*trouble* smoldering steering column.

[BobbyTang]

Hey everyone, noticed earlier while changing lanes that my right t
Signal light remained solid on my dash after changing lanes. I Noticed a faint trail of smoke coming out of the base area of my multi arm (signals etc.) As I resumed speed it eventually stopped after turning the right signal on a couple times and the solid arrow went back to blinking. Five minutes later I was changing lanes and hit a red so again the light was solid and my foot was on the brake. I let go of the brake pedal and the lightwent away. Hit the brake pedal again and it was solid once more. The smoldering started again out the base of the arm and cing out the hazard button on top. What the hell should I do. Im parked and power is off. Please help! Don't want the column to light up while going down the road. Thanks

 

[swshawaii]

Sounds like an multi function switch (MFS) connector issue. The connector binds and causes intermittent connection problems.
If you have a tilting column, try tilt it all the way UP. If that helps, you gave the connector slack. Open the column and check
the connections. This link is from an ST and may not be the same as yours, but should be similar. GL

http://www.mysporttrac.com/MySportTrac/projects/Steering_Column_Wiring_Repair_Gen1.pdf

 

[BobbyTang]

Sounds like an multi function switch (MFS) connector issue. The connector binds and causes intermittent connection problems.
If you have a tilting column, try tilt it all the way UP. If that helps, you gave the connector slack. Open the column and check
the connections. This link is from an ST and may not be the same as yours, but should be similar. GL

http://www.mysporttrac.com/MySportTrac/projects/Steering_Column_Wiring_Repair_Gen1.pdf

thanks for the quick reply and the .pdf file, I Drive a '99 ford explorer xlt. I am going to assume what I would find in there would be similar. Is there any concern for potentially having the air bag accidentally deploy by removing the upper and lower column covers? or is it generally safe to do so?? Im going to guess my removing the covers I should be able to visually identify anything that has been smoldering. Wondering if it's a fire hazard or if a fuse would go first. It did it once again a few minutes back. No smoke just solid right turn signal light and it goes on when brake is held and off when released.. all while right signal is clicked on..

 

[BobbyTang]

Sounds like an multi function switch (MFS) connector issue. The connector binds and causes intermittent connection problems.
If you have a tilting column, try tilt it all the way UP. If that helps, you gave the connector slack. Open the column and check
the connections. This link is from an ST and may not be the same as yours, but should be similar. GL

http://www.mysporttrac.com/MySportTrac/projects/Steering_Column_Wiring_Repair_Gen1.pdf

So before I even read the reply I thought to try tilting it all the way up incase a wire somehow got pinched. My last post explains that it still did the solid light no blinking noise thing only this time there was no smoke

 

[BobbyTang]

The biggest thing to know is do I need to do anything before removing the column covers just to avoid an accidental air bag deployment :/

 

[BobbyTang]

Sounds like an multi function switch (MFS) connector issue. The connector binds and causes intermittent connection problems.
If you have a tilting column, try tilt it all the way UP. If that helps, you gave the connector slack. Open the column and check
the connections. This link is from an ST and may not be the same as yours, but should be similar. GL

http://www.mysporttrac.com/MySportTrac/projects/Steering_Column_Wiring_Repair_Gen1.pdf

thanks for the quick reply and the .pdf file, I Drive a '99 ford explorer xlt. I am going to assume what I would find in there would be similar. Is there any concern for potentially having the air bag accidentally deploy by removing the upper and lower column covers? or is it generally safe to do so?? Im going to guess my removing the covers I should be able to visually identify anything that has been smoldering. Wondering if it's a fire hazard or if a fuse would go first. It did it once again a few minutes back. No smoke just solid right turn signal light and it goes on when brake is held and off when released.. all while right signal is clicked on..

 

[swshawaii]

Disconnect the negative battery terminal and wait at least 30 minutes before working around the air bag. Very real danger. GL