For the last couple of days my rpm and speedo needle has had a mind of it's own. Ill be driving and all the sudden they'll both just drop to 0! Or the rpm will fall to 0 and the speedo will stay fine, than they'll flip flop and speedo will drop to 0 and the rpm will stay fine. Car still runs without a hitch too which seems very odd but today the CEL came on, still teh car ran fine. I was still worried, so I took back roads home because I didnt want to get stuck and the car shut off in traffic, lol.

Well, on the way home from work today the CEL came on. I came to a stop sign and the car died. I turn it back on, nothing. I let it sit for a few moments and the car came on, so I drove off. A few moments later I notice faints of smoke coming from the steering wheel, the column. All the sudden more came, so I thought my steering wheel was gonna explode, so I turn the car off. Let it sit for awhile. Turn it back on, the car was fine, few moments later the CEL came on and more smoke. I stop again, let her sit. Turn her back on, and same thing happen again. CEL x Smoke. I finally had the courage to drive it home and she made it, like the engine was totally fine, but still my steering column smell like something was burning.

I did a lil research and found out that it could be a faulty or bad ignition switch. Yes, the car still has the OEM Ignition switch. Could this be the problem? Doing more research I heard this year car (1990) had bad IS. Reading into it a bit more I heard they have bad Main relays too, but I don't know how I can tell if its a bad relay, but Im pretty positive it's an igntion switch due to were the smoke was coming from.

Any help would be great as I want to buy (if it is) an IS ASAP.

 

year make and model

 

sounds like a faulty ignition switch very common

 

1990 Honda Accord.

 

take the column shroud off and check the ignition switch........it's not common for them to go bad on that model year but if the car is up there in milage, it's most likely worn out.......

 

The car has 164,000 miles

 

My 91 just did the same thing(minus smoke). It was the ignition switch. About $50 at the auto store. Just get the switch, not the whole ***. with the lock cylinder. The whole ***. is like $125!

 

Well I bought a new ignition switch, put it on the car. Well I haven't notice any smoke from the steering wheel column within the 5 mins I had the car on yesterday, but my needles on the rpm and speedo did not move. They stay at 0, even when I give the car gas.

Engine had a ruff crank but it still turn over though. Kinda worried still, why wont my needles move now?!

 

I realize that it's probably a bit late to reply to this. But I had a very similar problem and a couple of weeks later the alternator damn near caught fire. A mechanic, without knowing I had experienced it, said that sometimes the RPM needle will go nuts just before the alternator goes. Now, my battery light illuminates briefly at times when I downshift....not sure what's up, but I plan on asking the same guy tomorrow.