Smoke From Indicator Stalk And Steering Area

[TommyR33]

Hey guys. So basically I was driving around and stopped at a set of lights and suddenly smoke vapour appeared out of my steering column (the plastic surround) this happened a few weeks ago once and just recently it happened again.

My indicator works but as soon as the flashing arrow is off I can still hear the indicating noise! Could this be the reason why there was a bit of smoke? A fuse screwed up? The car is a r33 gts25. The car has been driving fine and all other electronics work, the car also has an alarm system that utilizes the indicator bulbs when you lock and unlock the car, could this be another reason? Many thanks.

Edited November 8, 2014 by TommyR33

[MickEdge]

Take off the steering column covers. (Couple screws, piece of piss)

Look around all your wiring looms. Especially places where splices have been made.

The biggest give away is electrical tape. All the wiring is pretty well in your face once the covers come off.

The smoke may be coming from further down in your footwell and the smoke is just making its path up and away out of your steering column section

When you say you can still hear the indicator noise is that permanantly or stays on for a little while?

It definitely sounds electrical. Do you have an aftermarket turbo timer in the car?

Has the person who installed the car alarm made proper electrical terminations or just twist a twist and tape job.

It probably wouldnt hurt to double check all your fuses too.

More of a look and discover type thing really. With any electrical fault be careful though. No one likes shorting out wires and blowing up the pcb to your mongoose alarm hahaha

[niZmO_Man]

Driving at night? Have higher wattage bulbs?

[TommyR33]

Take off the steering column covers. (Couple screws, piece of piss)

Look around all your wiring looms. Especially places where splices have been made.

The biggest give away is electrical tape. All the wiring is pretty well in your face once the covers come off.

The smoke may be coming from further down in your footwell and the smoke is just making its path up and away out of your steering column section

When you say you can still hear the indicator noise is that permanantly or stays on for a little while?

It definitely sounds electrical. Do you have an aftermarket turbo timer in the car?

Has the person who installed the car alarm made proper electrical terminations or just twist a twist and tape job.

It probably wouldnt hurt to double check all your fuses too.

More of a look and discover type thing really. With any electrical fault be careful though. No one likes shorting out wires and blowing up the pcb to your mongoose alarm hahaha

Thanks so much for the help! Basically what happens is I indicate and when it switches off the ticking sound stays on and almost at a faster rate of interval ticks. I went under near the footwell and fiddlled around with the plug that goes into the indicator box and now its stopped and is fine! I am no auto electrician Mick but there is electrical tape in many spots and some wires and plugs bunched up not connected into anything, I mean it all looks neat but yeah. Maybe get a auto electrician to have a look for me.

[TommyR33]

Driving at night? Have higher wattage bulbs?

Was in daylight times so I dont think its the bulbs or anything, they all work fine. Cheers man

[Got a Pulsar]

I had this exact issue on my '94 Bluebird.

Turned out to be inside the stalk, a small piece of plastic between 2 copper terminals had broken / melted so it was arching between them.

A small ziptie strategically positioned and trimmed down, with a spot of superglue on it, Fixed it better than new.

[MickEdge]

All good mate, happy to help. If you do decide to look into any connection further please do disconnect the ground from the battery. Forgot to say that but it pays off to be careful haha.

auto-elec might charge you an arm and a leg for small amounts of work but sometimes piece of mind is worth it.

[skylinecouple]

I can save you the trouble of further investigation. It's the blinker mechanism. I've gone through two of them. Once the blinker stalk smokes it's finished. There must be something about the inner workings that fails and causes a short. Get a 2nd hand one and away you go. A new one would be even better.

Something that may interest you is the blinker relay under the dash. A square box with three wires. That's where your ticking comes from, quite normal. Be aware that the relay can go from time to time and may have been replaced by a universal relay. Some relays are 2 wire and others 3, one being an earth. Replace the relay with an original 3 wire relay and a new stalk, problem fixed. I did it myself but an auto electrician will put it in for you cheap.

Read the tutorial to remove the column cover and remove the screws holding the stalk. I can't remember what else there is as it hasn't needed replacing for years.

[Humbla]

Had this happen to my 33 a few years ago,the smoke freaked me out.

Mechanic did as above fixed. :-)