smoke coming out of the steering column ??

[deifan1990]

94 Lumina,has anyone experinced smoke coming out of the steering column, right beneath the steering wheel. It'smy daughter's car and she has told me it does it intermittently,day or night. I have seen the smoke myself. The other day she told me the blinker indicators lights stayed on and the blinkers wouldn't work. Could it be the multi function switch, (the blinker, cruise switch) that is bad ?? help any one .
thanks

[bobss396]

I doubt it is the stalk switch, the wire goes down the steering column and really doesn't interact with anything under the steering wheel. You probably have a shorted wire in the directional harness itself. I'd get it looked at before it totally goes up in smoke. I'm surprised that it hasn't popped a fuse so far.

Bob

[tblake]

I have also read in consumer reports magazine of instances where the ignition switch will smoke, and even cause fires inside certain GM vehicles even when the car isnt running. I think there was a recall on them, maybe check with a dealer.

[coleld]

I had the same problem. It was the directional switch. Not to bad to replace yourself, You do need to pop off the steering wheel.

[comptech_69]

its the dielectric grease burning off the contacts just take apart your turn signal switch and clean it... its a simple fix

[richtazz]

yep, like comptech said, it's excess grease on the turn signal switch causing your smoke.