Hi,

I accidentally set a screwdriver in the cigarette lighter and there was a small spark. Since then the lighter has not worked. Fuse is ok and it still lights up - do I need to completely replace it?

Suspect i do but wanted to ask anyway.......

Are you concluding that the fuse is OK because the surround still lights up, or because you've tried a new fuse?

Tried another fuse.........

Are you sure you have replaced the right fuse, nothing much can go wrong with a cig lighter its just metal contacts so would be very unlikely for anything to go wrong with it.

 

You can always pull it out and measure see if you have power on the connector

Bet it's the fuse. The one you want is position 42 (15 amp).

 

Edited 1 December, 20187 yr by TMB

Yeah, switched the fuse with another 15A one and still no luck. Looks like I may have to replace it

You may have fused the wiring, take yours out and check it.

Pro tip: Disconnect the battery before mucking about with the cars electrics.

1 hour ago, king_o said:

Yeah, switched the fuse with another 15A one and still no luck. Looks like I may have to replace it

 

Does the centre contact down the bottom look visibly corroded?, might just need a clean up if your sparking has left scorchy residues?

Take the fuse out before trying this...

On 02/12/2018 at 22:13, sepulchrave said:

You may have fused the wiring, take yours out and check it.

Pro tip: Disconnect the battery before mucking about with the cars electrics.

Electrical Pro tip - REMOVE battery earth side ( on modern cars it's the negative, BUT on older  vehicles  it was the positive). Elf & safety reason is that if you trap spanner between earth side and body ,there's no voltage difference and hence no loud bangs and melted spanners. Do likewise on the non earth side and spanner welds to body and geta a nice white hot colour before ( theoretically ) battery explodes. Once earty side is removed, the non earth side has no return path to the earthy side ,and hence no chance of light shows.

Elecrtical faulting aid = high wattage lamp ( e.g. brake light bulb) in holder with one side fitted witha crock clip to attach to earth. Other side fitted with short tip. Use to look for absence or prescence of volts ( lamp lights). High watt age shows up bad connection problems faster than even a really cheap voltmeter.

 

13 minutes ago, VWD said:

Electrical Pro tip - REMOVE battery earth side ( on modern cars it's the negative, BUT on older  vehicles  it was the positive). Elf & safety reason is that if you trap spanner between earth side and body ,there's no voltage difference and hence no loud bangs and melted spanners. Do likewise on the non earth side and spanner welds to body and geta a nice white hot colour before ( theoretically ) battery explodes. Once earty side is removed, the non earth side has no return path to the earthy side ,and hence no chance of light shows.

Elecrtical faulting aid = high wattage lamp ( e.g. brake light bulb) in holder with one side fitted witha crock clip to attach to earth. Other side fitted with short tip. Use to look for absence or prescence of volts ( lamp lights). High watt age shows up bad connection problems faster than even a really cheap voltmeter.

 

 

Why are you telling me, I'm not the one who fused his cars electrics parking a metal screwdriver in an open power socket?

You'll be banging on about radio codes next...

PAX- not aimed at you, as you obviously now about electrics, but as a help to the electrical ignorant as an addition to your advice, and to amplifiy what you said, especially as the OP decided to mess around what is now termed a power socket witha screwdriver.