Smoke from the steering column, cannot find the culprit.

davidf · 22 August 2015

This morn pulling away from the gym, the smell {electrical} hit me and smoke coming up around the column area. Shut it off, waited a minute, restarted, zero smoke. I drove home frantic, disassembled and crawled under the dash.
2 hours of looking with no luck. Everything works, I let her run 20 minutes while looking some more. All seems normal but I won't sleep good until I know. Has this happened to anyone here? I'm stumped, and frankly afraid to drive it anywhere.
Thank you.

ftuhy · 22 August 2015

A total WAG is capacitor failure in the climate control unit. But, the Bose stereo also has a less frequent history of similar capacitor failures. If one of those is the culprit, I suggest you get to know BrianK.

davidf · 23 August 2015

Aftermarket radio, CC has been repaired by BK and works excellent. The smoke came from knee bolster area up to the turn signal area. Every wire looks perfect so far. I plan on poking around some more tomorrow.

JD Cross · 23 August 2015

Is it possible your ignition switch arced due to a build-up of dirt etc inside?

EIFFEL · 23 August 2015

Pull the instrument cluster and you should be able to smell the source of the burnt capacitor. Likely the rear brake light warning circuit.

davidf · 23 August 2015

JD Cross said:
Is it possible your ignition switch arced due to a build-up of dirt etc inside?

Replaced it last year but won't rule it out just because it has very few miles on it. Could be a defect.

- - - Updated - - -

I will do that tomorrow morn Eiffel. I did take the car for a 15 min run around the neighborhood this eve with no smoke, no smell. Its weird, it smelled so strong this morn it I thought it burnt the inside of my nose.

ThaiT · 23 August 2015

Could it be the door chime the burned up?

davidf · 24 August 2015

ThaiT said:
Could it be the door chime the burned up?

That little bastard still chimes so I guess not, lol.

charlee · 24 August 2015

This would be trying to find a need in a haystack, especially if the defect is within some unit.

It sounds most likely a relay, fuse, or a failed circuit. When the failed component(s) is identified, there may be a chance that the problem continues to exist.

If you are not abled to locate the issue, you may need to wait until you experience a nonfunctional feature (for example, power door locks, clock, cig lighter, some light etc.).

Good luck and let us know!

davidf · 24 August 2015

I will definitely let you all know. It's the worst feeling in the world. Hopefully when it's solved it will help others that may run into this.

UnhuZ · 24 August 2015

David,

the Gauge cluster also suffer from the same capacitor problem of the CC, Bose amps and Headunit.

Remove the Cluster, open the back by removing the clearish plastic and smell the circuit boards... If
it smells "fishy", remove the boards and inspect them

(the capacitors won't be visible with the boardsinstalled)

Check this, because there are some cases of cabin fire due to cluster capacitor death.

Nuno

- - - Updated - - -

Check this NSXCB thread:

Post #10

davidf · 25 August 2015

Thank you very much Nuno.

Briank · 27 August 2015

Yes cases of cars burning down from capacitor failures have happened, I have seen cluster circuit board that burnt bad.

davidf · 28 August 2015

UPDATE:
Pulled the cluster today, found a burnt spot on the circuit board down just left of the brake lamp center. {Thank you Effiel} I'm not sure if any further damage would follow if left alone but it will be heading to BrianK Monday for my piece of mind.
I hope this helps anyone in the future.

sca037 · 30 September 2015

The circuit boards in our purple NSX were burned beyond repair due to a leaking capacitor shorting things out.

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/UrzbsLOO839x5LmcNM5GeuHPz6vjjXl7zXdtseFeplI?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ka4_S8LrnWU/Vgvi_JucVMI/AAAAAAAAAfY/u111FrlGAsQ/s640/Dash%252520fire-%252520Rear.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/102476180198276928653/September302015?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsite">September 30, 2015</a></td></tr></table>

I was able to locate another gauge cluster which I sent to BrianK for a full rehab before installing (thanks once again!)

This will probably join the Radio and CC issues with increasing frequency in the future as the cars get older.........

Brian

GraemeD · 30 September 2015

Something else to inspect on my car!

sca037 · 30 September 2015

GraemeD said:
Something else to inspect on my car!

This is a problem that shows no symptoms, until the smoke starts!

Pulling the gauge cluster just to do a visual inspection during a PPI is a bit over the top I think.....

Brian

davidf · 1 October 2015

sca037 said:
This is a problem that shows no symptoms, until the smoke starts!

Pulling the gauge cluster just to do a visual inspection during a PPI is a bit over the top I think.....

Brian

Agreed.

goldNSX · 22 December 2015

I'm in the middle of rebuilding my cluster unit with new caps. Too bad I didn't see two caps are bipolar before ordering them (47mü). I have some mini alu caps, will these do? Link: http://www.conrad.ch/ce/de/product/...Wuerth-Elektronik-WCAP-ASNP-865250449008-1-St
I couldn't find any other and Santa Claus is occupied too much now. Thanks in advance.

BTW: for the people who faced contact problems to the gauges: you can solder a thin layer on the thin contact area so it gets better contact.

RYU · 22 December 2015

sca037 said:
The circuit boards in our purple NSX were burned beyond repair due to a leaking capacitor shorting things out.

<tbody>
[TD="align: right"]From September 30, 2015 [/TD]

</tbody>

I was able to locate another gauge cluster which I sent to BrianK for a full rehab before installing (thanks once again!)

This will probably join the Radio and CC issues with increasing frequency in the future as the cars get older.........

Brian

I'm #1 on this list. I'm switching over because I think a newer LED cluster is easier to read at the track but also because I want to preserve my OEM gauge cluster too.
http://www.nsxprime.com/forum/showthread.php/193599-NSX2S2K-S2000-Instrument-Cluster-Conversion-Kit

That fire looks nasty!!!

davidf · 23 December 2015

RYU said:
I'm #1 on this list. I'm switching over because I think a newer LED cluster is easier to read at the track but also because I want to preserve my OEM gauge cluster too.
http://www.nsxprime.com/forum/showthread.php/193599-NSX2S2K-S2000-Instrument-Cluster-Conversion-Kit

That fire looks nasty!!!

I can't tell you the sicking/helpless feeling you get when smoke pours from the steering column, only thinking your beloved NSX is about to be a pile of ashes and rubble.

sca037 · 23 December 2015

davidf said:
I can't tell you the sicking/helpless feeling you get when smoke pours from the steering column, only thinking your beloved NSX is about to be a pile of ashes and rubble.

Not to mention the inhaling of some toxic smelling burning electrical smoke during the process!

nikey22 · 27 December 2015

OP, please upload a pic of your burnt area on the cluster

davidf · 27 December 2015

nikey22 said:
OP, please upload a pic of your burnt area on the cluster

Nikey I did not take a pic. It was pretty much determined by BrianK what the issue was so I pulled it and boxed it. Their was a slight burnt spot about center at the bottom of the cluster just as BK said.
FWIW, for the last 2/3 years I would get a occasional trunk/door warning lamp on for no apparent reason. This has been completely eliminated as well.

nikey22 · 31 December 2015

Glad its all fixed, I think BrainK is gonna have to replace every capacitor in these cars soon! Awesome.

Smoke from the steering column, cannot find the culprit.

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