Because of plugging and un-plugging my cigarette lighter often because of having to charge my smart phone, it came apart behind the dash and shorted out. This caused the lighter and also the power side mirrors to short out because they are on the same fuse. I opened up the dash and fixed the lighter, and replaced the fuse. That fixed the problem with the lighter but now the power side mirrors won't work. Does anyone know why?

 

Is their a second fuse for the side mirrors or do you suspect that I fried a wire. going from the (lighter/side mirror) fuse to the switch. The switch control were working perfectly before this happened so I suspect that the switch is fine. 

Any suggestions how to test power to the switch. I am not much of an electrician, so please keep it simple if possible.

1997 Legacy Outback 2.5

 

 

thanks

Edited March 12, 201412 yr by sierraSubie

The only thing they share in common is the fuse.

If the fuse blows because of the lighter socket the mirrors are unaffected. All the excess amperage was going to the lighter socket which caused the fuse to blow.

 

If the fuse blows because the wiring to the socket crossed with wiring to another circuit such as the radio or blower motor, then you have a chance of back feeding to the mirror circuit and damaging something.

 

So did it short because the socket physically broke? Or because the wiring chafed and shorted to another wire?