"Sizzling" noise under DS dash

[bryansr]

When I started my 98 this morning, a sound almost like bacon frying was coming from somewhere under the driver's side dash. I immediately shut it down and took my daughter's car to work. Anyone else ever experience this? It's some kind of electrical issue, but I'm not sure what's under there.

 

[Centaurus5.0]

When I started my 98 this morning, a sound almost like bacon frying was coming from somewhere under the driver's side dash. I immediately shut it down and took my daughter's car to work. Anyone else ever experience this? It's some kind of electrical issue, but I'm not sure what's under there.

Wait until its dark and give er a look-see with a flash light. You'll be looking for either blackend/fried wires or perfectly cooked bacon.

Lets hope it bacon.

 

[bryansr]

I checked it out in the dark and with a light, no sparks or burnt wires. When I started it Friday morning, it made the same crackling sound, but stopped when I adjusted the tilt wheel. I had the dash out last December to replace the heater core, so I'm guessing there's a wire pinched in the steering column.

 

[bryansr]

I think I've zeroed in on this. I've had times this winter when the car would be started to warm up and the left turn signal would start blinking, or when I would start out of the driveway, the sizzling would be worse as I turned the wheel. Adjust the tilt wheel to a different position and all of these problems typically go away. Going to pull the steering column covers off this weekend to see if I can find something.

 

[lobo411]

Multifunction switch. The same thing happened to me before mine went. The final straw was when it emitted a puff of smoke!