Cigarette Lighter/Clock - No Power?

Hi All,

Can't seem to get my Ciggy lighter to work(lights up green when lights are on?) and my dashboard clock works occassionally? Any suggestions on possible problem and solution.

Many thanks

Jonah

Hi All,

Still need help/advice on my Defender 110 (1992) clock which works sometimes and then doesn't. Cigarette Lighter socket doesn't work at all. Unscrewed lighter/clock/rear wiper(works fine) and checked all connections, all seems fine and clock started to work. I thought I'd fixed the clock, but no, it's not working again.

Help, don't want to have to use my wrist watch!!

Many thanks

Jonah

fuses. new blade type or older glass type?

new blade type.

denied. sometimes the connection on the older glass ones corrodes over a little and needs a little sand papering. from memory, isnt the clock and fag lighter on the same fuse? I would trace the wiring from the fusebox up to the dash and see if you can find anything lose or dirty, might be worth using a multimeter to and wiggling the wires to see if it makes a difference.

G

Thanks G,

Will double check fuses and do as you suggest. And I even have a multimeter!!!

Will let you know how I get on.

Jonah

Right Then!

Finally got around to checking fuses, wiring, etc. All seems fine.

Cigarette lighter doesn't light up(might be bulb), but checked connection and get 11.90v between copper centre connector and silver sides. Tried sat nav in it still no power to it? Might buy new cigarette lighter??

Thought I had clock sorted WD40'd all connectors and works fine. Trouble is I tend to drive with side lights on all the time and guess what, clock stops when I put lights on???????????

HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Any suggestions, apart from buy a watch, don't drive with lights on as I do drive at night???

Many thanks

Jonah (frustrated)

Right lets try and sort this out for you.

Firstly are you getting 11.9V with the engine on or off. If your getting it with the engine on then there is something seriously wrong unless you have the national grid running off the alt.

Second point to note here is that if your using a tomtom charger (like i do) the charger only works when perfectly lined up in the lighter socket. The reason for this is the stupid round end they put on it which makes the center pin move off the contact:frusty: and the fact that they are designed for the new generation of 'power outlets' that don't have the lighter function in them and only offer a power connecetion, and hence are deeper.

The solution is either keep moving it about until it lights up, or go to a boat/(caravan) shop and purchase a bulkhead mounted power outlet socket (they usualy come in a black box with the socket on the side) and connect this into the circuit and mount it somewhere - the socket is twice as deep, and slightly tighter (sometimes too tight but they soon free up)

As for the clock this sounds like it is not getting enough power. - Do you have a digital or analogue on (can't recall years) - i guess an analogue one. Can you rem,ove it, and find out the volatge going to it when the engine is off, on and then with the lights on - sounds as if your loosing power somewhere - if you are -ts time to start tracing wires back, cleaning contacts and silicone greasing them all up - you usualy fine that if it has been waded then left out in the cold and not given a good drying out some of the contacts start getting corroded over time - i just spent 3 days and undid every connector on the beast and used some fine wet and dry to pollish the surfaces up, then diiped each one in a fine covering of silicone grease and then put it all back together after crimping the bullet connectors slightly(the grease semi waterproofs them, but if the contacts are good and tight then does not cause any electrical probs) - All works amazingly now and no more flickering lights for the MOT:biggrin1:

Hi....apologies for non-technical response but...............when this happened to me I charged up the battery. Sorted.

NERO3 said:

Hi....apologies for non-technical response but...............when this happened to me I charged up the battery. Sorted.

Click to expand...

This is why i think he is losing voltage somewhere in the system with a corroded connection.

Check the earth conection on the back of the ciggy lighter....it might have started melting..

In relation to this thread I have a problem with my clock changing time? When the car is running and I set the time it continues to keep time perfectly however, when I leave it overnight and switch the car on the next day the clock time is all wrong :doh:

Reading the earlier entries on this thread I suspect loose connectors or worse a loss of power over time (Battery problem?) Any suggestions as to how I could remedy this problem.

Regards

Irish4x4 said:

In relation to this thread I have a problem with my clock changing time? When the car is running and I set the time it continues to keep time perfectly however, when I leave it overnight and switch the car on the next day the clock time is all wrong :doh:

Reading the earlier entries on this thread I suspect loose connectors or worse a loss of power over time (Battery problem?) Any suggestions as to how I could remedy this problem.

Regards

Click to expand...

Stick a multimeter on the back of the clock and check the voltage to it when the ignition is on, and then when it's off. I'd be very surprised if it was a loose connection, and if it was your battery losing power you wouldn't be able to start the car the next day!

Instantsquid,

Thanks for the reply. The clock seems to have righted itself? This is the second minor electricl problem that has done so.....I am not complaining but thaks all the same.

Regards