Multiple Cig Lighter "issue"

[bubbatrucklover]

I have a semi vexing issue with multiple cig lighters. When I first got my truck and flipped up the door for the cig lighter I saw 3.
I was happy. One main and two aux. right? EHHHH WRONG.

One has the "guts" that whenever you plug something in it works,but the other 2 just have the metal"button"(?) at the back ,but not the 2 "prongs"(?) and no matter what I plug in doesn't work. I was thinking without the sides it's not completing the circuit.

Is this something from the factory that is suppose to work for certain adapters or what's the dealeo? It doesn't appear that not only one ,but both are the same and doesn't appear to have been tampered with or broke.

It's not the end of the world as I don't use the factory lighter and/or have a lot of accessories for now. Just curious for if and /or when.

 

[Bigredmariner]

All of the cig lighters I have seen were the same. Meaning no special adapters. So they have no power going to them? Most have a seperate fuse, are they ok?

 

[dirtyoldman]

My Burb has three and they all work.The cig lighter has the prongs but the other two don't.Not sure how they work but they do.Hence the lighter only works in the far left one.Phone charger & Bluetooth charger in the others

 

[Draenor]

Like mentioned, check the fuses.

The next thing is to verify power with a multimeter. I have has a few instances that, power was getting to the plug, but the metal strips on the sides were worn. They were bent to the point that they no longer touched the item that was inserted....I said inserted.... I had to pry them back inward to the point they made contact again.

 

[Bernie]

So, you have the base contact (button at the bottom) but no side contacts (as John said, metal strips) in those two sockets? How close have you looked at them?

An actual cigarette lighter draws pretty hefty amperage, and generates heat (the two "prongs" at the bottom of a normal socket hold it in place, and release when they get hot, which is what makes it pop out) but auxiliary sockets were never meant to be used for an actual lighter, so they don't include those prongs, but they should still have metal contacts on the sidewalls of the socket to provide the ground for anything you plug in.

Use a test light and see if you have power at the "button". If not, check fuses. If you do, check grounds on the side contacts.

 

[elcompaLalo]

If you can't seem to get em to work you could always wire some new ones for less than $10 each.

 

[bubbatrucklover]

Thanks guys I'll look further into the fuse situation and thanks for the terms and explanation Bernie. I never new what the parts were called or how it worked. Just push it in and when it pops out use it. As to how close I looked at them I'd say fairly close,but another look see wouldn't hurt.

I've tried several devices in the aux. spots and the devices only worked in the main one. No biggie just frustrating. Like I said I'll look further into the fuse issue. I'll also check if power is getting to them(might be fixed with the fuse issue if applicable)

I didn't now if for whatever reason they were all on one fuse or actually multiple fuses so you could use multiple devices at once without blowing it.

Draenor said inserted.

 

[drperry]

The one cig lighter is actually meant for the lighter, that's why it has the prongs...

The other two are accessory connections... The prongs aren't needed... The entire case is the ground.

If rotating the plug in the socket doesn't fix it, something is either unplugged, or you've got a blown fuse.

 

[Bernie]

Thanks guys I'll look further into the fuse situation and thanks for the terms and explanation Bernie. I never new what the parts were called or how it worked. Just push it in and when it pops out use it. As to how close I looked at them I'd say fairly close,but another look see wouldn't hurt.

I've tried several devices in the aux. spots and the devices only worked in the main one. No biggie just frustrating. Like I said I'll look further into the fuse issue. I'll also check if power is getting to them(might be fixed with the fuse issue if applicable)

I didn't now if for whatever reason they were all on one fuse or actually multiple fuses so you could use multiple devices at once without blowing it.

Draenor said inserted.

Usually the actual lighter socket is on one fuse, and the aux sockets are on a different fuse.

 

[bubbatrucklover]

Usually the actual lighter socket is on one fuse, and the aux sockets are on a different fuse.

Gotch ya. Thanks.