Hi guys
I recently did a trip from LA to San Jose and in the middle of the long a$$ drive, I noticed that my cigarette lighter no longer gave power to my adaptor for my cell phone. I did some research and checked the fuse. Replace it with a 20A fuse as suggested. The one was clear blown, but I noticed that as soon as I insert the fuse, it blows. This happened 4 times. I bought a pack of 5 fuses and I decided to hold off on the last one and check here.
Does anyone know this could be? What can I do and what can I check for? your help is appreciated!
Cheers,
Starflight
********
2000 323CI Convertible
It should be a crime to drive a convertible with the top closed.
Did you notice that as soon as you plugged your adapter in, it had no power; or did the power fail while your adapter was already plugged in?
You also say that the fuse blows as soon as you install a new one; when it blows, do you having anything plugged into the cig lighter at all?
I always had a gps charger plugged on the cigarette lighter since I bought the car used about 10 months ago. I noticed that it always gave it power i used to leave the charger there.
This weekend everything was working normally, then the light on the charger went out. So yes the adaptor was plugged in.
When I replace the fuse, it blows right away whether there is something inside the cigarette lighter or not.
Cheers,
Starflight
********
2000 323CI Convertible
It should be a crime to drive a convertible with the top closed.
its about time they came out with an m3 touring wagon..............hoooootttttt
its about time
+1 for the electrical short...also...don't stick a higher current fuse in either...you could very well singe your wire..just thought I say this in case you thought of putting a high one in...
- Chad Cutter
1995 750iL - 2002 330Ci - 2005 M3 - 2006 F-150 KR - 1965 Mustang
You need to check the cig lighter recepticle and see if it looks like the prongs down in there are bent or screwed up; maybe that is where your "short" is located. I know that is where I would concentrate first.
You most likely have a short somewhere along the cigarette lighter wiring b/c the fuse blows instantly when plugged in new. Check the wiring and the cigarette lighter housing for loose wiring or other misgivings.
Does anyone know how I can access the back of the cigarette wires? steps to remove the center console perhaps?
Cheers,
Starflight
********
2000 323CI Convertible
It should be a crime to drive a convertible with the top closed.
pull up your shifter boot cover, turn it 90 deg. unscrew the trim around the shifter which holds the window switches. unplug the wiring. take the trim out. unscrew the cig lighter ash tray and cubby at the bottom of it. and the top of where you took the shifter trim out. pop out the cubby at the top of the unit. unscrew the 2 screws behind it. pull the whole assembly out. check your lighter, use a mulitmeter on the wires to check to continuity between positive and negative. most likely your ciglighter is the problem, use your mulitimeter to check continuity on the ciglighter plug where the wires plug in. i bet its shorted.
Thanks for the great posts! It was definitely a short inside the cigi lighter. too bad in figuring that out, the two clips that hold it together was screwed up and now the whole lighter comes out. Wonder what the best way to glue it would be? any recommendations...
Cheers,
Starflight
********
2000 323CI Convertible
It should be a crime to drive a convertible with the top closed.
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