Cigarette Lighter Broken

[Ross]

Like a lot of folks, I keep a cell phone charger/hands free device plugged in to the cigarette lighter on the dash, next to the gauges. Lately, the charger hasn't been working, so I figured I would just buy a new one. Then I got the bright idea to make sure that the lighter wasn't broken. So I plugged the charger into the lighter outlet in the console, and sure enough it works! Now I know that it's the lighter outlet on the dash that is broken. I checked the fuse, and it's ok. I guess I'll have to pull the plate containing the gauges and outlet to replace the thing, huh? Anybody have to do this yet? I know a lot of people have pulled that plate to put in a real oil pressure gauge. Could anything else be causing the outlet to malfunction?

[Donny Carlson]

Like a lot of folks, I keep a cell phone charger/hands free device plugged in to the cigarette lighter on the dash, next to the gauges. Lately, the charger hasn't been working, so I figured I would just buy a new one. Then I got the bright idea to make sure that the lighter wasn't broken. So I plugged the charger into the lighter outlet in the console, and sure enough it works! Now I know that it's the lighter outlet on the dash that is broken. I checked the fuse, and it's ok. I guess I'll have to pull the plate containing the gauges and outlet to replace the thing, huh? Anybody have to do this yet? I know a lot of people have pulled that plate to put in a real oil pressure gauge. Could anything else be causing the outlet to malfunction?
You may be in for an unpleasant surprise when you replace the lighter. I ordered a gauge trim piece to modify for the third gauge from Ray, and when I took it out of the box tonight it had a cigarette lighter. I suspect to replace the cigarette lighter you have to buy the trim piece, which costs over $80 at Ray's prices (lower than MSRP).

Tell you what, I don't need the lighter. If you need it, I'll send it to you.

[David Morton]

Using a test light, check the socket for power using the housing for ground and the center electrode at the bottom of the socket. Frequently, charger devices damage the socket making the ground intermittent. If the thing is really hard to insert (that word always gets me hot) then you may be able to restore the socket by prying the ground anodes inside it out a bit with a knife or on the device as well. The power point in the console is designed to accomodate these types of devices better and will not heat up a lighter unless you hold it down. You might try to spray some lithium grease into the socket also to restore a good connection.

If the fuse is good, I doubt the socket is really bad. It's just a little bent.

[Racerx88]

Ross, make sure you're getting the charger cord seated good inside the lighter socket. Both my '03 and now my '04 had/have the same problem. The charger cord has to been turned "just right" to fully seat inside the socket. I don't have the problem with the console socket, just the lighter socket.

[Ross]

Tell you what, I don't need the lighter. If you need it, I'll send it to you.

Thanks, Donny, I don't think I'll need it now. Read below.

[Ross]

I think David and Dean had it right. I guess I had the charger in the socket for so long that some of the contacts inside the socket were bent. They showed good with a multimeter, so I did some prying around and gentle bending and the darn thing works again! Thanks to all. :up: :beer:

[David Morton]

De nada, amigo.