Steering column smoke

[dbebb55]

Hi kids...Went for a ride today and stopped at the local tavern {pub}, Took a friend for a first time ride in the Lotus. Back at the pub, i went to start the car , smoke from the steering column and the car wouldn't start. All dash lights were normal. Used my yearly free tow from the local body shop to get my car home. Now the car starts fine with no problems. Ignation switch??? thoughts???
Dave
90SE

[lotusguy]

dbebb55 said:

Hi kids...Went for a ride today and stopped at the local tavern {pub}, Took a friend for a first time ride in the Lotus. Back at the pub, i went to start the car , smoke from the steering column and the car wouldn't start. All dash lights were normal. Used my yearly free tow from the local body shop to get my car home. Now the car starts fine with no problems. Ignation switch??? thoughts??? Dave 90SE

Dave,

This exact thing happened to a friend of mine. When we pulled the steering column trim, we found that the brown wire had all it's insulation melted away some 1-2 inches from the electrical harness main connection. Tracing further, we found that heat/rubbing/age (who knows?) had allowed the pins in the Ign. Switch electrical connector for the brown wire to arc, through the plastic connector, to the adjacent pin (Ground) causing the short which burned the insulation, which caused the smoke. The plastic connector was so melted, we had to pry it apart with a small screwdriver.

Since the other wiring to/from the connector was ok and the pins well insulated, we decided to simply splice the brown wire around the connector, strip back to clean healthy wire on both ends and butt connect them using a crimp butt connector. The cost of a replacement 6-pin connector was prohibitive and my buddy figured he wasn't going to make a habit of disconnecting the ignition switch, so he elected to do the splice I described. If he ever does have to separate the ign. switch from the harness, he'll have to cut the brown wire again (lots of excees length allowing for at least a half dozen fuure splices).

That was two years ago, and the car has run great with no further problems. Happy Motoring! ...Jim'85TE

>> Edited by lotusguy on Friday 2nd July 03:10

[dbebb55]

Jim...Thanks for the fast reply I'll check it out in the morning, after my pub stay has worn off.
Dave
90se