92 Park Avenue - smoke coming from steering column! and other tales of woe

[jmeyernj]

Been having a terrible time with our 92 PA, one thing after another. Two months ago, alternator. then brakes, then manifold. I won't go into all the gorey details but we feel we may have to dump it. I'm looking for someone to save our relationship. I've read that PAs of this age had 'electrical problems' I am very concerned about warning lights that seem to go on and off. For a while we had the oil light go on and off (for no apparent reason). THat has stopped but the coolant low light goes on periodically (coolant is fine). We had just had the fuel pump replaced and the Ac fixed (they had thought itwas fuse) and we left on a trip for VA. After 25 miles the Ac stopped working, the radio antenna stopped working and the door locks stopped workign (if you pressed the master button to lock and unlock the doors from inside you got nothing - if you used the remote they worked....) took it back to mech and he put in a new fuse for the radio antenna. Did nothing about the locks and suddenly they worked. Turns out the AC is a hole in the compressor - so we'll go without). Then yesterday while driving I smelled burning and SMOKE started comeing in a wisp out of the steering column. I pulled over and looked and it seemed to be wisping up from where the washer and light controls are on the left hand side of the steering column. I turned off the car, watied then turned it on and went back to the garage. Mech told me there was nothign that could be burning in the steering column....but agreed it was scary. ANY BODY have ANY ideas about what could be going on. Should we just give up on this car?? Thanks so much for your input. J

[MADDYSTUNING]

Sounds like you need a new Tech, smoke does appear when things short or resistance is built up. Its sounds like a multi Function switch problem, I think you may need a new Turn signal/wiper switch

[Jed Rule]

Grease gets on the contacts in the directional switch and the current causes the smoke. You can remove the wheel and clean it, or leave it alone. This is the least of your problems.

[mikesmaintenance]

We had same thing on a 92 Corsica, the dealer had to fix it, a recall! Call them.