The other day I was driving my 93 Z28. Pulled in at work and shut off car. As I walked away, I heard a hissing & whirring sound .... then alot of smoke. I opened the hood and smoke was coming from passenger side near the bottom of the engine. I disconnected the battery and it all stopped.
Had it towed and checked at the shop. We found NO eveidence other than the smell of burnt electrical.
It started ok ... seemed the starter was turning over slower though.
Came out the next morning to find ALL of the dash warning lights ON, just like if the key was turned to the "ON" position without actually starting it. Car started ... but barely. Starter turned very slowly.
Drove the car and shut off the key ... but the engine kept running. So I "Clutch-Killed" the car in gear. Key was out, dash "warning-lights" stayed on.

Sounds to me to be a dual problem to me ... Ignition Switch & Starter.

Love to hear from you guys.
Thanks,
Terry

 

definitely seems like an ignition switch fault... how is the battery? Maybe the battery is low because of the stuff staying on? The starter could be okay.

 

battery is ok. After being on all night, it was low. I recharged to full and it still drags when starting. Never spun slow untill after the smoke show.

Since we found NO evidence of fire or burn damage, I assumed it was likely the starter that was smoking ... but the smoke came from the bottom, passenger middle-front part of the engine compartment. So we don't really know what smoked.

I am confident that the ignition switch is bad. However, when I kill the car (lights remain on) I can disconnect the battery and hook back up and it turns everything off.

 

well the starter is located on passenger side rear... maybe the exhaust manifold made the smoke go to the front of the engine?

If the starter fried it is unlikely to crank the motor at all... not saying it isn't possible just unlikely. Either way you could take that starter off and take it to an autozone to get tested.