Smoke coming out of my steering column - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

pat · 08-19-2006, 05:26 PM

Not a good day. I drove my truck from the shop up to the house, went in and ate. Then I came back out and tried to start it and nothing happened. All gauges and other electrical stuff was fine but the engine wasnt turning over at all, no starter. Then I noticed a smell and smoke was coming out of the bottom of the steering column right where the wires go into the bigger part. I tried to start it with a screwdriver on the starter and that made the starter lock on so I had to jump underneath and cut the wire to the starter to stop it.
Any ideas? Ive gotta get this fixed soon so it can get painted next week.

Mudder · 08-19-2006, 05:33 PM

Sounds maybe like something has shorted down around neutral safety switch.

junkyardjohn · 08-20-2006, 06:55 AM

NOW I'M NOT MUCH OF AN ELECTRCIAN (BUT I DON'T LET THAT STOP ME

) BUT I A'M JUST A LITTLE MECHANICAL SO.. I TRY. USSUALLY WHEN I LET THE [B]SMOKE OUT OF THE WIRES[B] WEATHER IT IS SOMETHING I DID OR THE TRUCK DID IT ON IT'S OWN,..... IT'S A BAD BAD THING. THEY MUST PUT THAT SMOKE IN THERE AT THE FACTORY & BELIEVE ME... THAT SMOKE IS MEANT TO STAY IN THERE. THE GOOD NEWS IS A TURN SIGNAL SWITH WILL REPLACE ALL OF YOUR WIRING IN YOUR COLLUMN, & EVEN I CAN REPLACE ONE IN 15 OR 20 MINUTES. JOHN

Mudder · 08-20-2006, 07:14 AM

True JYJ and neutral safety is on the outside of the column not that I think of it. The not starting has got me puzzled tho.

crusher311 · 08-20-2006, 07:34 AM

i would check the safty switch but alsothe key side of the ign as if you shorted on that side it can cause that i had it happen to my dads 72 ford the ign shorted where all the wires go to threw the fire wall and it made the hole syst run odd it ruined his safty switch twice and we had to rebuild his starter
once untill we found the problem and it was luck that we found it a broken strand cut him as he was readhing for a tool i was handing down to him

junkyardjohn · 08-20-2006, 07:37 AM

Yah Common Sense Says One Shouldn't Anything To Do With The Other , & Believe Me.. I'm No Electrician & I Sure Couldn't Explain How Most Electrical Stuff Works. I'd Start With The Turn Signal Switch Though... You Know It's A Smoker... Gotta Go. I'm Sure Someone On Here Can Explain It In Some Eletrical Lingo That I Still Won't Uderstand. Oh-well Any Automotive Electricians Out There????

John

**special-K** · 08-20-2006, 12:27 PM

I have an extra wire coming from my 4spd tilt that needs to be hooked to the brake light switch or no ignition.With it hooked up to switch it starts,unless I depress the brake pedal,then nothing.No smoke or smells,and it`s been this way for over a year.I`m baffled,but wtf?
Not trying to hijack,maybe just give perspective(???).

Big Block · 08-20-2006, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by junkyardjohn

NOW I'M NOT MUCH OF AN ELECTRCIAN (BUT I DON'T LET THAT STOP ME

) BUT I A'M JUST A LITTLE MECHANICAL SO.. I TRY. USSUALLY WHEN I LET THE [B]SMOKE OUT OF THE WIRES[B] WEATHER IT IS SOMETHING I DID OR THE TRUCK DID IT ON IT'S OWN,..... IT'S A BAD BAD THING. THEY MUST PUT THAT SMOKE IN THERE AT THE FACTORY & BELIEVE ME... THAT SMOKE IS MEANT TO STAY IN THERE. THE GOOD NEWS IS A TURN SIGNAL SWITH WILL REPLACE ALL OF YOUR WIRING IN YOUR COLLUMN, & EVEN I CAN REPLACE ONE IN 15 OR 20 MINUTES. JOHN

I agree with you, my guess would be to replace the steering collumn wiring. Should be just the ticket.

**special-K** · 08-21-2006, 09:45 AM

Do they still make wiring with smoke in it?Where can I find this?I think all mine came out before I got it.

pat · 08-21-2006, 10:04 AM

I tore apart the steering wheel and all the wiring and the turn signal switch looked fine. Im getting a neutral switch in this afternoon so Ill see if that works.

Steelawork'n · 08-21-2006, 12:32 PM

Pretty tight in there for that huge wiring harness. Anything could have been shorted just on installation.

pat · 08-23-2006, 08:05 AM

The neutral switch got fried. I replaced it and it works for now. I wasnt really able to find any wires that would have shorted that, but I did find a bare wire on a different fuse. Ill hafta see how long this lasts.

08-19-2006, 05:26 PM	#1
pat Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Lindsay, TX Posts: 1,245	Smoke coming out of my steering column Not a good day. I drove my truck from the shop up to the house, went in and ate. Then I came back out and tried to start it and nothing happened. All gauges and other electrical stuff was fine but the engine wasnt turning over at all, no starter. Then I noticed a smell and smoke was coming out of the bottom of the steering column right where the wires go into the bigger part. I tried to start it with a screwdriver on the starter and that made the starter lock on so I had to jump underneath and cut the wire to the starter to stop it. Any ideas? Ive gotta get this fixed soon so it can get painted next week. __________________ 68 Chevy 383/350 w/shift kit, 380hp/425ft-lbs, 4.5/5 drop, 17" TT2s 64 Cadillac Sedan DeVille

08-19-2006, 05:33 PM	#2
Mudder Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: East Central, MO Posts: 11,336	Re: Smoke coming out of my steering column Sounds maybe like something has shorted down around neutral safety switch.

08-20-2006, 06:55 AM	#3
junkyardjohn Registered User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: SOMERSET KY. Posts: 6,427	Re: Smoke coming out of my steering column NOW I'M NOT MUCH OF AN ELECTRCIAN (BUT I DON'T LET THAT STOP ME ) BUT I A'M JUST A LITTLE MECHANICAL SO.. I TRY. USSUALLY WHEN I LET THE [B]SMOKE OUT OF THE WIRES[B] WEATHER IT IS SOMETHING I DID OR THE TRUCK DID IT ON IT'S OWN,..... IT'S A BAD BAD THING. THEY MUST PUT THAT SMOKE IN THERE AT THE FACTORY & BELIEVE ME... THAT SMOKE IS MEANT TO STAY IN THERE. THE GOOD NEWS IS A TURN SIGNAL SWITH WILL REPLACE ALL OF YOUR WIRING IN YOUR COLLUMN, & EVEN I CAN REPLACE ONE IN 15 OR 20 MINUTES. JOHN __________________ junkyardjohn 69 1 TON TOW TRUCK // 84 4WD CUCV BLAZER// 85 1 TON 4WD STAKE TRUCK// 86 M1031 5/4 TON 4WD CUCV// ALOT OF OLD TRUCKS FOR ONE OLD MAN TO DRIVE. THERES ROOM FOR ALL OF GODS CREATURES RIGHT NEXT TO MY MASHED POTATOES// LIFE MEMBER OF P.E.T.A (PEOPLE EATING TASTY ANIMALS) DON'T RENT U-HAUL ALWAYS TELL THE TRUTH IT WILL AMAZE PART OF THE PEOPLE & ASTONISH THE REST

08-20-2006, 07:14 AM	#4
Mudder Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: East Central, MO Posts: 11,336	Re: Smoke coming out of my steering column True JYJ and neutral safety is on the outside of the column not that I think of it. The not starting has got me puzzled tho.

08-20-2006, 07:34 AM	#5
crusher311 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: kenai alaska Posts: 25	Re: Smoke coming out of my steering column i would check the safty switch but alsothe key side of the ign as if you shorted on that side it can cause that i had it happen to my dads 72 ford the ign shorted where all the wires go to threw the fire wall and it made the hole syst run odd it ruined his safty switch twice and we had to rebuild his starter once untill we found the problem and it was luck that we found it a broken strand cut him as he was readhing for a tool i was handing down to him

08-20-2006, 07:37 AM	#6
junkyardjohn Registered User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: SOMERSET KY. Posts: 6,427	Re: Smoke coming out of my steering column Yah Common Sense Says One Shouldn't Anything To Do With The Other , & Believe Me.. I'm No Electrician & I Sure Couldn't Explain How Most Electrical Stuff Works. I'd Start With The Turn Signal Switch Though... You Know It's A Smoker... Gotta Go. I'm Sure Someone On Here Can Explain It In Some Eletrical Lingo That I Still Won't Uderstand. Oh-well Any Automotive Electricians Out There???? John __________________ junkyardjohn 69 1 TON TOW TRUCK // 84 4WD CUCV BLAZER// 85 1 TON 4WD STAKE TRUCK// 86 M1031 5/4 TON 4WD CUCV// ALOT OF OLD TRUCKS FOR ONE OLD MAN TO DRIVE. THERES ROOM FOR ALL OF GODS CREATURES RIGHT NEXT TO MY MASHED POTATOES// LIFE MEMBER OF P.E.T.A (PEOPLE EATING TASTY ANIMALS) DON'T RENT U-HAUL ALWAYS TELL THE TRUTH IT WILL AMAZE PART OF THE PEOPLE & ASTONISH THE REST

08-20-2006, 12:27 PM	#7
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,861	Re: Smoke coming out of my steering column I have an extra wire coming from my 4spd tilt that needs to be hooked to the brake light switch or no ignition.With it hooked up to switch it starts,unless I depress the brake pedal,then nothing.No smoke or smells,and it`s been this way for over a year.I`m baffled,but wtf? Not trying to hijack,maybe just give perspective(???). __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

08-21-2006, 09:45 AM	#9
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,861	Re: Smoke coming out of my steering column Do they still make wiring with smoke in it?Where can I find this?I think all mine came out before I got it. __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

08-21-2006, 10:04 AM	#10
pat Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Lindsay, TX Posts: 1,245	Re: Smoke coming out of my steering column I tore apart the steering wheel and all the wiring and the turn signal switch looked fine. Im getting a neutral switch in this afternoon so Ill see if that works. __________________ 68 Chevy 383/350 w/shift kit, 380hp/425ft-lbs, 4.5/5 drop, 17" TT2s 64 Cadillac Sedan DeVille

08-21-2006, 12:32 PM	#11
Steelawork'n Just hang'n around Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Camano Island WA Posts: 248	Re: Smoke coming out of my steering column Pretty tight in there for that huge wiring harness. Anything could have been shorted just on installation. __________________ Driving a '68 Chevy C20 and a '93 Astro Van. Lots and lots of mileage that I deduct each year.

08-23-2006, 08:05 AM	#12
pat Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Lindsay, TX Posts: 1,245	Re: Smoke coming out of my steering column The neutral switch got fried. I replaced it and it works for now. I wasnt really able to find any wires that would have shorted that, but I did find a bare wire on a different fuse. Ill hafta see how long this lasts. __________________ 68 Chevy 383/350 w/shift kit, 380hp/425ft-lbs, 4.5/5 drop, 17" TT2s 64 Cadillac Sedan DeVille



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