My cigarette lighter does not work. Ideas?

Ricochet J · 13 Apr 2009 at 11:23

Now this is especially annoying when I want to go somewhere but can't use the SatNav. I have to resort to printing of maps and what not.

Car is a Mk1 Focus. Any ideas would be great! Thanks

iaind · 13 Apr 2009 at 11:23

There's not much it can be, they arent exactly complicated.

Fuse.

ZG002 · 13 Apr 2009 at 11:27

as said check the fuse. If all else fails take it out and check there is power getting to it and replace.

iaind · 13 Apr 2009 at 11:30

If it's been used as a cig lighter, they can fill up with crap over the years so the metal looses conductivity. A small wire brush should sort that out and you'd be able to tell by looking at it

ZG002 · 13 Apr 2009 at 11:31

iaind said:
If it's been used as a cig lighter, they can fill up with crap over the years so the metal looses conductivity. A small wire brush should sort that out and you'd be able to tell by looking at it

Make sure you disconnet it from the battery first tho

4T5 · 13 Apr 2009 at 11:54

ZG002 said:
Make sure you disconnet it from the battery first tho

Yer coz 12 volts can be Lethal a.

ZG002 · 13 Apr 2009 at 11:57

12v will still spark like crazy and if shorted out and pop a fuse

Gilbretto · 13 Apr 2009 at 12:51

If it's not the fuse, check the wiring. This can come loose, or sometimes become damaged after many years.

Dogbreath · 13 Apr 2009 at 13:02

malc30 said:
Yer coz 12 volts can be Lethal a.

Not usualy lethal, but can cause bad burns given the kind of current a large lead acid battery can supply. The point you seem to have missed however is that sticking a wire brush into a live cigarette lighter will blow the fuse if it hasn't already.

Solari · 13 Apr 2009 at 13:28

Dogbreath said:
Not usualy lethal, but can cause bad burns given the kind of current a large lead acid battery can supply. The point you seem to have missed however is that sticking a wire brush into a live cigarette lighter will blow the fuse if it hasn't already.

I was going to say just take the fuse out rather than disconnect the battery

iaind · 13 Apr 2009 at 13:29

Yes - what he said

Alternatively, to save loosing radio presets etc, pull the fuse out first

FrostedNipple · 13 Apr 2009 at 13:33

sure your satnav isn't broken?

esK` · 13 Apr 2009 at 13:33

Quit smoking!

And charge the sat nav at home on the mains hehe

iaind · 13 Apr 2009 at 13:36

That works brilliantly on a half hour journey, not much good on a 5 hour stint

esK` · 13 Apr 2009 at 13:38

My logic gets flawed again... Sod these days off its messing with my head i tells ya!

moss · 13 Apr 2009 at 13:38

Dogbreath said:
Not usualy lethal, but can cause bad burns given the kind of current a large lead acid battery can supply.

I know this from 1st hand experience, I've had loads of 240v shocks but none hurt anywhere near as bad as a burn I got from a fully charged diesel battery. The wires glowed red and literally burnt through and into the skin on my thumb, the smell wasn't too good either.

IAmATeaf · 13 Apr 2009 at 16:18

malc30 said:
Yer coz 12 volts can be Lethal a.

It's not the voltage but the current that a car battery is capable of that will cause the damage.

Janesy B · 13 Apr 2009 at 16:26

Volts Jolt but Amps Kill. Remember that kids

allllec · 13 Apr 2009 at 19:25

£1.99 ebay for a new ciggie lighter. 10minutes to an hour depending how OTT the dash is. Problem fixed, get a nice little sense of achievement afterwards as well. Don't need to have any technical knowledge either.

iaind · 13 Apr 2009 at 19:43

I'd still reccomend checking the fuse before buying and replacing the socket