90 Celica GT lighter plug in help - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

PEN · 06-23-2011, 02:30 PM

Okay from day one since I got my car my cigar lighter plug in never worked. sad face.. well until now I didn't care because I went out and bought a $ 500 black bird gps system and now I can't use it... I've opened up the dash and it was unplugged and still doesn't work even when its plugged in. I know there's a fuse for it in the driver side fuse box but all the fuses look 100% fine. I don't know if the person before me took something out or not and I don't know where to start looking if they have.

Any ideas??

RobMilkshakes · 06-23-2011, 05:50 PM

check for voltage at the plug. It may be that the lighter itself is burnt out, like mine, if you don't have voltage replace the fuse anyway as they can look ok but still be burnt out. If no voltage still then inspect all the wiring.

PEN · 06-23-2011, 07:22 PM

Don't have anything to measure voltage =( but when it cools down outside Ill get flash light and follow the wires. When you mean yours what burn out you just replaced and it was fine? Mine might be burnt out because i took and ran a (+) cable to the cigar lighter itself and grounded the other (-) wire to the car with the ignition key on and it still didn't work. so you might be right

RobMilkshakes · 06-24-2011, 06:23 AM

A multi-meter honestly is a very worth while investment, even being an electrical light-weight, it has helped me out many times.

Mine burnt because of a little portable heather thing I bought. I drew a litt too much current and shorted the lighter itself or it may have just been the last straw of the 20 year old lighter.

Bitter · 06-24-2011, 08:05 PM

usually the center contact will get burned and carboned up, sometimes you can take the socket apart and repair them.

PEN · 06-24-2011, 10:06 PM

Bitter, what should a clean it with not really familiar with the internals of cigar/ 12v plug ins

Bitter · 06-25-2011, 08:25 AM

sand paper, wire brush, file, etc. Assume its the older kind that you can take apart.

PEN · 06-25-2011, 09:16 AM

alright I'll do that today and let ya know.

Bitter · 06-25-2011, 09:55 AM

Otherwise, you can get a socket from another toyota at the junker that will probably fit fine, not sure what years/models interchange but little parts like that typically remain the same for many many years with toyota. Hell, the hood release handle on my 2000 Celica is the same as my 93 Prizm which is the same as a 2007 Sienna which is the same as a etc etc. You get the idea.

PEN · 06-25-2011, 02:25 PM

Haha nice. which part specifically am I supposed to clean on it again?

PEN · 06-25-2011, 07:19 PM

took it apart and it's just a (+) connection and (-) connection basically, then they screw on top of a small rod that connects to the end internal piece of the plugin. Also all the parts seem like they are in great shape, which slot is the light fuse exactly located in the drivers side fuse panel??

Bitter · 06-25-2011, 08:34 PM

typically the center (positive) gets burned/corroded over time by the lighter itself if used or high power devices.

PEN · 06-26-2011, 12:13 AM

But it look like it just came out of the box and never used.

Bitter · 06-26-2011, 12:26 AM

Then that may not be the case, can the two wires to the socket light a test light?

PEN · 06-26-2011, 04:38 AM

not sure there is a little LED light that is attached to the lighter plug but that doesnt work either. I've tried running a wire from the bat to the lighter plug in itself and I think had a bad ground spot but that didn't do the trick either. But I really do think my ground was bad, I also did not use my brain and take the lighter to the battery instead of running wires all the way to the dash... Anyway someone on another forum said it can be the fuse for it but I have no clue which fuse is which because the fuse box cap is gone. so I'm kinda screwed there.