1974 FJ40 Cigarette Lighter Doesn't Fit (2 Viewers)

[demos]

My '74 had a passenger compartment fire just before I purchased it 10 years ago. I have since completely stripped the interior and repainted everything including the dashboard. I had removed the original cigarette lighter and bought a new one from Toyota. It won't fit, nor will the old one. It seems like the paint may have closed off the diameter a bit but it doesn't even seem close.

Before I damage something or start sanding down the paint inside the hole (and exposing an area to corrosion), I figured I ask if anyone has had a similar problem?

 

[charliemeyer007]

You need to ream the hole to provide the ground

 

[Living in the Past]

My '74 had a passenger compartment fire just before I purchased it 10 years ago. I have since completely stripped the interior and repainted everything including the dashboard. I had removed the original cigarette lighter and bought a new one from Toyota. It won't fit, nor will the old one. It seems like the paint may have closed off the diameter a bit but it doesn't even seem close.

Before I damage something or start sanding down the paint inside the hole (and exposing an area to corrosion), I figured I ask if anyone has had a similar problem?

View attachment 3851049

View attachment 3851048

Do you still have the original cigarette lighter to compare to the new one? Toyota supercedes old parts with a new ones that may be a little different. It's the best OEM your going to get other than the used market. If the lighter changed not sure but could be a possibility.

 

[timmyisinthewell]

Do you recall the p/n of the new part received from Toyota? Toyota changed the p/n a couple of times for the lighter assy during the period from 03/69 to 07/80, which are the years covered in my US and Canadian market microfiche set. I couldn't tell you what caused the p/n change. See LIGHTER ASSY, CIGARETTE shown as item 85500. It appears the p/n supercedes itself through the period.

 

[Pighead]

My '74 had a passenger compartment fire just before I purchased it 10 years ago. I have since completely stripped the interior and repainted everything including the dashboard. I had removed the original cigarette lighter and bought a new one from Toyota. It won't fit, nor will the old one. It seems like the paint may have closed off the diameter a bit but it doesn't even seem close.

Before I damage something or start sanding down the paint inside the hole (and exposing an area to corrosion), I figured I ask if anyone has had a similar problem?

View attachment 3851049

View attachment 3851048

This one might be out of my '74 FJ55. 2 pieces...

 

[45Dougal]

That's a devilish measurement.

How about a nice round 17mm?

 

[73FJ40]

You need to ream the hole to provide the ground

I wouldn't count on a ground through the dashboard for a cigarette lighter load (20 amp fuse?).

The replacement should have a lug to attach a ground wire that connects to a reliable ground, instead of scaping off perfectly good paint, if possible.

 

[timmyisinthewell]

Attached pics of the cigarette lighter from my jan 72 FJ40 I bought as the second owner oct 78.

 

[demos]

You need to ream the hole to provide the ground

Good idea, but these units (the new OEM and original in my vehicle) both have a spade lug for grounding.

 

[demos]

Do you still have the original cigarette lighter to compare to the new one? Toyota supercedes old parts with a new ones that may be a little different. It's the best OEM your going to get other than the used market. If the lighter changed not sure but could be a possibility.

I do have the old one. It's a bit crusty but appears nearly identical except for a slightly longer post for the bullet connector. I measured the diameter of the piece that inserts into the dash and it appears to be the same diameter as the old unit. I guess the hole must have been a tight fit and my paint job took up the remaining slop. Looks like I need to sand down the paint.

 

[demos]

This one might be out of my '74 FJ55. 2 pieces...

View attachment 3851314

View attachment 3851315

View attachment 3851316

I found my dial caliper and measured mine. Both the original and OEM replacement measure around 0.875 inch - a bit larger than yours. I'm guessing my paint closed up the hole enough to cause a problem and I need to get out the sand paper. Thanks for the photos!

 

[Living in the Past]

Did you try the old cigarette lighter in the hole? Does seem just as tight?

If you do have to widen I would use a sharp blade to trim the hole down to bare metal. As mentioned above your going to need a good ground for it to work properly. After your done you may want to sand around inside where the nut tightens. I'm in the desert and rust takes very little to avoid. In MA not sure if you would want brush a sealer on the back after installed. Besides rusting if it does rust that will hurt the ground.