smoke from steering column now won't start!
 

i tried to start my car and i get a click which is normal. it usually starts after a few times but then smoke came out of my steering column and now no click. what did i fry??? i checked the fuses but i'm going to check again. lights, cluster, clock, everything works but no click or start. what else should i look for?

You need to pull the column covers off and take a look at your ignition switch. If it fried you should be able to see/ smell the contacts responsible...

i took them off and i don't see/smell anything that's fried. i'm seeing 12v from the power and ign and things in the column seem to look and work fine. what am i missing?

this happened yesterday in a parking lot and i had to push start it to get home. so it runs but doesn't start.

Heck, maybe the starter fried...

While you have the column apart, check the starter solenoid feed wire with the key held to start, see if you get voltage past the ignition switch...

i know it's not the starter. i have two good ones and even had them tested today but none would turn. it's getting 12v+ too so it's somewhere between the black spade connector and ign. what color is the starter solenoid feed wire?

i checked the solenoid feed wire(black/red right?) on the steering column and i get power when i turn the key to the on. what's between that and the spade connector on the starter?

check the resistance in the wire's

that's what i'm thinking it is too.

what if i were to just run new wires? could i run one from ign switch to starter relay to starter or am i missing something?

after doing some reading it seems i can cut the black/red wire that connects to the spade connector on the starter, cut the black/red wire at the ignition switch and run a wire between the two. it would bypass the clutch switch but eh... one less thing to worry about. anyone opposed to this or see any drawbacks?

if anyone cares i did it this morning and she starts up perfect every time. very easy to do... took about 2 hours with a hangover.