Removing Cigerette Lighter (1 Viewer)

[sjpitts]

I have a non-functioning cigerette lighter in my 93 FJZ80. I checked the fuse, and it was good, and it has power at the fuse. But no power at the lighter itself.

I took a look at the cigerette lighter itself and noticed that it appears to be coming out. Basically, the cigerette lighter is a metal insert inside a white plastic body. The metal insert has pulled out, maybe 1/2 of an inch, from the white plastic body. It has a fair amount of play in it, but I couldn't pull it out the rest of the way.

I am not sure what I would need to do to remove the cigerette lighter. Do you need to pull the lower part of the dash? That is what I originally thought, until I saw that it appeared to be coming out on its own.

Jared

 

[mot]

Maybe this would be a good time to quit smoking.

 

[sjpitts]

Well, actually I want to run a dvd player off it. I don't need the lighter function, I just need to get power to the plug.

Jared

 

[DRTDuck]

Yes you have to pull the trim around that console area to get at it, it is attached from the back. I don't remember the specific bolts or screws etc, but mine did the same thing a couple years ago. I just pushed the metal piece back in and it works fine. It would not work fine if you were plugging somethign in and out very often, but I use mine for the CLA on my GPS so I rarely unplug it, when I do it's a two hand job to keep the metal from coming all the way out.

 

[psj1945]

You could just splice a positive wire from where you have power or some where else and ground it out on you body. Any accesery that powers on with the ignition could be used to splice on to. I think it's two screws behind the ash tray and a clip and you have access. Or you could add another lighter or power jack to the back of your center console like I did, 1 hour of easy work with a dremel and a radio shack part. I can e-mail you a pic of the finished product.Don't for get to disconect your pos. battery post.

 

[Beowulf]

Jared,

In addition to the fuse there is a small fusible link on the lighter recepticle. These are notorious for failing when used with things like small 12v air compressors.

-B-

 

[e9999]

that's right! (could have told me before I blew up mine...!)
the fusible link is likely the culprit.

I was just looking at mine the other day trying to understand how it works and it is rather odd. It seems like the system relies on pressure from the accessory plug to prevent a short. Seems really weird to me. Couldn't figure out whether I am just dumb or it's a poor design (don't answer!).

the insert is held in the trim receptacle with some tabs of sorts. You have to remove the trim panel IIRC to get it out (and need to unplug the wires of course). It may however be a matter of pushing it back in and wiggling it a bit to get it to reseat firmly.

E

 

[sjpitts]

Jared,

In addition to the fuse there is a small fusible link on the lighter recepticle. These are notorious for failing when used with things like small 12v air compressors.

-B-

A fusible link? Can you be more specific as to where this fusible link is? Is it actually part of the recepticle?

Thanks

Jared

 

[Beowulf]

Jared,

There are pictures somewhere but I can't find them. They might be on the SOR archive if you want to try searching there (Should be a link here somewhere....)

Going from memory, it is a small bare wire on the back of the recepticle. Approx 1/8" long and it looks like a solid wire. Yours is probably melted.

-B-

 

[e9999]

the wire on mine is covered in black plastic. It's basically making a connection between 2 connectors with an insulating washer in between. So you need the wire to complete the circuit. Designed to protect against both overdraw and overly high temps due to the lighter. Can easily be bypassed but then you lose the protection.

I did melt mine using a compressor that drew less than 15A IIRC which should have been fine per the fuse rating also IIRC...

E

 

[loquito]

I don't know the answer to your problem and several folks have offered pertinent advise.
I would like to tell you what happened in my wifes truck.

When she pulled out the charger for the phone the lighter came partially out. I pushed it back in but now the lighter wouldn't work. I read about the fusable link here on the board and thought that was the way I would need to go.

I pulled the lighter out of the dash (it did not need any disassemble of the dash for me) and shined a light to see how the connectors were oriented and tried to push the lighter back in, no good.

When I opened it for the third time a saw that the wires were not on a bracket ( just wires/connetor, no bracket to hold it in place)so as I pushed the lighter back in it was just pushing the wires/connectors out of the way. I went in through the ashtray slot, pushed the wires forward enough that I could grab them with needle nose pliers, Pulled the wires out far enough to connect them to the back of the lighter and put the lighter back in the dash. and now it works great.

If it came out of the dash far enough to disconect the wires in the back this may be your problem.
Good luck
Steven

 

[Harridig]

Why we are on the subject of running accessories. . . (not wanting to hijack thread though )

Where is the easiest place to tap into for a 12 volt connection?

Thanks-

D

 

[loquito]

I've read alot about folks tapping into the electric seat controls power supply.
High amp and not subject to heavy regualar usage.
No personal experiance so I am sure someone will chime in If I am wrong or if there is a better one
Steven

 

[Beowulf]

Where is the easiest place to tap into for a 12 volt connection?

Depends on what you are connecting but unswitched +12v on a high amp circuit is under both of the front seats if you have power seats. 4 bolts to pull the seats and easy to do the wiring. I prefer the US passenger side.

-B-

 

[NorCalDoug]

I found it easy enough to run a wire directly from the battery and install a couple outlets in the cargo area. I used an inline fuse in the 10 gauge wire and a small fuseblock near the outlets. Not difficult at all -- I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was.

 

[semlin]

i noticed that there are some unused two wire connectors under the seats which I assume are for seat warmers and other goodies of which we here in north america are unworthy. Perhaps Dan or SOR can sell you the male side of the connector so that you can have a plug and play 12v cable without any splicing.