**CAR FULL OF SMOKE, FOUND PROBLEM**

[FOREST GREEN]

  Ok, so my wife was driving home down the dual carrigeway at about 70mph, no problem what so ever, she then turns onto a 40mph road for about 3miles, then 1 mile from home, the engine starts juddering when you put your foot down, and wont go above 20mph.

  She limps the car home, phones me at work, when I get home I have a good look in the engine bay to make sure nothing has come loose etc, and all seems fine, no evidence of oil/water being lossed anywhere.

  I jump in, start her up, reverse out of the drive and there is plenty of revs there, go to pull forward, and she stutters to a halt in the middle of the road

  I crank the key over a few times, but she doesn't fire up, instead I see a whisper of smoke coming from behind the dash on the drivers side where the dash meets the windscreen. I jump out, look under the bonnet, all apears well

  I get back in, shut the door, crank her over 4 more times, the car fills with smoke and a couple of sparks fly out from around the steering column. The car has now locked me IN, the lights are on and the stereo has come on, to say that I sh!t myself is an understatement

  So, is it what I think it is?

Any nods in the right direction are really appreciated.

Thanks

Toby

PS '96 8v

[Deano2711]

My first piece of advice would be to get out of the car Buddy

[damien010685]

Lol at Deano and wow thats scary sh!t mate no idea what it could be but sparks and smoke as u know aint cool suggest mechanic as have no idea!

[boneybradley]

ignition switch, fusebox, wiper stalks...there all near the location you said! Time for some serious investigations!

[Wayne]

ignition switch, fusebox, wiper stalks...there all near the location you said! Time for some serious investigations!

+1 major problems

[01664gti]

Is your car called christine???

[FOREST GREEN]

At 1st I thought it was the MAF, sluggish, losing power etc............ But now I inclined to think its the ignition switch (fingers crossed)

Can't see what else it would be???

[Wayne]

At 1st I thought it was the MAF, sluggish, losing power etc............ But now I inclined to think its the ignition switch (fingers crossed)

Can't see what else it would be???

It may have damaged the loom further back.

[Leon27]

Suggest you go through all your fuses to see whats popped, may indicate the area thats the cause of the problem.

Strange that drive and body electrics went nuts, could possibly be that your alternator decided to overcharge or +1 with fusebox/wiring may have melted?

[DubSociety]

Poltergeist