My dad took my Montero out last night, and noticed there was smoke coming from the area directly under the upper steering column shroud when the lights were on. He made it home safe, and I had a look at it this afternoon.
I pulled the knee protector and had a look at all the wiring, which were all fine. So I pulled the steering wheel and column shrouds off. Everything appeared normal there as well, but I was able to trace the smell to the integrated multi function and wiper switches.
Having disconnected the part and pulling it apart, the high beam trigger was the culprit. There's a rotary switch which turns the high beams on/off when the driver pulls the switch, and for some reason it had overheated and melted the plastic part that turns the rotary switch.
Decided I would replace the integrated assembly as a whole, only to call my parts guy at the dealer and find out it costs $235 after discount. Right.
Off I went to the yards, and pulled a damaged switch off a similar vehicle for $7. Ended up transferring the high beam switch assembly onto mine and putting it back together. Roughly 2 hours later, the high beams are functioning (success!), and there's no more smoke show.
Not sure what triggered it, but glad that's done and out the way. Might end up buying the multi function switch separately from the wiper switch off Rock Auto or something. Dealer only sells the whole assembly.
I pulled the knee protector and had a look at all the wiring, which were all fine. So I pulled the steering wheel and column shrouds off. Everything appeared normal there as well, but I was able to trace the smell to the integrated multi function and wiper switches.
Having disconnected the part and pulling it apart, the high beam trigger was the culprit. There's a rotary switch which turns the high beams on/off when the driver pulls the switch, and for some reason it had overheated and melted the plastic part that turns the rotary switch.
Decided I would replace the integrated assembly as a whole, only to call my parts guy at the dealer and find out it costs $235 after discount. Right.
Off I went to the yards, and pulled a damaged switch off a similar vehicle for $7. Ended up transferring the high beam switch assembly onto mine and putting it back together. Roughly 2 hours later, the high beams are functioning (success!), and there's no more smoke show.
Not sure what triggered it, but glad that's done and out the way. Might end up buying the multi function switch separately from the wiper switch off Rock Auto or something. Dealer only sells the whole assembly.
