Smoke coming from steering column

[gere]

Hey guys, 3 posts in 2 days is a lot but this ones urgent.
I was driving in the wet with my wipers, lights, and demister on when I noticed smoke coming from the steering column.
I pulled over immediately after this happened, turned the car and demister off and heard a weird noise.

Any ideas on what this is? It scared the crap out of me.

[Smeeeb]

short circuit somewhere in your wiring just take it to a auto electrician if your not experienced with wiring.

[gere]

Just had another look under the steering column, and there was water under there.
Any idea how this happened and how it is affecting the car?

[Peter Jones]

Smoke or Steam?

Perhaps your heater matrix has sprung a leak.

[gere]

i think its more like steam... couldnt tell the difference before.

yeah i think it might be the heater thingy, cause my heater doesnt work!

[mb1907953]

i think its more like steam... couldnt tell the difference before.

yeah i think it might be the heater thingy, cause my heater doesnt work!

Sounds like the heater core is gone. Does it smell dodgy? Is the 'water' brown in colour?

[HaydEn]

Smoke coming from steering column

By pass and delete.

[mb1907953]

By pass and delete.

pfft weak option.

[HaydEn]

Smoke coming from steering column

#because racecar option

[gere]

yeah there is brown water in the engine bay, however I dont think the water is brown in the interior.

judging by the feedback, im becoming certain that its the heater matrix/core. thanks a heap

[mb1907953]

Try turning the thermostat to heat and if mist comes out the vents you can be fairly sure its the core. Just bypass it with a corner joiner from bunnings but dont plug the tubes. And then fix it when you get the chance

[gere]

Yes, thanks a heap! To bypass the heater core do I remove the intake and outake tubes and what an L tube there instead?

[mb1907953]

Yep thats the way.

[mattross]

sounds like heater core....
There is a vent in the firewall (engine bay), centre low down, to drain it.
If you take your passenger side blower out you can get a mirror in there to see in

If not try your cabin filter under the water deflectors

[Mk3 AAA]

You can use the existing pipes to bypass.