Dear Friends,

Well, I made it to Delaware and back to Boston without mishap (and 23 MPG)
despite the scary smells under the dash the day of departure.

The overheating of the wire must have been caused by a problem in the wiper
switch ... since the wipers started operating randomly and independent of
the position of the switch. I solved that problem by pulling the fuse for
the duration of the trip. Now I am assuming I must replace the switch. I
have an entire steering column from the parts car. Can anyone tell me how
to proceed ?

Also, can anyone offer any tips on servicing sliding windows which are
always loose and no longer lock? That is, anyone can open them from the
outside even when they are closed and, supposedly, "latched?" 

Many thanks in advance.

Woody