ciggy lighters not working - likely cause?
Discussion
The cigarette lighters in my car ( Ford Focus hatch 2003 ) are not working, now I have a TomTom to charge this has become a problem! All fuses seem to be present & correct, and all other electrics are working well. So before I start poking around I wondered if there is an obvious place that I should start looking? Both the one in the dashboard, and the rear passenger one is not working.
TIA, Noggin.
TIA, Noggin.
same prob in my C3..... there was a fuse for the ciggy socket but also a fuse for Ciggy sockets/leccy mirrors and 12v extra socket..... could be another fuse there OR....... as we find on the Mazda Bongo Friendee...(MPV - Camper - Import) the 12v rear socket is 3 metres from the fuse box....so when a kitchen is installed and 12v sockets, inverters and water pumps for sinks are using this power socket the power wire needs upgrading to 30 amp.....if you use the ciggy socket often .... re wire it..
I'm sure you have, but have you checked if the charger works, as opposed to the cigarette lighter?
Reason I say this is because my cheap ebay-special charger for my nokia phone came apart, and the end of it and the fuse from it dropped into the socket. As I fished them out, I must have shorted the pos and neg terminals in the socket, as there was a loud pop and sparks.
ops:
I assumed the fuse would have gone, as the lighter itself won't stay engaged, but my phone and tomtom chargers both still work in the socket.
Reason I say this is because my cheap ebay-special charger for my nokia phone came apart, and the end of it and the fuse from it dropped into the socket. As I fished them out, I must have shorted the pos and neg terminals in the socket, as there was a loud pop and sparks.
ops:I assumed the fuse would have gone, as the lighter itself won't stay engaged, but my phone and tomtom chargers both still work in the socket.
Glade said:
Do you use it to light ciggys?
If so the contacts can get covered in ash from the lighter then when using a charger it doesnt work.
Blow it out, wipe it over (ignition off
) and then give it another go.
Thanks all. No - no ciggies ever smoked in there, and neither the charger or the lighter work. I will have a look around for a 'hidden' fuse, otherise hotwire the socket straight to the battery.If so the contacts can get covered in ash from the lighter then when using a charger it doesnt work.
Blow it out, wipe it over (ignition off
) and then give it another go.Cheers.
skip_1 said:
Prise it out, i've seen so many where the wire has just come unattached and just needs clipping back onto the bottom 
Tried that - at least on the rear one. There is no power getting to it, I tested it it with a 12v bulb, and I can't find any hidden fuses. I might just take a permanent live from the radio to the dashboard lighter to fix it. Thanks for all suggestions.nogginthenog said:
Tried that - at least on the rear one. There is no power getting to it, I tested it it with a 12v bulb, and I can't find any hidden fuses. I might just take a permanent live from the radio to the dashboard lighter to fix it. Thanks for all suggestions.
Reviving an old thread. How did this go in the end (if you can remember that far back)? While 'splicing' in an additional 12v socket to the cigarette lighter feed (always live) under the dash I inadvertently bridged the two cables. Now the whole circuit is dead - that's both the front and rear 12v sockets. Checked the fuse and it's fine but replaced it anyway just in case. Circuit is still dead and I've been unable to find any hidden in-line fuse. I ran a meter across the fuse pins and no 12v power there either (ignition on or off).Is there some other (fused) live feed the cigarette lighter circuit is fed by - higher than 15 amps? I'm stuck
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