So theres many factors I believe that could be causing this, but hear me out anyway. Ive got a 93 straight 6 xj. Over the past month, electrical problems have been coming up and finally crippled the thing today. About a month ago, I did all the bulbs at the right rear. My right blinker would work until I pressed the brakes, then it would stop and my reverse lights would go on. Not long after that I was driving using the right turn signal with the brakes on, and smoke came out of my column. But wait, Thats just the beginning, and more importantly & recently Id start it up drive to work. Go to hop in on lunch break and no power to anything. Not a thing, switch it to neutral and everything came back on. So ive been doing this up until today, and neutral doesnt do anything. No power to nothing unless I have a nice charged pak to jump it, then it drives around fine until I turn it off...then I have to jump it to get power again. I did the alternator about a year and a half ago, and I go through starters quite a bit to add to that.

 

have you searced nss issues

 

Drop your steering column and see if your main power switch on top of the column is messed up. Where did the smoke come from the top or under your dash? Could also be your ignition or multi switch also. Depends on where you saw smoke.

 

did you check your wiring on the brake switch around the top of the pedal?
Also check your wiring behind the spare tire it's under the plastic but not too hard to get at. Sometimes there's old connection for a towing harness undr there. If so it could be shorting out.

 

freegdr - not sure what "issues" you mean, is that a site?

the smoke came from what seemed like out of the horn, it happened twice at different times.

 

neutral saftey switch-nss, you stated you switch it to neutral and all power came back