My Cigar lighter fuse burnt out! In trunk fuse box, #5, the 25A fuse was out. Discovered when attempting to use compressor to inflate tire. Nothing else on that circuit. Easily replaced fuse & was able to use the compressor w/o problem. I’ve never had a car fuse blown b4 & wonder why it blew? I suspect somehow excess current went through that circuit. I don’t think fuses just blow due to a defect in the fuse itself after many years.

 

Cigar lighter sockets are famous for blowing fuses when things fall into them. If after replacing the fuse and checking the lighter operation everything works . . . forget it.

 

Eureka!

Just remembered that a few days ago when picking up my car from service, the car wash guys had left a small washer & tiny bit of broken plastic on the console. I didn’t know if that came from my car or not so put them next to the cigar lighter & when I removed lighter I accidentally knocked that washer into the lighter socket! I fished it out with a finger but, I think it caused a short in the circuit by bridging the gap between two metal contacts in there.

I am no longer going to throw loose change or any stuff in that area even temporarily.

Test Point, if I had not remembered that washer falling in there earlier today, reading your reply just now would surely have reminded me! Mystery solved!