Hello...new poster here. Thanks in advance for any suggestions you may have.

Tonight, I had an experience that has me a little rattled. My vehicle is a 1993 940 Wagon--a vehicle we recently acquired that hasn't passed inspection yet. (You might say the vehicle has more than it's share of problems at the moment.)

I went to check the fuses, which according to the manual are behind the ashtray. The only way I could remove the ashtray was to move the shifter into "N". When I pulled the ashtray out, streams of smoke started coming out, and within a few seconds, there was a flash at the base of the shifter and a pretty potent burning smell. I'm very hestitant to touch the fuse area again at this point.

What did I do?

 

Well, this is NOT supposed to happen! I don't believe you did anything wrong. So, what's now? What electrical equipment works and what doesn't? Looks like you have a short. I'd disconnect the battery and look at the fuse box for obviously burned terminals and repair them-you may need a new box... You'll have to take a look at the shifter too--there may be some exposed wires there.