Posted on saturday that I was findin acrid smoke coming from the handbrake centre panel.
On further inspection this morning, when again it was smoking I found two wires that had been taped together (by previous owner I guess) had separated and one of them was glowing and burning the side of centre panel.
It looks like they have been separated for a while, my next question is what are the wires for.
its not the loom that powers the headlight position switch (further up the centre column, its two black wires going to two soldered points which then disapear down. Its a 96 Uk turbo. Picture below, sorry is blurred but you can see the connections and where it has come apart.
Do I need to reconnect them and if so how.

 

If you can get a better picture of it mate I will have a look on mine if I can get the panel off and let you know. Does the light come on on the dash that tells you that your handbrake is on?

 

the car now won't start, could this be something to do with an immobilizer

 

Thanks everyone. Turns out where the wires terminate was actually an upside down toggle switch. It was a home made immobilizer!!! The toggle turns off the fuel pump !
Thats why nobody knew what it was!

Thanks anyway