So I have a 95 Avalon and i have just fixed my radar detector (defective wire), and when i plug my universal power wire into my cigarette lighter it works fine. There is light on the little led to indicate that there is power. When i attach my radar detector to it, it immediately dies and no power is delivered to my radar detector.
I have test the radar detector out with my other cars and it works superb. I just dont quite understand what is going on. Hopefully someone can help me.
OK, if the led is out, that means no power. And since the fuse is good, it could be two things, the socket fusible link is blown or the fuse for your adapter is blown. Put the lighter back in the socket and see if it still works. If it works then the fuse for your adapter is blown.
Most of the adapter has a fuse in itself to protect the circuit on the vehicle. Depending how it is design, the most common ones can be removed by twisting the end of the adapter, the part that comes in contact with the socket, or somewhere on the side of it may have an opening for a fuse.
BTW, you did try your detector on a different vehicle after your repair it, right?
You plug your adapter into the lighter socket of the Avalon, the led comes on, but when you plugged the radar detector on, the led goes out and the radar detector doesn't work. Correct?
But everything seem to check out good, but won't work together.
The only thing that I can think of then is the polarity of the connection is somehow reversed on your radar detector as compared to the Avalon. But I don't see why it would work on the other cars though. What other cars did you test the detector on?
So, all three vehicles has similar connection to the Avalon, polarity couldn't have been the problem then.
OK, when you put the adapter into the lighter socket, does it feel difficult to put in? Have you try to wiggle the adapter when the detector is connected? One other possibility is that the adapter is not making a very good contact in the lighter socket, since the other contact point of the adapter is the very point of it. It may be enough to light up the led, since the led require very little voltage, but when the radar detector is connected, which is a larger load, the connection just doesn't have a good enough contact to carry the load. As a test, apply a little more pressure on the adapter into the lighter socket, see if the detector will turn on.
let me try that tomorrow morning because im kinda tired right now so im heading off to bed. once again thank you so much for your help. I will tell you tomorrow how it goes.
What about the fuse in the car? I wouldn't even question the fuse for the lighter and replace it. Then see if you observe the same results.
There is no chance that it could be wired backwards or Toyota may be getting a *few* complaint letters. Plus most adapters have a protecting diode in them, not to also mention that LEDs only work in the correct polarity.
What type of tools do you have, voltmeter, etc? Might get messy
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Click that cool picture above for my cardomain!
I have no idea what happened today but the after i put in the cigarette lighter in yesterday and the coils turned red hot, the socket itself is working fine again.
My radar detector is working fine and no more power shortages.
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