[s-cars] A tendril of smoke and paranoia is now chasing me...

[CyberPoet]

1993 Audi 100S V6 manual

Situation: Watched the other half start the car with the clutch up and
in gear, car jerked as the starter tried to move it, then wisely she
slammed the clutch down. Restarted with clutch in, decided it wasn't
her day to drive; swapped seats with me. I got it, started driving,
cranked up the A/C, went down the street a mile to the ATM, waited in
idle for 2 minutes, then drove on. About another 500 yards down the
road, a thin double-tendril of smoke started wafting up from the right
stalk handle (wiper control) area in the plastic casing for the
steering column, less than a cigarette produces. Shut the car down,
emergency blinkers active, sniff, look, sniff, smell of burning plastic
insulation. Smoke dies out slowly. Toggle the wiper arm switch back and
forth, up & down, look closely at the plastic surround and notice that
it would seem someone tried to disassemble it recently (gapped open
1/4" at the front on both sides). Other half comments that perhaps a
retarded car thief tried to steal the car and was looking for the
ignition wires in the wrong "traditional" place. Smell has died down
all the way, no more smoke. Restart the car, hit the wipers, everything
fine, no more smoke. Debate a bit, then decide to go on our way as if
everything were normal, just paying close attention. No more problems.
Parked, left for the day, came back, drove home, still no problems. Now
it's just a niggling worry in the back of my mind.

What's in there that would readily cause insulation to burn, that
carries enough juice to possibly fry insulation? I had peaked inside
before we moved off again and hadn't seen anything suspect... I guess
I'll be looking at the Bentley in a day or two (when it's conveniently
reachable again). During the meantime, any feedback appreciated.

Sincerely Worried about a car fire.
=-= Marc Glasgow