My car was on fire!

[bluequattro]

Anyone else had a smoky column stalk?
Started up my 90 quatt today to move it to another garage
It doesn't want to leave me
First pas reservoir spit out fluid, must have too much in n expanded with heat
Then sort that, get in to drive off n cabin filling with smoke from the stalks n column cover!
Battery off, smoke gone
Had a look under cover n lots dust n fluff
Thinking that n it's sat in the sun for a few days
Gonna clean it all up, cross fingers n get extinguisher ready!
Needed move my gt too, pump stuck! Few smacks with a hammer n it primed
Come to move it n stuck in gear!
Freed with some force!
Think I ll start watching football instead!

[Henkjan]

could be the light switch, all the amps going to the lights go through it.... many reports of smoke from that one. I bought a relais set for it from Oliver W from the german typ44 forum http://www.audi100-online.de/ is the site of his shop.

[bluequattro]

It was the wiper side
Only good car thing so far is I found a new lookin caliper wind back tool left in the gt s boot by previous owner's garage
Will come in handy

[SteveH]

I had this happen to my S2 recently. Loads of smoke, had to disconnect the battery. It's not done it since reconnecting the power.

[simon20vq]

I had the same thing and it was the alarm system control box burning out!

[Cottis]

Had this happen on a couple of CQ's a few years back. It never came to anything serious and was very inconsistent. I also had it happen on a Golf as well. Always guessed it was something VAG steering column wise. Nothing ever stopped working but the first time it happened was a little disconcerting. Smokey column stalks were frequently discussed on a similar forum a few years back.