Interior smoke, but no fire. . .yet!

[Daddie0]

I have a 97 Venture with 125k on it and it has recently displayed some very peculiar behavior. First, the dome lights would not go off. I check all the doors, etc, but to no avail. Fortunately, I was able to switch them off using the dome light override on the overhead console. Later the real fun started.

I was driving the van when I heard a sizzling sound and then white smoke began to billow out of the lightswitch dimmer switch area. Since then the smoking has been sporatic, but persistantly occuring. Other symptoms I have noticed is that the dash lights are getting dimmer.

These two facts lead me to believe the dimmer switch is dying a slow (or at other times faster [read: smoke!]) death. Does this sound likely?

In a related thought, I have always had problems with water in the driver side floor pan, especially during heavy rains. It was one of those things I was always going to look at "one of these days." Reading through this forum, I have come to realize that the AC drain is probably clogged and needs to be re-routed to the outside of the van. My question is, could the driver side floor pan getting continually wet cause any of my above problems? Just curious. BTW, I do not have a roof rack, so it appears based on this forum that AC is the probable culprit. Right?

Thanks-

Bil_

[Daddie0]

OK, so here's an update for those of you reading along (and in case any of you have the misfortune of a smoking instument panel dimmer switch). It definitely was something in the instument cluster. Pulling the fuse that powers it did the trick. Of course, for now I have no instument lighting (or instruments for that matter), but at least I can drive without the "burnt plastic incense" waffing up my nose.

I remain convinced it is my instrument dimmer dying slowly. Anyone think otherwise?

Bil_