Cigar Lighter (and Its Not The Fuse)!

[galaxy]

Hi All.

 

Got my fingers crossed on this one. Mk2 gal Ghia 1.9tdi manual. The ciggie lighter stopped working the other day. I have checked the fuse (no 7 25amp) but it is ok. I then got on the forums and have pulled all 20-25 amp fuses, all ok. I have looked for a little row of fuses at the top of the main fuse board but there arent any. No fuses under the drivers seat.

WTF!! What do i check next??

 

I am hoping somebody has a gem for me!!

 

Thanks

 

Paul

[chrispb123456]

Check the voltage at the fuse holder one side should be live

[galaxy]

Checked and there is power to one side (12v). I plugged an invertor into the cig lighter and the power light flicks on every second or so?

 

Confused!!

[edatelder]

Try a mobile phone charger - see if its red light stays on and doesnt flicker. Maybe the earth is loose.

[galaxy]

Try a mobile phone charger - see if its red light stays on and doesnt flicker. Maybe the earth is loose.

 

Mobile charger doesnt light up at all. the lighter socket in the back is doing the same thing?

 

Would a loose earth do it to both sockets? if so where should i look?

[Mirez]

No they are earthed separately. Are you trying this with the engine off? The PCM should shut off the sockets if the current draw is considered high enough to lower the batteries capacity to a non-start condition. Is the battery itself in good condition?

[galaxy]

No they are earthed separately. Are you trying this with the engine off? The PCM should shut off the sockets if the current draw is considered high enough to lower the batteries capacity to a non-start condition. Is the battery itself in good condition?

 

Yes battery is good. I have just tried it with the engine running and still the same, light flicks every second or so.

[chrispb123456]

using a test probe check for power in the centre of the lighter socket and the surround for earth.

[Mirez]

using a test probe check for power in the centre of the lighter socket and the surround for earth.

 

And then measure the resistance between the surround and a known good ground.

[Eric Morecambe]

Try and pull out the internal lugs more from the socket. I done it on mine and it worked until they got worn down again ...

 

I fitted another power socket to the n/s of the centre console in the end ...

[retarius]

 

using a test probe check for power in the centre of the lighter socket and the surround for earth.

And then measure the resistance between the surround and a known good ground.

 

Hi, I have a similar problem; test probe to centre and to surround for earth shows a DC volts reading of less than 1.3.  Fuse is ok. I've removed the centre console and disconnected the wiring harness and repeated the same test there with the same results.  The only difference is I can get 10V DC from the lighting + and the earth. 

 

If I measure the resistance between the surround and a good earth, what am I looking for? 

 

Thanks, 

Vaughan

[BrianH]

 

 

using a test probe check for power in the centre of the lighter socket and the surround for earth.

And then measure the resistance between the surround and a known good ground.

 

Hi, I have a similar problem; test probe to centre and to surround for earth shows a DC volts reading of less than 1.3.  Fuse is ok. I've removed the centre console and disconnected the wiring harness and repeated the same test there with the same results.  The only difference is I can get 10V DC from the lighting + and the earth. 

 

If I measure the resistance between the surround and a good earth, what am I looking for? 

 

Thanks, 

Vaughan

 

You should see close to 0 ohms or a dead short circuit as they should be connected. would be more useful to check between the centre and earth - if that shows 12v (or somewhere close to) then your problem is between the surrond and the chassis (bad connection somewhere).

 

Might be an idea to check the input on the back as well - if that gives you 12v against the surround or earth it might be a socket gone bad.

 

The forum software isn't working properly at present - suggest if you need more help start a new topic rather than replying here, as it will be pages down the screen as its from 2011 so noone can see it, i only noticed the topic from the newest posts field.

[retarius]

Hi BrianH,

 

Thanks for your feedback on this.  I'll give your suggestions a try and see what I can find out, and start a new topic if I'm no further forward.

 

Cheers,

Vaughan