Smoke from Steering Column please help

[tazistara]

Well my old girl failed her MOT (mk2 gti 8v), but at 20yrs old she didnt fail on a lot i.e. 1. n/s reg plate bulb not working - easy, 2. o/s rear fog not in good working order - easy, 3. centre section exhaust system leaking exhaust gases - easy, now the poser 4. (pulsing) all position lamps adversely affected by the operation of another lamp ? thats the one im stumped on, and the fact that when i went to take her in to get exhaust done turned on ignition and thought a genie was going to appear as i had smoke coming from steering column - now that cant be right, so i would much appreciate it if anyone can help with this problem as i have a yr old little one that goes everywhere with me in this car and im very concerned that this could be a dangerous problem.

[mattneck(Beavis)]

does the car start since the smoke came? its likely to be bad earth as that was my problem ad my iggy switch had burnt out, im in a 1.3 and it was the earth on the front engine mount loose.. maybe soemthing gone in the stalks or?

[Mr Blue]

I was going to say ignition switch. Happend to me

[tazistara]

yes the car still starts first time even with the smoke, maybe i should think about getting rid although she has never let me down, but i need a car with having the wee one

[tazistara]

just been out and started up the car, no smoke, this is weird, could this bad earth you were talking about cause the pulsing in the lights ? cos there must definetly be a bad earth somewhere and they wont pass it with the pulse

[DarnPB]

The pulsing of the rear lights when using indicators is quite a common fault with VAG cars and easy to rectify. The cause is a corroded earth terminal in the strip connector in the back lights. What I have done to rectify the problem AND prevent it from happening again is to remove all the corrosion, degrease the terminal and then put a blob of solder on the corrosion damage, then file smooth. This was on an older Audi Coupe but they are much the same.

[tazistara]

thanks for your reply but its not happening when using the indicators, its when main beam is on and you press the brake pedal, the indicators and the reverse lights pulse thats what the garage have said, i tested it and i cant see any pulsing when using lights and pressing the brake (maybe the old girl was having an off day lol) i love golfs and had a few mk2 gti's and the mk1 convertible but this is the first time i have had problems with electrics

[DarnPB]

I still think it may be an earth terminal. Same symptoms as before. Its just that the service you are using, ie the lights, are earthing through another terminal other than the earth.

[Simpson]

Yeash sounds like an earyn too clean all the light connectors up and put some grease on, also don't get rid due to a few niggles they all have them, easily sorted 

[Mk1Mad J - 16v]

This sounds a bit like a common problem on mk1's so worth a look at the wire (grey/blue i think ) for illuminating the switches etc... when the lights are on which runs around behind the dash, it could be shorting out somewhere.

had that twice on mk1's, its really scary when the smoke turns to a red hot wire