Hi I have just brought my car, and one of the issues is that the cigarette lighter does not seem to be working.

It will be used to charge phone for satnav use.

its not the fuse in the drivers side, so I have brought a replacement and took the centre console off but when the new one didnt work i tried seeing if there was power goinfg to it with a multimeter.

Power is going to it with the ignition on and even to the cigarette lighter when port when nothing is in, but when the cigarette lighter is pushed in or a power adapter the power just goes and does not charge or heat the cigarette lighter.

I am a Newbie at this so so my apologies if this is silly question but any help would be great.

Thanks

matt

 

Matt,

I'm trying to follow what you've replaced. Is it the full cigarette lighter assembly (items 1 and 2) or only the lighter (item 1)?



If you've got power to the black harness connector for the cigarette lighter, it's likely to be a fault with item 2.

I've taken a jockey connection from the harness next to the cigarette lighter connector to power my SatNav. This is a tidier solution than using an accessory plug in the lighter.

Graham

 

Is the EARTH connected?????????????
For electricity to flow, there must be BOTH positive AND negative!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

bob gauff

 

Bob speaketh the Truth.
The other thing to remember is that multimeters only draw a microscopic current so can be very misleading.
They can show volts present when there's actually a very bad connection somewhere.
Once you try to draw real current the old electrons can't get through in enough quantity to be useful.
Try plugging in the cigar lighter while measuring the supply volts.

 

Hi again

Graham it was both items 1 and 2 which was replaced to no avail, also which wire did you take your power from and also I cant find out what a jockey connector is, is this one of these Snap-Lock Automotive Cable Connectors : Crimp Terminals : Maplin Electronics

The earth is connected and working fine

After looking at this more closely the switched power wire to the lighter seems to be dead (checked fuse and this is fine)
I was misreading minimal power going through the multi meter as steve said, and checking against lighter light power lead (switched with lights) the power was insignificant from the cigareete lighter wire.

I also tested plugging in the light plug and the cigarette lighter works fine apart from only when the lights are on, so parts 1 and 2 as diagram are fine and working.

Has anyone any ideas on how to fix this wire, or does it just need replacing

Many thanks

 

Matt,
Put a load on the socket (plug in the lighter) and check volts on both sides of the fuse and anywhere else on the wire to the lighter you can see a connector or splice.
Also check there's NOT 12 V on the earth side of the lighter.
I'd guess this
Dorman Conduct-Tite! 85462 - Quick Splice | O'Reilly Auto Parts
was what Graham meant. Worth their weight in gold.

 

YES - Jockey = SnapLock

This is my 2001 XK8. The harness connector to the lighter is shown disconnected and between the console and the driver's seat:



I used the SnapLock connectors on the Black and White cables for my SatNav feed. The Red goes to the lamp.

Graham

 

Thanks again,

it is the white wire that graham has mentioned in his post which has no power (the red one does to the bulb which is what I used to test if the lighter fixing is working)

I will check the load and then trace the wire and see if I can find a brake somewhere.

Thanks

 

If you suspect a break, sometimes it is easier to just splice in a new wire at the fusebox rather than pulling the car apart to access and repair the harness.

 

Can anyone tell me where to locate the fuses for the cigarette lighters (rear and front) on a 1985 Jaguar XJ6 Vanden Plas?

 

I don't remember seeing you acknowledge this, if you did excuse me. The + connection inside the lighter assembly can get corroded to the point no current flows. It was present in mine when I purchased my 1998. You know, an incredbly smart electronics designer taught me years ago that connection corrosion can often be cleared by making and breaking the connection several times - especially with vaccuum tubes. (in other words the mechanical action cleans the surface). Using that logic, I cleaned my cig lighter socket by putting a charger's plug into it, and rotating clockwise/counterclock when viewed from above, all with downward pressure. Sometimes it is the simple things that work best, I hope this is one of them for you.

John

 

Follow up - Matty, I just re-read your note. Mabe they changed fuse ocationis in 2 years, but my 1998's cig lighter fuse is on the passenger side. Is the 2000's on the drivers as per your test?

John

 

For 2006, the Cigar Lighter Fuse is on the Passenger (right) side inside the little trap door above the foot well and below the windshield accessible when you open the passenger door. I do not remember which fuse it is but it is listed in the books. I had blown the fuse in mine when I removed the console to replace bulbs in the A/C Temperature Display unit.

 

Bingo Johnken!!!
I should have suspected this - but it looked like a plastic tip in the center!
I thought it might be a 'European thing'!
I used a screwdriver and scraped off the corrosion, and it now works!

 

is it necessary to remove the center console to remove the cigar lighter?
Thank you