smoking lumina

i have a 93 Lumina Eurosport 3.1. ive had it for about 4 years now and have hardly had any problems with it. a couple times in the past few months a small amount of smoke came out from around the steering wheel. the first time it happened, i had just started the car. the second time it happened about 2 months later but i was on the highway. it smells kind of like an electrical fire but just for a few seconds. everyone that i have talked to either has no idea what it could be or they want $100 just to look at it. any ideas?

The smoke from your steering column is from your turn signal switch. The switch comes greased from the factory, aiding in ease of operation. However, when I replaced my switch, what I found is that over a period of time, the grease begins to rest on all of the contacts inside of the switch, creating the smoke you are seeing. It is also possible that the wiring directly at the switch has started to overheat. Are you experiencing any problems with your turn signals or your brake lights?

When I replaced the switch, I cleaned off all the old factory grease; there is a single ball bearing inside the switch that you may want to lubricate with something dry (like graphite). Have had no smoke since I replaced my switch, without the grease.

I havent had any problems with the turn signals or brake lights. the only electrical issue i have is that the lights for the ac and heat controls on the dash dont work all the time. thanks for the reply

I Have Been Havin The Same Problem With Mine 93 Lumina Smoking From The Steering Wheel, Recently My Turn Signals In The Rear Have Stopped Working. I Have Brake Lights, Yet No Turn Signals. What Is The Easiest Way To Replace The Turn Signal Switch Without Messing Up The Column??? Thank You

I'm not positive if yours is just like mine (1992), but if so its pretty straight forward.

non-airbag steering wheel: remove the horn pad (it just clips on, if I remember correctly) There is no lockplate on the 1st gen lumina (at least not one that you have to take off to remove the steering wheel)

There is a nut under the horn pad that must come off, then grab your trusty steering wheel puller, and take off the steering wheel.

you will also have to remove the steering column cover (four screws from the bottom). and the hazard switch.

At this point you should be able to see the turn signal switch.

There was no easy "plug and play" for the switch, so I traced them down the column to give myself enough wire to solder or crimp connect the wires from the new switch. I didn't disconnect the entire wiring harness for the turn signal switch because it shares a harness with several other components, and I was too lazy to unwire everything.

follow Manny's advice on removing the steering wheel, then trace the wires to the junction block under the dash (you'll have to remove the under dash cover). To the right of the steering column, you'll see a black box with an 8mm bolt in the center. Remove the bolt and the junction block comes apart. The t/sig harness plugs in at the top. The hardest part about the job is threading the wires back through the column. It's not hard, it's just a pain. I replaced mine in less than an hour, and didn't have to splice anything.