Smoke from the steering column (1969)

[MaximRecoil]

I first saw this about 3 years ago; very faint wisps of white smoke coming from the top of the steering column (coming out of the gap between the steering wheel and the column) as I was going down a steep hill here in town. At the time I didn't associate it with applying the brakes. I didn't smell anything, it didn't do it anymore after that, and everything continued to work normally, so I forgot about it.

A few days ago after finishing my front disc brake conversion, we were bleeding the brakes and after a few minutes of that, I saw the same faint wisps of white smoke again. After a few minutes of brake bleeding (i.e., pressing and holding the brake pedal repeatedly while my mechanic friend opened and closed the bleeder screws), there was no more smoke. Since the ignition switch was off, and the doors were closed, I figured it could only be the wiring from the brake lights switch to the brake lights. Does that wiring run through the steering column?

Obviously something is getting hot in there, and I assume it is burning off accumulated dust, which is why the smoke is so faint and it stops doing it after a few minutes of extended brake pedal usage.

If the brake light wiring runs through the steering column, is it interrupted by a terminal(s) or is it uninterrupted wiring? If the former, cleaning the terminal(s) should fix the problem; if the latter, it must be a pinched or otherwise damaged wire(s) in order for there to be enough resistance in that spot to burn off dust.

[John_Kunkel]

All wires have smoke built into them, sometimes it stays inside and sometimes it escapes.

[Pete in NH]

Yes, but once you let the factory installed smoke out of the wires there's just no way to get it back in!

The brake light wiring does run through the steering column to the directional switch and back out.

[bill440rt]

Do the repro wire harnesses have the correct smoke like the factory harnesses? 
The prices of NOS harnesses are through the roof, if you can find them. If the repros have the same feature then that would be OK. NOS harnesses are still old wiring.

[Ghoste]

NOS smoke was created before the onslaught of environmentalism so there are compounds in there you just can't duplicate today.

[Mopar Nut]

Do the repro wire harnesses have the correct smoke like the factory harnesses?  

Yes, but with different scents. Red is Cherry, black is licorice, yellow has a faint lemon twist and orange, well has a orange smell to it. Don't ask what brown smells like. They did this so you'll know what wire to look for.

[A383Wing]

white is vanilla....

[TUFCAT]

Don't ask what brown smells like. They did this so you'll know what wire to look for.

This thread is hilarious!

Blue is blueberry, purple is grape, pink is cotton candy, and light green is lime. 

[70 sublime]

I hope there are no brown wires 

[Ghoste]

Theres always a brown one somewhere in the back.

[bill440rt]

My brown wire doesn't stink. 

[jaak]

This thread is great! It rates right up there with the "Vibrating Couch" thread from a few years ago.

Jason

[Ghoste]

We did determine that was haunted right?

[TUFCAT]

The steering column wiring is afraid of being insulted and ridiculed by Maxim so its letting off some smoke. 

[jaak]

Theres always a brown one somewhere in the back.

Yes you are correct, the brown wire is back by the rear end.

Jason

[TUFCAT]

As a public service reminder, if you happen to find a brown wire w/red tracer call your doctor immediately.  

[Ghoste]

Corn is the best tracer.

[john108]

I feel slighted.  None of my wiring has and form of smoke.  For that reason, I recently bought a complete set of wiring from YearOne made by M&H.  This wiring is supposed to be approved by Mopar.  Do you think that I will now have flavored smoke?

[JB400]

 

I'm surprised no one has plagiarized an encyclopedia yet

[TUFCAT]

Corn is the best tracer.

That's hilarious!     Maxim where are you...we're going to need more info on that troublesome brown wire.

[fy469rtse]

I once let all my smoke out at once and all of it lol , many hours replacing with new smoke filled wires

[Mopar Nut]

I feel slighted.  None of my wiring has and form of smoke.  For that reason, I recently bought a complete set of wiring from YearOne made by M&H.  This wiring is supposed to be approved by Mopar.  Do you think that I will now have flavored smoke?

Only if you bought the colored ones.

[Mopar Nut]

I first saw this about 3 years ago; very faint wisps of white smoke coming from the top of the steering column (coming out of the gap between the steering wheel and the column) as I was going down a steep hill here in town. At the time I didn't associate it with applying the brakes. I didn't smell anything, it didn't do it anymore after that, and everything continued to work normally, so I forgot about it.

A few days ago after finishing my front disc brake conversion, we were bleeding the brakes and after a few minutes of that, I saw the same faint wisps of white smoke again. After a few minutes of brake bleeding (i.e., pressing and holding the brake pedal repeatedly while my mechanic friend opened and closed the bleeder screws), there was no more smoke. Since the ignition switch was off, and the doors were closed, I figured it could only be the wiring from the brake lights switch to the brake lights. Does that wiring run through the steering column?

Obviously something is getting hot in there, and I assume it is burning off accumulated dust, which is why the smoke is so faint and it stops doing it after a few minutes of extended brake pedal usage.

If the brake light wiring runs through the steering column, is it interrupted by a terminal(s) or is it uninterrupted wiring? If the former, cleaning the terminal(s) should fix the problem; if the latter, it must be a pinched or otherwise damaged wire(s) in order for there to be enough resistance in that spot to burn off dust.

I came to the conclusion that it is the loose nut behind the wheel.

[stripedelete]

White smoke?  That's a new Pope. 
Take the little Virgin Mary off the dash and you will be good to go.

[MaximRecoil]

I came to the conclusion that it is the loose nut behind the wheel.

Moron Alert™

White smoke?  That's a new Pope. 
Take the little Virgin Mary off the dash and you will be good to go.

Moron Alert™: Part II

There are about a dozen more sequels to this Moron Alert™ in this thread, and plenty more currently in pre-production no doubt.