Cigarette lighter not working

[Melville]

I recently had a bunch of my interior wood refurbished by Madera. Looks great! But after putting it all together my cigarette lighter doesn't work. I'm useless with directions so I use it to keep my phone nicely charged. I'm pretty confident that I plugged the connector in properly so I think there's probably a loose wire in the ashtray assembly from shipping to/from Madera or something jiggled while they worked on it (though there wasn't any obvious loose wires when I reassembled it) However, if anyone has any ideas of other causes please let me know. I'd like to avoid taking off a bunch of the wood if possible so I'm hoping that there is some easily accessible fuse I don't know about that might be the culprit.

 

[nocfn]

sometimes, the fuse blows just by putting the connector back on. Check that out first.

 

[Ntrepid]

Mark -

I have 4 spare ashtrays so if there is a bit other than the wood you need, you know where to find me (at least on Saturday mornings around 6A).


Robert

 

[Melville]

I visually inspected all fuses and they looked fine. And all were changed just a couple of weeks ago (along with half of the rest of my car thanks to the hard work of Jono and his team - update on my owner thread to come once i pull some pics off my phone). Since they all looked ok, I didn't spend the extra minute it would have taken to locate the specific fuse and try a replacement but I'll do that tonight. Just to make sure, the fuse is located in the main fuse box, right?

 

[Melville]

Mark -

I have 4 spare ashtrays so if there is a bit other than the wood you need, you know where to find me (at least on Saturday mornings around 6A).


Robert

Thanks! 4 ashtrays! Are you planning on taking up smoking?

 

[sheward]

I had to twist and scrape the lighter/adaptor inside the receptacle to get contact due to lack of use. Check that Madera didn't overspray poly into the receptacle.

drew

 

[Ntrepid]

Thanks! 4 ashtrays! Are you planning on taking up smoking?

I'm thinking about it. Thought I would take up vaping but then wanted to be period correct while driving the 500E. May source a pipe to go with my plaid flat cap (link) and Ascot.


Robert

 

[r44raven]

I'm thinking about it. Thought I would take up vaping but then wanted to be period correct while driving the 500E. May source a pipe to go with my plaid flat cap (link) and Ascot.


Robert

Oh, come on!

A pipe, flat cap and Ascot may be 1990's - but while driving a 500E?

No way!

 

[600Eric]

I visually inspected all fuses and they looked fine. And all were changed just a couple of weeks ago (along with half of the rest of my car thanks to the hard work of Jono and his team - update on my owner thread to come once i pull some pics off my phone). Since they all looked ok, I didn't spend the extra minute it would have taken to locate the specific fuse and try a replacement but I'll do that tonight. Just to make sure, the fuse is located in the main fuse box, right?

Melville,

Although there really is not too much too them from a technical standpoint if the problem does not end up being a fuse you can replace the cigarette lighter heating element in your refinished ash tray. Start by removing the metal clip / strap that holds the plug to the housing. Then do the same with the small plastic wire fastener on the side of it and of course the ash tray lamp socket. The actual heating element itself will push through the front and you just drag everything through the hole. Once you get a new one (sounds like Ntrepid can possibly take of you) the process is simply reversed. Just take it easy on the plastic collar or sleeve that holds the heating element in place when you are working it loose from the body of the ash tray as it can be a bit tricky to get out. Also while you are in there might not be a bad time to replace the rice grain lamp before you put it back together.