Cigarette lighter...

[Sine Deviance]

Hi all... I have a '94 DX Wagon and my cig lighter isn't working. I checked the fuse box and according to the diagram the cig lighter and the radio are on the same fuse. The radio works fine, which leads me to believe it's not the fuse. I pulled the cig lighter cylinder out and it's plugged in... what else would cause it not to work?

Thanks!

[chameleon22n]

i have a 97 CE with the same problem. all fuses are good but still nothing. removed the lower trim panel with actual socket but how can u tell if its just the socket/plug part that needs to be replaced or if its down the wire somewhere?

[KenLayton]

Do you mean when you push the cigarette lighter in, that it won't heat up and pop out? If so then the heating element is probably shot. You can buy those at just about any auto parts dealer. It's Dorman (a.k.a. "HELP!" ) number 56444 Lighter Element, Standard.

https://www.dormanproducts.com/cgi-b...tegory_list=:0

If you mean for example like plugging in a cell phone charger into the lighter socket and the charger doesn't work, it could be one of two things. It could be that the center contact of the lighter socket in the car is corroded/pitted. In that case replace the lighter socket AND the heating element. Chances are that a pitted/corroded heating element ruined the center contact of the socket so replacing both would be needed.

The other thing is wiring. I have a 93 corolla DX and the schematic shows the Gray wire goes to the lighter socket center contact from the fusebox. The sleeve (frame) of the lighter socket is white-black wire going to ground through a "J3 Junction Connector" and another connector over in the right kick panel.

[chameleon22n]

so basically i have to replace the socket either way and hope its not a wiring problem? just didnt want to waste money if i could find out whether the socket still worked and the wire was bad.

[KenLayton]

You could connect your multimeter across the lighter socket terminals to see if you have 12 to 14 volts DC present on the terminals. If the voltage is there and is within tolerance then the socket contacts inside it are bad.

A new lighter socket is only around $8 at any auto parts store.

[midnightmach]

The Fix...

Take out the cigarette lighter unit...
Look at the back of it where the small bolt is... remove it.
Keep disassebling the back untill you get to a thin bronze washer (it will be the very last piece iirc)
Reassemble everything minus the bronze washer... voilà it works again.

For some reason it loses conductivity... i am unsure of why it is there in the first place. I've fixed 3 toyota cigarette lighters this way. 1 Camry, 1 Corolla, 1 Tercel.

[chameleon22n]

thanks i will definitely try that and let u know if it works =]

[pulse6]

Originally Posted by midnightmach

The Fix...

Take out the cigarette lighter unit...
Look at the back of it where the small bolt is... remove it.
Keep disassebling the back untill you get to a thin bronze washer (it will be the very last piece iirc)
Reassemble everything minus the bronze washer... voilà it works again.

For some reason it loses conductivity... i am unsure of why it is there in the first place. I've fixed 3 toyota cigarette lighters this way. 1 Camry, 1 Corolla, 1 Tercel.

This worked for me in a 94 Prizm, thanks!

From the looks of my dead washer which almost looks like a composite material, I am thinking this is meant to be a safeguard. In case the lighter does not pop out, the washer would burn out from the heat. Over time it burns out either way. My lighter at least looks like it was tortured by the previous owner. If this washer is a fire safeguard, then it could possibly be dangerous to use a lighter after removing the washer. I am not going to use the lighter myself, but for what it's worth.