Smoking steering column!

[Since17]

1972 Charger. No brake or rear turn signals. Please advise.
Original wiring harness, thoroughly cleaned. 6 peg plug by driver’s seat cleaned 2x.
Ground to rear was an issue; after running independent ground to rear the running lights worked. Replaced flasher and also turn fuse… functioned, although left side was dim with a very slow flash rate. Turn switch squishy on left activations. Tail light assemblies are new. Steering wheel has never been removed as far as I know ( since 1982).
Pulled the hazard 4 way switch and I heard the fuse blow and smoke rolled out of the steering column by the turn signal lever! Thereafter , turns will not function also, blown fuse. HELP!
We’re pulling the steering wheel asap. Have puller and Chrysler tool to depress turn cut off ring to access snap ring.
Questions: what is the most likely cause? Hazard switch?
Here’s our plan. Please assist us with your experience and expertise.
Pre- purchase-
- hazard switch
- turn signal switch
- dimmer switch ( turn power flows through there?)
- brake switch
Am I on the right track? We’d appreciate everyone’s tech input on this matter.
Great to be part of for B bodies only. Thank you for your help!

 

[pnora]

Fix the short to ground. None of the parts you list are your problem. Its a wiring or bulb socket shorted to ground.

 

[Kern Dog]

I had a similar thing happen years back in my '70 Charger. Years of use and years of "time" just wore the insulation off of at least one wire and bzzzzzt!
Yeah, I smoked a fusible link.
A wire from the ignition switch grounded out, smoke flowed up and around the steering wheel. The fusible link saved the car from a dash fire.

 

[71Beeper]

On the aftermarket turn signal switches, the flat plug that connects to the rest of the car can have contact issues.
Happened with the one I have.
Went over a bump and now no turn signals or passenger side tail light.
Give the flat plug a twist and we're back to full power.
I zip tied the flat plug to the steering column to hold it tight.

 

[twecomm]

In a 60's era Mopar, the wiring for the secondary bright filaments of the brake and turn signal lamps originate in the turn signal switch under steering wheel. I suggest starting there. I just posted a document a few weeks ago titled "66 Charger, Turn signal repair" PDF is available in the Electrical Ignition forum here that may be of some assistance.

 

[72RoadrunnerGTX]

As mentioned, you have a short in one of turn signal lamp circuits, could be at a socket or in the wiring leading to.

 

[Nacho-RT74]

About your pre-purchase list:

Hazard switch and turning switch are same assembly since 1970.

Dimmer switch… you meant floor high/low beams selector? That has nothing to do with turning/brakes or anything into the column, just headlights switch related to headlights (not even with parking or cluster lights)

IMHO, remove steering wheel and check. It can be something so simple like a wire in short into the column (pinched wire). I would think on the pink wire coming from emergency flasher which source the hazzards as the initial culprit. OR as mentioned, one or two of the corners wires…

Front left: tan
Front right: light green
Rear left: brown
Rear right: dark green.

If is some pinched wire somewhere into the column I’d try to save the original switch assembly (wires included) before replace with the replacement assemblies available nowdays. Is well known the replacement switches are not really good quality.