smoke in dash
 

Hello there,I am Randha,and owner of a 986 1999 2.5 boxster (excuse for my writing),i purchase the car 2 weeks ago,next thing happend,battery clamp was a little bit lose,when i bought the car.but i didn't know it.
next day when starting in the dark,i switch the light ON and start,suddenly every thing was black no power, before it makes the turn,i quiky check the battery and found negative is lose,so i turn it to make good contact(didn't.have any tools),and every thing works,so i thought,but all is reset to zero after checking the cockpit display,i start the car and and saw the light was on but no cockpit light!,i had a appointment so i have to go,about 15 min driving,after the apointment i start the car is runs great,i switch the light on,and suddenly cockpit light dims and complete black,and than the horrible plastic smel and smoke on the dash behind the cockpit,i shocked because of the smoke,i quicky disabled the battery.wel end of porsche story in my mind.

after research,light switch i a common issue,but saw now one is commenting about smoke that can catch fire in the wiring.wel i did some testing without switch,no smoke runs great
with switch then smoke,

conclusion switch is no good,i ordered a new lightswitch,
before placing can any body tell me,where to look for damage wiring?,because i check beneed the dash,and couldn't see any damage wiring,but the smoke has to came from somewhere!!!,the only thing i guessing is to remove te cockpit,before i do that,i want your opinion what to check!!! thank you every body.

I would definitely look over all the dash wiring as much as you can. Also check to see if any fuses blew as well. If there was smoke them something had to get hot enough to burn a fuse.

there was no fuse blown,i wil take off the instuments and look behind,and try to smell it and take a visual inspection, thanks for advice:)

I would also look at the main power distribution block behind the heater. This carries several high amperage fuses for heavy current draw systems like the starter.

I had an issue with my coolant fans not working. Right front was binding and not working at all. turns out it was causing the fuse to burn not blow BURN and damaging the whole row of fuses. Also, I found my fuses were corroded from dampness so I replaced all of them.

i have change the lightswitch with a new one,the light on the dash worked and then suddenly the smell and smoke again white smoke of burnd plastic between a minute,it came in de area of the left upper speaker,i disconnect the batery aggain, but coud not trace it down,with disconnected switch,no smell and smoke,high beam lights works only wit handle in flashing mode,it seems to me the whole dash have to be taken out.....to look the wiring for damaging.

Problem is solved,by porsche specialist Holland,smoke came from shortcut from default ignition key,mechanical en electrical part has been replaced,gap in mechanical part,and electrical part,after replacment,no problem with light in cockpit,AND NO SMOKE,or plastic smell annymore,Finaly i can enjoy of my beautiful Boxter.