the lighter in my car does not work in my car. it works in other peoples cars but not in mine. the socket its self does work i have been using it to charge my cell phone but it will not work if im using the lighter. i have tried using other peoples lighters from their cars witch also work in their cars but do not in mine. what gives whats wrong with my lighter?

Edited February 2, 201511 yr by sirtokesalot

sirtokesalot,

 

Based on your signature, the comedian in me would like to respond with "you're smoking too much weed" and it really does work after all, but you're too stoned to know the difference.

 

That aside, if your lighter element works in other cars, and other elements work in your lighter socket, the only thing that makes sense, is that your element is not making contact with the center electrode or the outside grounding parts of your car's socket.

 

Rather than dink around with trying to fix your element and develop a short circuit, just pick up two or three elements from junk yard cars of the same vintage as yours. When you find one that works, throw your old one away.

sirtokesalot,

 

Based on your signature, the comedian in me would like to respond with "you're smoking too much weed" and it really does work after all, but you're too stoned to know the difference.

 

That aside, if your lighter element works in other cars, and other elements work in your lighter socket, the only thing that makes sense, is that your element is not making contact with the center electrode or the outside grounding parts of your car's socket.

 

Rather than dink around with trying to fix your element and develop a short circuit, just pick up two or three elements from junk yard cars of the same vintage as yours. When you find one that works, throw your old one away.

maby i worded it wrong. no lighter works in my cars socket just the phone chargers seem to work in it. when i look into the socket it looks to be in good shape there's no rust or corrosion in there.

Odds are something is bent in the lighter housing where it isn't making contact on the lighter itself. 

 

Just replace the whole thing, it isn't worth the headache trying to fix it. 

sirtokesalot,

 

Thanks for the clarification. I agree with jp98. Your cig lighter isn't connecting on its cylindrical outside or its center end with your lighter socket. I suspect the center end.

 

Your best solution is to replace the socket with another from a junker.

does it work if you push it in and hold it in?

does it work if you push it in and hold it in?

 

 

 it does not. i have tried to push and hold it ive tried twisting it while holding it in it just never gets hot unless its in a different cars lighter slot. ill grabe a few of them next time in at the junk yard

you can probvably buy a new replacement assembly, generic , for 10$ or less at the parts store.

a slight pain to install but ....

 

or run buy the 7/11 and buy a bic lighter for $1.

 

or buy a splitter that plugs into the cig lighter,

that then gives you 2 outlets.

one for the charger and one for your ''lighter''.

 

or buy a new generic assembly and install it in a different location,

powered buy a different fuse.

subaru, or some aftermarket company, actually makes one specifically for the ashtray area,

but you probably still need that as well.

Edited February 5, 201511 yr by johnceggleston