Cigarette lighter won't stay in

[Keith R.]

Checking out the electrics to see if everything is functioning as it should and found that the cigarette lighter won't stay in - it just pops right back out before it has time to heat up. Anyone know what the fix is?

[Donald H.]

Re: Cigarette lighter won't stay in

First DISCONNECT THE BATTERY.

If you look at the attached picture, the arrow points to a retainer/prong at the base of the lighter housing. using a small flat blade screw driver, bend these prongs in a little. Then test. Do a little at a time. If you bend them to much, the lighter can get stuck and will burn up the element. If the lighter stays in, don't leave it more than 10 or 15 seconds. Do it a little at a time until it stays and then pops back out and is hot.

The original housings have three prongs, the reproductions only have two.

[Don H.]

Re: Cigarette lighter won't stay in

I think you need to tighten (tweek) the side metal tabs. Good luck, Don H.

[Keith R.]

Re: Cigarette lighter won't stay in

Thank you Don. I think that mine is an original but in looking at it more closely, it appears that one of the prongs/tangs at the 4:00 o'clock position has broken off. I'll try bending the other two a bit to see if it will stay in. I appreciate everyone's help on this.

[Bob R.]

Re: Cigarette lighter won't stay in

Disconnect the battery before you work on the lighter. There is no fuse on that circuit and poking around with a screw driver can do some damage. I have a broken tab on my lighter and had to find a replacement to get it to work properly.

[Leif A.]

Re: Cigarette lighter won't stay in

Keith,
I think if you look a little closer you will see that you still have all three tabs available for adjustment. Follow Don's advice and report back!!

[Alan D.]

Re: Cigarette lighter won't stay in

Disconnect the 12V lead to lighter and jury rig a fuse. Even when all three tabs are good the lighter can jamb in place, ie you can not pull out.
If not fused you could loose inside & outside harness. Do a search on subject, it's a known problem - remember GM finally spent the money on a fuse.

[Keith R.]

Re: Cigarette lighter won't stay in

Thanks Leif however the lip on the one in the 4:30 position is actually broken off unlike the other two at the 12:30 and 8 o'clock positions. Perhaps two is enough to hold it in. I'll give it a try.

Keith,
I think if you look a little closer you will see that you still have all three tabs available for adjustment. Follow Don's advice and report back!!

[Keith R.]

Re: Cigarette lighter won't stay in

Must need a pretty hefty fuse I would think. I don't know how many amps it draws but I imagine that it is quite a bit.

Disconnect the 12V lead to lighter and jury rig a fuse. Even when all three tabs are good the lighter can jamb in place, ie you can not pull out.
If not fused you could loose inside & outside harness. Do a search on subject, it's a known problem - remember GM finally spent the money on a fuse.

[Alan D.]

Re: Cigarette lighter won't stay in

See
Installing extra fuse protection

A search will find some more on subject, put the fuse IN! Not a big deal and could save your car.

[Keith R.]

Re: Cigarette lighter won't stay in

Thanks Alan. That is most helpful. I ordered a 14GA 10amp fuse off of Amazon just now and will install it. Do judges note this for flight judging? If so, I imagine that a male and female spade connector could be added on each end so it could be removable for judging if necessary.

See
Installing extra fuse protection

A search will find some more on subject, put the fuse IN! Not a big deal and could save your car.

[Alan D.]

Re: Cigarette lighter won't stay in

I installed mine in 2007 after a near fire. Thanks to the judge's fast thinking who disconnected the battery the car is still here.
I just cut into circuit and hide in wiring - never been an issue (don't think it's ever been seen), participated in 3 more national events.

[Dan H.]

Re: Cigarette lighter won't stay in

Believe I got several fuses from Jack Humphry on EBAY, it snaps on back of lighter and wire connects to it. I think he goes by 'Engine hunter' on Ebay. This was a while ago, so may be all gone now.

[Keith R.]

Re: Cigarette lighter won't stay in

Has anyone fused the horn relay?

[Troy P.]

Re: Cigarette lighter won't stay in

Yep I melted the wire to my lighter poking around in there to bend prongs with the battery connected. No fuse. The burning insulation landed on the carpet which melted into the carpet and ruined it.

The prongs you need to adjust are on the can, not those at the bottom that grab onto the lighter element. But if one of those bottom three prongs is bad you need to get a new part before you proceed. If you search NOS parts long enough you will find those with three prongs. And you need a three prong can to go with it.

I have had NOS Casco lighters that come in a box with directions that state the lighter has already been "tuned" and don't mess with it. But repo parts or mixed NOS parts are another issue.