Smoke from sterring column????

[Bizacup20vt]

so there i am driving down the road with the windows up and the heater blowing nicely and............................................................smoke starts to appear from behind the steering wheel! obviously the first reaction was i'm seeing things!!, then when it kept coming i pulled over turned everything off and had a mosey round.
Cant find any obvious short or electric problem and car and all bits on it are working fine?????????????
Anyone else had this or just me???!!!!!

 

[leegt5]

Never had that... Has it had a non standard immobiliser fitted at all ??

 

[Bizacup20vt]

just standard seat fit immob, no extras??????

 

[claudefrog]

check your indicator or wiper stalks

 

[DPJ]

Smell?
Was the aircon on?

 

[Craig!]

Check the indicator stalks and the relays, common occurance on all makes of cars which gives smoke from the steering column, seen it on a few Pug now!

 

[Bizacup20vt]

will check all realys and stalks tonight and let you know what i find

 

[Degudodger]

I would first off check all wiring under the steering column then the ignition switch. It may also be worth examining the copper ring horn ring behind the steering wheel, if it's caked in dust give it a clean.

 

[Marmalizer]

If you take the cowling off the steering column you see the ignition wires go under the column but above it the indicator and wiper wires go.

On mine if you adjust the steering all the way up the wiring tends to rub on the cowling or further down where the hinge is.

Reckon it's most likely the wires were trapped and rubbed until wire was showing and then started to short out either on each other or the steering column.