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Thread: Cigarette lighter

  1. #1
    Mad scientist DrWin's Avatar
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    Cigarette lighter

    Hi guys,

    Just a quick question about the cigarette lighter:
    I've had the center console off and since then the cigarette lighter doesn't function. I just checked that there is power on the purple wire and ground on the black.

    It doesn't seem to make a difference if I change them back and forth. Any suggestions or should I just buy a new cigarette lighter?

    Cheers

    DSC_0310.jpgDSC_0311.jpg
    Please excuse the crudity of this DeLorean as I didn't have time to repair it yet.
    VIN 10207 - December '81, Gray Interior, 3-speed automatic, stock PRV engine.

  2. #2
    Motors about after dark Michael's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by DrWin View Post
    Hi guys,

    Just a quick question about the cigarette lighter:
    I've had the center console off and since then the cigarette lighter doesn't function. I just checked that there is power on the purple wire and ground on the black.

    It doesn't seem to make a difference if I change them back and forth. Any suggestions or should I just buy a new cigarette lighter?

    Cheers

    DSC_0310.jpgDSC_0311.jpg

    If you have power to the wires then that only leaves the cig lighter. However it's a sleeve contact and there isn't much to go wrong. I bet a little disassembly and maybe cleaning will fix or at least reveal the issue.
    http://dmctalk.org/image.php?type=sigpic&userid=90&dateline=161808992  9

  3. #3
    Mad scientist DrWin's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Michael View Post
    If you have power to the wires then that only leaves the cig lighter. However it's a sleeve contact and there isn't much to go wrong. I bet a little disassembly and maybe cleaning will fix or at least reveal the issue.
    Thanks for the input. I'm a bit mystified here:
    1) I get 11.6V across from the purple to the black wire.
    2) Test light lights up across from the purple to the black wire.
    3) When I connect the cigarette lighter directly to the car battery it works as intended.
    4) When I connect the cigarette lighter to the purple and black wire, it does not work.

    That doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me.
    Please excuse the crudity of this DeLorean as I didn't have time to repair it yet.
    VIN 10207 - December '81, Gray Interior, 3-speed automatic, stock PRV engine.

  4. #4
    Administrator Ron's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by DrWin View Post
    Thanks for the input. I'm a bit mystified here:
    1) I get 11.6V across from the purple to the black wire.
    2) Test light lights up across from the purple to the black wire.
    3) When I connect the cigarette lighter directly to the car battery it works as intended.
    4) When I connect the cigarette lighter to the purple and black wire, it does not work.

    That doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me.
    The 11.6V stands out to me...
    Is the test light LED?

    Sounds like one of the two wires isn't doing its job.
    Maybe, with lighter disconnected, measure volts:
    Across the battery.
    Battery (-) to Purple.
    Battery (+) to Black.
    (and/or the wires' resistance)

  5. #5
    Mad scientist DrWin's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ron View Post
    The 11.6V stands out to me...
    Is the test light LED?

    Maybe, with lighter disconnected, measure volts:
    Across the battery.
    Battery (-) to Purple.
    Battery (+) to Black.
    No, the test light is incandescent.
    Across the battery 12.6V (Greenbox agrees)
    Battery (-) to Purple 11.8V
    Battery (+) to Black 12.4V

    Does this make sense to you?
    AFAIK this means that power delivery is not the problem. (?)
    I can't figure why the cigarette lighter powers up readily when connected to battery directly.

    Just tested right now, same thing.

    I also tested voltage across from purple to black when the cigarette lighter is connected and depressed/activated: 0.6V.
    Last edited by DrWin; 04-29-2021 at 04:47 PM. Reason: More testing
    Please excuse the crudity of this DeLorean as I didn't have time to repair it yet.
    VIN 10207 - December '81, Gray Interior, 3-speed automatic, stock PRV engine.

  6. #6
    Senior Member Bitsyncmaster's Avatar
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    You will want to replace the lighter if you plan to use it to power or charge anything. The OEM lighter was not a standard size.
    Dave M vin 03572
    http://dm-eng.weebly.com/

  7. #7
    Administrator Ron's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by DrWin View Post
    No, the test light is incandescent.
    Across the battery 12.6V (Greenbox agrees)
    Battery (-) to Purple 11.8V
    Battery (+) to Black 12.4V

    Does this make sense to you?
    AFAIK this means that power delivery is not the problem. (?)
    I can't figure why the cigarette lighter powers up readily when connected to battery directly.

    Just tested right now, same thing.

    I also tested voltage across from purple to black when the cigarette lighter is connected and depressed/activated: 0.6V.
    Seems the lighter basically proved itself (off of the battery) and you are getting <12V on the Purple. So I'd guess that fuse 17 has a bad connection, making it unable to handle the amperage/load??

    No chance that you have been working on it and the battery got low?
    (It will start as is.)

    ...If no luck, I'd try:
    Black and Battery (+) to lighter.
    Purple and Battery (-) to lighter.

  8. #8
    Senior Member - Owner since 2003 Patrick C's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bitsyncmaster View Post
    You will want to replace the lighter if you plan to use it to power or charge anything. The OEM lighter was not a standard size.
    Agreed. I’m using this one:
    https://www.gowesty.com/product/12-v...hter-assembly-
    Patrick C.
    VIN 1880

  9. #9
    Mad scientist DrWin's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ron View Post
    Seems the lighter basically proved itself (off of the battery) and you are getting <12V on the Purple. So I'd guess that fuse 17 has a bad connection, making it unable to handle the amperage/load??

    No chance that you have been working on it and the battery got low?
    (It will start as is.)

    ...If no luck, I'd try:
    Black and Battery (+) to lighter.
    Purple and Battery (-) to lighter.
    I think the battery is fine, I drive the car regularly and always disconnect the battery when I put it in the garage.

    Black and Battery (+) to lighter = 12.86V / Lighter works.
    Purple and Battery (-) to lighter = 11.80V / Lighter does not work.

    So are we guessing there is something wrong with the power to the purple wire?
    Please excuse the crudity of this DeLorean as I didn't have time to repair it yet.
    VIN 10207 - December '81, Gray Interior, 3-speed automatic, stock PRV engine.

  10. #10
    Administrator Ron's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by DrWin View Post
    Black and Battery (+) to lighter = 12.86V / Lighter works.
    Purple and Battery (-) to lighter = 11.80V / Lighter does not work.

    So are we guessing there is something wrong with the power to the purple wire?
    That or the purple wire has a bad connection at the lighter.
    It's not supplying the amperage needed. So, from here:
    • Pull fuse 17.
    • In its receptacle, one side will have power. Put Battery (+) on the other side.
    • If the lighter works, there is something wrong with the power to the purple wire. Probably a bad connection at the fuse -- Otherwise, there is something wrong with the power from the Brown wire feeding the fuse.
    • If the lighter does not work, suspect the Purple wire's connection at the lighter.

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