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rabidmadman · Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2010 5:42 pm Post subject: lighter blows out fuse

Anyways, recently I started driving and I see that my radio, dome and horn are nonoperational... so my first thought is that it's a fuse. Turns out it is...and I remember my friend had a similar problem in his camaro where the lighter would blow out some fuse. Anyway, I replaced the fuse and pushed the inside of the lighter well with my finger and there went that fuse..
So now I have determined that it is the lighter that blows the fuse for my horn/radio/dome light/locks etc. Anyways, is it the well itself thats causing the fuse to blow? Or is it the lighter? Seems like the stock lighter to me so its safe to assume its the well. Can it be some other electrical issue that causes this? Will replacing the well solve my problem?

If its the well, is replacing the well in our cars a huge bitch? I didn't look too carefully and it seems that i'd have to take off the entire dash which I really don't want to do...anyways, I appreciate the help.
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1988 Chevy Caprice Classic Owner.

Engine: 305 V8

Location: New Jersey

NotDadsW41 · Site Admin Joined: 10 Dec 2007 Posts: 195

I seem to recall those lighter wells just screw in place. If it's loose and not getting a good ground because of it.....
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Deathdeelr · Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2010 8:12 am Post subject:

It's probably the well. The lighter in my car is secured with a clip behind the dash. If the wire supplying the lighter from the fusebox is frayed or is coming out of the assembly you're generating too high a resistance in the circuit and blowing the fuse. It doesn't necessarily mean that there's a short but the lighter takes a lot of amperage to run as it is. A frayed wire means the electricity doesn't have a good path to run through and requires more amps to get by blowing the fuse.

Replace the cigarette lighter or quit smoking. Very Happy

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rabidmadman · Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2010 8:45 am Post subject:

ahh damn so If it's the wire..I most likely have to take apart the dash in order to replace it...****. I just want that damn fuse to stop blowing. The other day it blew again without me even touching the lighter. I threw the lighter out (but I kept the knob). I was hoping that this problem would go away without the lighter in there in the first place..but it didn't. So you think the well is suspect regardless of the situation or is it most likely the wiring? Thanks for the help.
_________________
1988 Chevy Caprice Classic Owner.

Engine: 305 V8

Location: New Jersey

Deathdeelr · Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2010 3:30 pm Post subject:

Something else is blowing the fuse. If it's blowing without the lighter assembly in the socket, then it's probably not the lighter. Make a list of everything that's on that fuse and start unplugging stuff one by one. Everything has some sort of connector at that particular unit. When you unplug something and the fuse stops blowing, you've found the problem.
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brentalan · Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2010 7:11 pm Post subject:

I had the same problem.

I had to replace the lighter's socket on mine and that fixed it.