Can anyone advise the way to remove the cigarette lighter base to replace it? Not sure how it comes out.
Thanks,
John
Thanks,
John
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Re: 63 cigarette lighter removal
Hi John, assume you want the entire lighter socket out of car. Disconnect battery, remove red wire from back of lighter, remove light socket by 'pinchin' it to loosen it in the slots it's in. The outer shell of the socket unscrews as a sleeve on the inner socket. I usually remove vent cable for access ease. When you reinstall new socket, it would be good to put an Casco lighter fuse model L-2C, contact Jack Humphrey and you will be rewarded! Have fun, don't get a cramp!
DanLast edited by Dan H.; November 28, 2010, 06:44 PM.1964 Red FI Coupe, DUNTOV '09
Drove the 64 over 5000 miles to three Regionals and the San Jose National, one dust storm and 40 lbs of bugs! -
Re: 63 cigarette lighter removal
Hi John, assume you want the entire lighter socket out of car. Disconnect battery, remove red wire from back of lighter, remove light socket by 'pinchin' it to loosen it in the slots it's in. The outer shell of the socket unscrews as a sleeve on the inner socket. I usually remove vent cable for access ease. When you reinstall new socket, it would be good to put an Casco lighter fuse model L-2C, contact Jack Humphrey and you will be rewarded! Have fun, don't get a cramp!
Dan
Dan,
Thanks very much, I'll give that a try.Comment
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Re: 63 cigarette lighter removal
Would it be easier to install a fusable link at the starter solenoid wire that goes to the ignition switch. I think it will protect the lighter..
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Re: 63 cigarette lighter removal
Fusible links are selected to protect the specific gauge of wire serving the branch circuit they install on. The wire to the starter solenoid isn't the same as that running to the cig lighter's power stud...
That's why Casco made/sold the screw-on fuse devices dedicated to protecting the cig lighter power socket. Both Buick and Cadillac were firm belivers in these fuse components!
On getting the cig lighter's 'retainer' to unscrew nicely from the power socket itself, here's a tip.
It's not atypical for the threaded interface between the retainer and the power socket to oxidize over the years and take a 'set'. If this is the case, the two components will 'fight' you in your attempt to separate them by simply holding the power socket from the inside barrel while you unscrew the retainer from the back side...
Disconnect power and spritz the backside threads with a good penetrating oil (my preference is Aero Kroil) and let it soak for an hour or so. The socket retainer should then spin/unthread rather easily!Comment
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Re: 63 cigarette lighter removal
Got it all out and changed, now working. Hardest part was getting the light back into place, I need tiny fingers! One can hardly touch the unit, let alone get it out.
Now I have a working lighter and will not get docked the 25 points I lost. Have most items now corrected and should judge about 98.5 according to my calcs next time. But may find more itmes on next judging.
Thanks for all the good advice.
JohnComment
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Re: 63 cigarette lighter removal
I've posted this before, but it's a good time to post it again in a "lighter" thread.
If you're using a later Service replacement or reproduction lighter receptacle, many of them have a "U"-shaped bi-metallic element on the power feed stud; this protects the lighter feed circuit from overheating when the receptacle is used as a power source for accessories. If the load is excessive, the bi-metallic element spreads and dead-shorts to ground (the receptacle), which blows the lighter fuse.
That's great, except the Corvette lighter feed circuit wasn't fused until 1967. If that element shorts to ground when used in a pre-'67 Corvette, it will fry the 12V feed wire to the lighter and can cause a fire. If you have one of these element-protected receptacles in a pre-'67 Corvette, either remove the bi-metallic element or install a fuse, or both. Photo below shows the "U"-shaped bi-metallic element in place on the power feed stud.
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Re: 63 cigarette lighter removal
An EXCELLENT comment!
Plus, a minor note on factory authenticity, most Corvette cig lighter power sockets incorporated a brass 'baby bottle nipple' adaptor to accommodate the dash wiring harness' slide-on barrel connector. The brass adaptor simply screwed onto the power socket's threaded power stud. See picture.
But, you'll often find cases where Bubba was there before you doing replacement work. He didn't know the factory original power socket's brass adaptor was simply a screw-on that could be removed and transferred to his replacement power socket, so it was discarded...
Then, to 'cover' his tracks, he installed a screw-on L-bracket adaptor on the lighter socket's threaded power stud and cut off/discarded the original dash harness barrel connector replacing it with a conventional spade lug connector.
Few interior judges look for this tiny aspect of factory originality and on many cars visibility to the back side of the cig lighter is blocked. But, on those cars where you can easily look up/behind the lighter socket with an inspector's mirror & flashlight, it's pretty common to discover wiring modifications...
So, if you're out to do a genuine factory concours job, consider the tiny details (specific 'pin out' of the lighter power socket and the correct original dash harness mating connector). Plus, take John's warning to heed and remove/discard the bi-metal 'safety' device from current service replacement power sockets when installing them into earlier Corvettes!!!Comment
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Re: 63 cigarette lighter removal
Restarted this thread as it's the closest to my issue and I was unable to find a picture or description in the archives / AIM.
Can someone post a picture of this "harness mating connector" which connects to the brass baby nipple or where I might obtain a repo?
While troubleshooting my failed 1964 lighter, it revealed the replacement socket "U" adapter was not removed and my current wire harness melted (luckily limited to just the cigarette lighter).Comment
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Re: 63 cigarette lighter removal
John,
Are you suggesting an in-line fuse for the lighter socket feed line? For some reason I can't see the picture that you posted describing the "U" adaptor. These non-fused power hungry gadgets make me nervous..
Thanks,
John McRaeComment
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Re: 63 cigarette lighter removal
Under the definition of "I save everything", I am attaching a document that I have in my files that contains an article authored by John Hinckley that addresses the "U" shaped clip and the installation of an in-line fuse for a C2 cigarette lighter. Thanks to John Hinckley for this (and many other) great articles. I hope this helps.
EdEdComment
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Re: 63 cigarette lighter removal
Thank you Ed and John H. I feel better already.Comment
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Re: 63 cigarette lighter removal
I'm replacing the burnt 2-prong lighter (which had U) with a 3-prong lighter with "inline Casco lighter fuse model L-2C". Notice melted plastic in picture and offending "U" bracket.
Since my wire harness burned off, I'm unsure how to attach it. This post makes reference to a "OEM harness mating connector", but I don't know what that looks like or where to obtain. Basically I'm unsure how to connect the replacement lighter+fuse, I just have a hot wire and need the connector.
Do you have a picture of how the lighter is connected to the power source on the OEM 3-prong lighter type?Comment
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Re: 63 cigarette lighter removal
Does anyone of a picture/schematic of the lighter socket components? Please share if you do.
ThanksComment
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