Smoke from Steering Column please help

[rubjonny]

check the earth point in the boot on the passenger side behind the boot side carpet/foam/card while you're there, and clean up all the connections on the lightsd themselves if you find any corrosion.  Next look at the wiring to the light switch, and I'd think about replacing the stalks or at least taking them off and checking for any damage

[tazistara]

sorry about not being on for a few weeks but decorating, well pulling house to bits, i got the steering column of the car removed for a wee look and the brown wire is stripped of its plastic and has melted all the way along as far as you can see, but everything is still working ie. all lights wipers etc, so looks like a fault in wiring, and that will probably cost to get sorted so dont know what to do now, car is sorn'd and sitting in the driveway doing nothing, i havent got the money or the time at moment to fix her up, fed up as she only failed on 2 bulbs and a middle exhaust (£40) probably just try to sell her the way she is , with no mot and a big loss on value

[Mk1Mad J - 16v]

That brown wire is an earth, its probably shorting out on one of the terminals for the ignition switch or wiper/light stalks, which would cause all the insulation to melt.  I'd replace that wire, or temporarily wrap it really well in insulation tape to confirm that is the problem wire.