2004 Radio Issue replaced fuse, smoking

[Ragmn56]

Good evening gents,
After picking up my vehicle from having wheel bearings replaced, the radio would not work. I checked fuse #18 and it was indeed
burnt. When I replaced the fuse, the space underneath the drivers wheel began to smoke a little. Needless to say, I pulled the
the fuse. Am I to assume I have an electrical issue? Car still runs smoothly enough but I'm afraid to try to turn other items on like the air.

Thanks for any help!

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[Frankie the Fink]

You don't have to ASSUME you have electrical issues, you ABSOLUTELY have electrical issues. The only thing I can suggest is that perhaps some of the push button steering wheel mounted radio controls have shorted wiring - I don't know what else vis a vis the radio would be in the steering column area if you are SURE that is where the smoke is coming from. I imagine those are very low current signal wires though.

I certainly wouldn't drive the car until the issue is fixed. A good tech can trace back from that #18 fuse and try to solve the problem but its prob not for a job for a novice. I would also quiz the shop that replaced the wheel bearings about ANYthing else they may have done, I'm not a firm believer in coincidence.