ignition

[aad 0]

on rare occations i have smoke which comes from behind

stearing wheel when turn igniton on' if i turn off its fine .

but my car misfires' also sometimes after i start it ;

if i restart it flies again .please help put new plugs in yesterday ngk bkr5ekup plats do they make a diff.

its got to do with starting its to inter mitnt.cheers.

[uber-tub 0]

Smoke from behind steering wheel!?

Sounds like something is earthing or shorting on the steering column... I'd just pop off the plastic shroud around the indicator,etc stalks and have a good look at the 4 or 5 wires going into your ignition barrel. Make sure none of the insulation is worn...

Only take two mins and could save you a car fire.

Not sure how your question reads.. does smoke appear when you turn the ignition on and off or; does turning the ignition on and off cure it?

If the latter I'd suggest a dodgy main beam stalk. unless you have had an uprated relay and loom for your lights your main beam switch takes the full current to the lights! If the brass coloured contacts are a bit dirty or the switch is loose and worn the contacts could short producing a puff of smoke. I don't have a mk 3 so i don't know the design of this but that's where I'd look.

Actually my missus has a Mk3, if I get time I'll have alook at hers. Her CAR that is!

[uber-tub 0]

Not sure how your question reads..

that's because I can't read properly... it reads fine now I bother to look at what it says! oops!

[aad 0]

if turn ignition on and it smokes i have to turn ignition off, because it smells like smouldering wires. i then turn ignition on to start again and it is ok(there is no smoke) it comes from behind steering wheel where the shroud is.

it comes out like a slow puff of smoke which is white in colour .

thanks.

[VRmonster 1]

yeah id agree check that the wires are in tact, i had a mobile mechanic change my ign switch and when i got home i tried to start the car and there was smoke just as you described, took the cowling off the column and foind that he had striped one of the wires and not taped it bck up. i dont know why he had as he only needed to change the switch. needless to say i didnt pay him or use him again.

[aad 0]

i've removed plastic shroud all looks fine.

i assume the 4or5 wires which go underneath the ign barrel

are the ones your on about , which go into a seeled plastic switch underneath the barrel mine i cannot see any wires

they are in a plastic type tubing.

i'm leaving the shroud off for now so if it happens again i can see where it comes from.

many thanks attila.

p.s i think it,s time to get a fire extinguisher.

[apd 0]

i would bet if you remove your cowling from behind the steering wheel,the 5/6 wires that plug in to the back of the indicator stalk are at fault.probably the yellow one is split/broke/not connecting?disconnect battery live and fix.had same symptoms.