99 park avenue left turn signal not working??

[H22_DB2]

okay,about a month ago my left turn signal stopped working at a light, and some smoke started coming from the steering column and then the turn signal just stopped working.so i kept driving home and tried it again and it started working again then it stopped and hasnt worked since,alot of people have told me that it is probably my turn signal switch has shorted out,i just want to make sure this is the problem before i buy it cause its like 300 dollars,i have checked all the fuses and the bulb and they are good,so does anyone have any suggestions?and if anyone has changed this turn signal switch before i would appreciate it if someone could walk me through the process,thanks

[H22_DB2]

anyone had this problem

[H22_DB2]

does anyone know a way to pinpoint this problem before i just buy the turn signal switch??

[ZiggyPA]

No, but check the junkyard or Ebay, you can probably get a used one for a fraction of the $300.

[H22_DB2]

yea i found one for 125 its just kind of dumb to replace it and it be something alot smaller

[auto trainy]

If you haven't done this before I would ask for some help from someone that has or at least has some experience with the repair,if there was a short at one time as you indicated then other parts may be damaged which could cause a fire or shorted air bag system ect.good luck.