A friend just purchased a super-clean '92 LS w/160K miles. Very nice car!

While adjusting the steering wheel position a little smoke started to come out from the column. Would smoke be coming from the electric motors, or the nylon gears?

Mike

 

its ur auto steering wheel adjuster motor

 

GACK! uh, that sounds scary. is it moving up down and in out okay still?

 

Cool. I'll let him know.
I was in the process of warning him about not using the 'auto' feature and suggested to 'set-it-and-forget-it' when it started smoking. LOL.

Mike

 

easy fix on a stripped gear but smoke means heat, and the potential for fire, which never ends well in a car. must be a short someplace.

 

^^^^
Mine just needed some 'grease' for the gears to get it working right.

I'll let him know he should take it in to the Dealer/Shop to diagnose the issue.

Mike

 

don't take it to the dealer just yet! there is a fix on the FAQ section. point him towards that first before going to a shop.

 

^^^^^
I haven't read the entire thread. Do they discuss a fix for this specific issue? His works...but, it has some obvious electrical issue with the motor and smokes.

Mike

 

At a minimum at the dealer that is probably a $600. fix. Unless they up sell it. I'd get some covers out of the way and try to track down the smoke. A $10. wreaking yard part may fix it.

 

didn't someone have a manual tilt fix somewhere? or am I mistaken that for the set it and disconnect the auto tilt. Man fking lexus, my door panel was chopped off so I can open the door manually via pulling the latch...
I'm only at 11xxxx

I need a whole new lock unit for the driver door, I'm tempted to convert all my door to pullstraps like some porches or race cars...

 

Most of the column fixes deal with the gear. I had the same issue with my '94. No problem there. However, a smoking motor? Possible short? Not sure if there is an easy fix for that one...

And, you're right the Dealer won't be cheap.

Mike