm afraid of draining the battery, especially since the car isn't driven much. But stymied what to do next?

Found it! Wrong fuse after all. The one for the flashing turn signals is in the fuse box under the dash. The one for the running/parking lights is in the fuse box under the hood.

 

I think there's a faulty circuit causing those lights to stay on. At least I got the fuse out, so they won't drain the battery until we figure out where the problem is.

these cars always do this after you clean the interior ...

 

i've never been in a '99, but before you start tearing out wires, check to see if there's a switch on top of the steering column

Yep. Switch on top of the steering column. This happens all the time.

 

Thanks. That beat having to track down an electrical gremlin, but what a useless feature.

I had the same problem and it drove me crazy until I found the switch.

I have owned my GC for 11 yrs now have yet to have a use for it. but I did have to explain the switch to a few other subied own in my day. I'm surprised that there hasn't been a mod done to bypass it. or possibly use the switch for something else!

Thanks everyone. I loaned my 05 GT to a friend for a while and he cleaned it for me upon returning it. The corner lights and tail lights were on and wouldnt go off. He returned it late at night and Monday night football was on so I didnt look very hard for the reason why they were on. Got up this morning and battery (naturally) was dead. Got on this forum and you all solved my problem with that SWITCH. Thanks for all you guys do.

I've been driving my Dad's third-gen 1999 Legacy wagon

 

This is vexing me, this is 2nd gen is it not?

 

Sorry, OCD.

I have actually found myself in situations where that switch has been useful. Once you know what it is, (usually via a thread such as this), it does come in handy.