Ciggy lighter socket

[jimed]

I use the above for the Accumate but the bit that you plug into can rotate (its not that loose) within the fitting in the door panel and sometimes the Accumate sits showing yellow and all I have to do is move the cable to turn the socket slightly and it goes to green so it isn't always making a good connection. It is probably the original fitting so does it screw up or something (I suspect not but worth asking in case) - I'm reluctant to try that too much in case I mess up the wires and short out so any advice appreciated.
Jim

[V8Bart]

Had mine out last year, your better off taking door card off and cleaning the contacts etc, the power connector is a straight pin and plug that can drop loose. Can't see how you would do it in situe.

Edited by V8Bart on Monday 20th May 14:55

[jimed]

Thanks for the input Ian - I've had a philips screwdriver (plenty of insulating tape round the shaft) in the socket and given the centre bit a good cleaning also used some electrical cleaner on the whole thing and the Accumate plug. So far all seems well but I think the cleaning of the connector is a good idea for the winter - assuming it keeps charging for now ..
Jim

[Warbbby]

Mine had never worked since I bought the car and the two halves had unscrewed. I managed to access the hidden half of the socket by removing the speaker and unscrewing two of the nuts holding the door card which then meant I could move the bottom of the door card enough to re connect everything.From memory the door card was in two pieces and I think the lower vinyl section came away from the carpeted section. Bear in mind that my car is much older than yours so the door card might be different!!!
Mark

[jimed]

Cheers Mark - interesting that the thing unscrews; maybe it is just a little loose and simply needs a little tightening ...
Jim
PS Is the Vixen MoT'd now?

[Warbbby]

Fingers crossed it should be ready this weekend

[jimed]

I've spoken to Heath at X Works re the ciggy socket and he thinks they can sometimes be a bit troublesome and he therefore prefers the cable direct from the battery. The quick fix of tightening the ciggy socket would be easier for now rather than messing about with the battery box, etc. but any info re problems using the ciggy socket would be appreciated - its been fine for over 3 years (and the way it is backed into my garage also mean the drivers side is much easier to get to rather than leaning over into the passenger footwell) so far but ......
Jim

[roseytvr]

Jim
Accumate do an extension cable that can be run more orless anywhere. Mine is long enough to run into the boot and I simply open the boot and plug it in and the jobs a good un. Can even lock the care and leave it.
Ian

[V8Bart]

If your looking for an alternative socket location, an easy one that works much better for me is in the glove box, eBay special socket with fused cable direct from battery and takes 2 mins to fit.

[jimed]

I have the cable that came with the accumate so maybe that is the one you refer to (not sure its fused though); I'll have a look and see but maybe that would be long enough to be routed to the carpet at the drivers side.
Jim

[jimed]

Just a lttle update - the cable is now connected to the battery and initially the charge light (orange/yellow) was on but after a few hours (which surprised me as I'd just come home in the car so should have had a decent charge) it went green - then yesterday am it went yellow and has stayed there for 24 hours; v strange.
At the same time as fitting the lead we tried to tighten the lighter socket by turning it (clockwise looking downwards with rubber gloves for grip) and it is now nice and tight - so this am decided to try the ciggy lighter socket again and it went green straight away - funny. Only thing I can think of is that the connector on the end of the flying lead need a clean (it was new straight from the box) so will have a go at that. In the meantime I have into the lighter socket with the cable running along the inside of the door and pointing to the back of the car - reason being that if the connector tries to swivel in the socket when I open/close the door it will try and tighten the socket rather than the previous way I used to connect which may have helped the thing to slowly loosen over time. Simples!
Jim