The Smoking Stalk

[thayer]

So, a couple of weeks ago I lost my low beam headlights. I have been using the fog lights. Well, Saturday, I pulled the lower kick panel and unplugged the stalk, plugged it back in after brushing off the contacts and BAM...Headlights.

Well, on the way the next day I flicked the brights on and then back to low beam and no low beams anymore. Pulled the fogs back on.

Next day, on the way home, I turn the lights on and pull for the fogs....all is well.....a few minutes later, I smell smoke, I immediately kill the blower fan and then SEE SMOKE RISING FROM MY COMBO STALK!?!?! Its dark, I have a 45 minute ride home. I think to myself, if the stalk is bad, then when I have the headlights on, the voltage going to headlights apparently is being stopped in the stalk, causing it to overheat and smoke. Thankfully, on a 95e320, you can get fog lights with the headlight knob in parking light mode.

I will be replacing that stalk. I got home with foglights and no more smoke. GAH!