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Glad you caught that! It’s easier to get to now that I know

Thanks for the encouragement I just learned that the C158 connecter is in the back of the cab under the carpet (under the seat I guess). Not a project for today! I was just out for a 20 minute drive and everything was perfectly normal. So, a bit encouraging ……. until it happens again

I guess I’d better go look again and maybe it’ll make more sense. Serious lack of knowledge and experience with vehicles here🙄.

Sorry, I’m having trouble figuring out what you mean by C158. Is that on the diagram you posted? The only way to tell if it’s gone will be to drive lots I guess, because the smoke is very sporadic (once or twice on a 20 minute drive) and short lived (15 seconds at most)

Thanks for that link. It looks more involved than I hoped but if I can get the puller and lock plate remover I might give it try. Probably I’ll spend more time looking/hoping for a bad connection under the dash since I won’t be able to get those tools till later next week.

Ok, I’m willing to get a puller and try taking the steering wheel off but after that how to proceed? Will I need to disassemble the whole column? Is it likely that it’s the turn signal wiring? And how did you discover the oil drip onto the exhaust? I don’t see any evidence of oil underneath and have spent quite a while looking at the wires under the dash but still can’t see anything burnt or melted. The smoke still happens but only for short periods and very inconsistent and doesn’t seem to be related to anything. I’m guessing eventually something will short out or catch fire so I’m nervous about it. thanks from a non mechanical guy!

Thanks for that. I’ll check to see if it’s oil but I’m thinking that would probably be more consistent or regular. I’d need a steering wheel puller to get it off ,right? Too bad you can’t just take the plastic cover off

I have a 1989 Comanche 4 L. The other day I was driving along and noticed some smoke coming out of the steering column, specifically right around the turn signal. It stopped the smoke after about 20 seconds, but occasionally it starts up again. I’ve checked the wires as much as I can underneath but can’t see anything obvious. I’d like to have a look inside the steering column but can’t see how to remove it to get at the wiring. Please suggest how I should proceed now. Don’t want to have a fire!, thanks

Thanks for the guidance and advice guys. Given how busted the old one looks it’s probably been non functional for a while and yes for now just plowing myself and neighbours so I’ll wait to deal with it

Thanks. That’s pretty much what I imagined. Took a look and I doubt if it’s ever been changed so probably will be a struggle to get out. Might just wait until the weather warms up a bit.

Thanks for those replies. It’s an 89 4.0 and yes, left hand driver. To be honest, I’m such a novice that I’m not sure whether the oxygen sensor is there or not. I’ll check though. The main question of course is whether this is an essential thing, or could I get through the winter plowing my driveway without it?

I was plowing some really deep snow and when I looked under the truck afterwards (because of a blown lower rad hose-but that’s a different story! ) and saw this dangling right behind the front differential on the driver side. Being an old geezer and lying on the freezing snow, I couldn’t see anywhere obvious that it should go. Hopefully somebody can recognize it and point me in the right direction. Thanks of course!

I appreciate the advice. I’ll take some time on the weekend for carb cleaning!

Thanks. Lesson learned! I guess I’m one of those who cheaped out. Generally I run super unleaded in all my machines but with these power outages becoming longer and spending a fortune on gas to keep the generator going, I thought “well it’s supposed to run on regular so how bad can it be if it’s running steady?” Obviously I found out 🥺

That makes sense