Climate Control Unit Caught Fire

[b3lha]

I was out for a drive in the black 92 last week when smoke started pouring from the dash around the radio. I quickly pulled over, grabbed the tool kit from the boot and disconnected the battery. The smoke continued. Fearing that there was a fire behind the dash, I took the screwdriver and started pulling the dash apart as quickly as I could.

There was much less smoke now, but I could see that it was coming from the climate control unit and it was very hot to touch. By the time I got the unit out and opened it up, the fire had gone out by itself. It looks like some component on the back of the temperature display overheated and set light to the ribbon cable and the clear plastic sheet next to it.

While I was busy attacking the dash with a screwdriver, a cop arrived, thinking I was trying to steal the car. Reminded me of the old Kenny Everett sketch about car insurance: "Fire and Theft? Leave it out! Who's going to nick a car that's on fire?"

The unit had been playing up recently, some of the segments of the temperature display were brighter than others. But I never expected this to happen.

So anyway, I really need another Climate Control unit. If anybody knows of a breaker that has one, please let me know.