Hi, Corolla 2006 Audio/Cigarette problem

[ElectroM]

Hello forum!

My car audio, clock display and cigarette lighter have stopped working.

I have blown the fuse. I replaced the fuse, it blew again.

Story : My cigarette lighter has been missing for awhile and the input has been left an empty hole. I recently bought a new lighter to put into it's place. When I put the lighter in the socket the car was fine. When I pushed the lighter in the Audio went out and my lighter did not heat up.

So I've figured out that I blew the fuse and I changed it. But I turned on my car and the problems are still current and the new fuse blew.

I have a suspicion that because the lighter socket wasn't protected for so long that there must have been something that fell inside and is causing a short, thus blowing my fuse. Has this happened to anyone else, or do you have any other suggestions of the cause?

I plan to take apart my middle dash and look for this grounding wire soon, but would greatly appreciate some input before i go a head and do this.

[ElectroM]

To let you all know, yes, it was the cigarette lighter causing the problem and yes the fix took less than five minutes.

Popped up the plastic around the gearshift and the ac input and just disconnected the wires leading to my lighter. Popped a fuse back in, turned on the car, and i could hear my music again!

Still no cigarette lighter. Oh well