smoke comming out steering column

I was driving to work today, only about 5 minutes from home when I started smelling burning plastic. A moment later I saw smoke comming out the steering column. Any ideas?

I'd really like to get this one figured out so I can try to fix it myself (spent over $1,500.00 in repairs over the last 9 months between two cars, wanna keep this one cheap). I dont know if it was really burning plastic, but thats what it smelt like. I could be a fluid I guess.

We checked all the fluids (power steering, trans fluid, coolent, oil). Everything is completely full except oil which is low, and pretty ugly. The oil being black wouldnt cause this would it? Yes I know I should really get it changed, I'm actualy going to do that today.

Anyway, I'd really appreciate any advice I could get.

Thanks,
David

sound like the turn signal switch is going bad this happen when you step on brake pedal

Hmm, that seems odd to me. Well I wasnt using the signal at all at the point when it started smoking, and actualy hadnt for a couple min. I of course was using the break pedal though. Now as soon as I saw the smoke, I pulled over, opened the hood and couldnt see anything wrong (of course), so I started driving again, the highway was like 100 feet away that I needed to get on, so I started right off again driving on that. I hadnt been on the highway for more than about 5 seconds (only excelerating, no brake) when it started to smoke worse than before.

Here's what makes even less sense though. I waited a day, then drove it again yesterday after work, and then again this morning to get to work and no problems at all. I would just say "out of site out of mind" except I would like to nip this problem before it becomes a serious problem. Based on that info, you still think its related to the turn singnal or break pedal?

Thanks for your help,
David

Just a quick question,what doesn't work?

Just a quick question,what doesn't work?

Thats what my question is, or at least a variation of it. When smoke starts comming out of the steering column, clearly something is wrong. So my actual question is, whats causing this? (very similar to your question).

As I said in my last post, it happened, I took the car home, parked it for a day and a half, and then it didnt smoke after that. Once I know what the potential problems are, I could then begin exploring what to do about them.

Thanks,
David

I would suggest that you have the wiring in the steering columm checked before you have a more serious problem,it may be minor and maybey not but either way it doen't pay to take that chance.

it sound to like the turn signal switch or the ignition i would also recommend getting it check before it causes a serious problem and you get stranded or it causes your car to catch fire in the dash. good luck

Well its been more than a month now with no additional problems. I think I will take it in to have it checked out though.

Thanks,
David

Well its been more than a month now with no additional problems. I think I will take it in to have it checked out though.

Thanks,
Davidwell,did you replace your turn signal switch yet

its TOTALLY the turn signal switch, trust me. I had that happen on my 91 Cut Supreme and I'm just waiting for it to happen on my 90 88 Royale!

This happened to me three yrs ago and it can be a very stressful episode when it occurs. I cannot concur about the signal switch, rather we lost the cruise control some weeks later. FreddyH>