Lighter electrical problem

macaroni · Post by **macaroni** » 24 Aug 2005, 18:33

Can anyone shed any light on this problem...
The lighter in Xantia doesn't work, I want to power a mobile charger of fit.
Upon checking the fuse, as advised in the handbook, I found that the fuse controls the car stereo, aswell as the correct fuse for controlling the car stereo.
Is my wiring totally screwed or am I doing something wrong?
Any help gratefully received.
Antony

uhn113x · Post by **uhn113x** » 24 Aug 2005, 21:52

Antony
What happens if you stick a bulb across it? Or even a meter - at the moment, a digital voltmeter is £2.49 (yes!) at Maplin.

macaroni · Post by **macaroni** » 26 Aug 2005, 00:52

Thanks for replying.
Across what? The fuse or the socket? There is definitely no power at the Lighter socket and definitely power at the relevant fuse as it powers the stereo.

Post by **Peter.N.** » 26 Aug 2005, 03:17

Most radios have two supplies, one for the actual radio and one for the memory, does your radio store and retain stations and settings OK, if so both supplies are present, if not, the memory must be fed from the lighter supply.

macaroni · Post by **macaroni** » 26 Aug 2005, 13:20

Ah yes. Both the fuses that control the radio ie the actual radio fuse and the one that should control the lighter, have 2 positions. I switched them to the other position and the radio memory was lost each time the ignition was switched off.
As my stereo is an aftermarket one, does that mean my Lighter fuse has been seconded for use with the stereo and thus will not work for the Lighter any more?

uhn113x · Post by **uhn113x** » 26 Aug 2005, 13:30

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by macaroni</i>

Thanks for replying.
Across what? The fuse or the socket? There is definitely no power at the Lighter socket and definitely power at the relevant fuse as it powers the stereo.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">
The socket, but it seems you have found thst already, and there is a break between it and the fuse, assuming that this is the correct fuse.
Is it possible to trace where the lead from the lighter goes?

Post by **Peter.N.** » 26 Aug 2005, 13:56

The 'memory' supply' comes from a permanently live feed which would be the lighter supply. If you have a meter or a bulb would do, check from the + side of the lighter (centre contact) to earth, somwhere other than the lighter, it could just be that you have lost the earth connection to the lighter.

wrinklet1 · Post by **wrinklet1** » 26 Aug 2005, 14:04

Marconi, I think you may find that the socket that plugs into the back of the lighter has detatched itself from the lighter. This can happen easily and you can push it back by wrigling your finger under where the lighter is and feeling for the socket, or removing the ashtray and lighter unit and refitting it that way.
Paul
PS it happened on my car too.

macaroni · Post by **macaroni** » 26 Aug 2005, 14:38

Great, thanks for all the advice. I will try it, starting with the simplest by Wrinklet1.

macaroni · Post by **macaroni** » 26 Aug 2005, 14:40

By way Wrinklet1, it is Macaroni, as in pasta and not Marconi as in failing electronics giant.
By the way 2, are those cars you list your current collection or past history?

wrinklet1 · Post by **wrinklet1** » 26 Aug 2005, 14:50

Sadly they are my history of Citroens that I have owned in the past Macaroni.
Paul

macaroni · Post by **macaroni** » 26 Aug 2005, 16:21

Cool, saving the best until last eh?

macaroni · Post by **macaroni** » 28 Aug 2005, 00:33

OK, well the earth lead was detached from the lighter, so good call there. I re-attached it and upon plugging in my phone charger, it repeatedly blows the fuse!! This charger works fine in my 205 and the Lighter thing works OK in the Xantia, but the phone charger keeps blowing in the Xantia.
Anybody any idea why?

wrinklet1 · Post by **wrinklet1** » 29 Aug 2005, 20:23

Check your wiring at the back of the lighter, thats where your problem with blowing the fuse lies or even with the 'clamps' withing the lighter itself.
Paul