Initially, the cigarette lighter was aimed at the needs of smokers. However, as practice has shown, to light a cigarette it is much more convenient to use a match or a lighter.
Many automobile companies at one time even wanted to abandon this mechanism. But with technological progress, when the life of every motorist became almost impossible without devices, the cigarette lighter found a second life. The device socket, which allows you to connect any electrical equipment with an input voltage of 12 W, remains in demand. It is quite obvious that if the cigarette lighter does not work inside the car, not only the driver, but also the passengers nearby experience discomfort.
How the cigarette lighter works and how it works
This device consists of a metal spiral in a plastic case, which is inserted into a special socket in the car interior. The heating element is a material with high resistivity (most often nichrome). The entire structure is connected as follows: the ground is connected to the socket, and the positive contact to the heater.
The nichrome spiral is heated to extremely high temperatures, as evidenced by its red color. The system is equipped with a thermal relay that turns off the power supply if the temperature threshold is exceeded
Also, to illuminate the socket in case of insufficient lighting, install a special socket with a light bulb. The socket is equipped with a 10 A fuse, which is located in the fuse block. Despite the rather simple and understandable design, it happens that the cigarette lighter often stops functioning. There can be many reasons for this, each of which will be discussed in more detail below.
Connection diagram
Connecting the cigarette lighter is not difficult. The device is connected to the on-board network with only three wires.
- Black wire - the ground of the car is connected to the cigarette lighter body.
- Red wire – power is attached to a terminal at the end of the housing. This threaded clamp also serves as a fastening for the heater retainer, so power is supplied to it as well.
- Yellow wire – power supply for instrument lighting is connected to the lamp socket. Ground, which is supplied through its contact with the cigarette lighter body.
VAZ 2104-07
Why the cigarette lighter does not work: the main reasons
When this simple but important device for a comfortable stay in the car fails, it becomes unusually difficult. As mentioned above, the cigarette lighter may stop functioning for a variety of reasons. But the following situations are considered the most common:
- The fuse located in the block has failed
- Burnt out socket
- A foreign object has entered the socket, preventing connection
- The “antennae” of the nest are loose or frayed
The fuse is considered the most vulnerable element of the device. Often it burns out due to an overload formed when powerful electrical appliances are connected: a refrigerator for a car, a compressor for inflating wheels, mattresses, and the like.
The cigarette lighter is designed to work with low-power electrical appliances: laptop, tablet, mobile phone. Therefore, if there is a need to connect a “heavy” device, it is best to connect it directly to the battery
This method may seem inconvenient to many, although there is nothing complicated about it. It is enough to connect all the wires correctly, observing the polarity. In any case, you can install another battery-powered cigarette lighter. The throughput of such a mechanism is much higher, so many energy-intensive devices can be connected to it without fear.
How to repair a car cigarette lighter?
When the answer to the question of why the cigarette lighter does not work has been received, you can move on to the next stage - troubleshooting. That is, it is necessary to have a clear idea of which element has failed and what actions should be taken.
The simplest and most effective way to solve the problem is to go to a service station. Qualified personnel will quickly repair a failed device. True, you will have to pay a little for the work. In addition, you will have to spend money on fuel to get to your destination. Therefore, this method is not suitable for everyone.
If you decide to do all the work yourself, then follow these simple instructions:
- Make sure the fuse is in place. To do this, find it in the general box. It is indicated by signs in the form of a smoking cigarette, or by the inscription “cigar”
- If this element burns out, replace the old fuse with a new one
- If the mechanism is intact and continues to function correctly, check the socket itself
- Make sure that no foreign object has fallen into the socket
Third-party objects can be pulled out with tweezers, but this must be done carefully. In the worst case, the wiring has been unsoldered or burned out. Few people can fix such a breakdown with their own hands at home. You must have the appropriate electrical knowledge and tools. It is not recommended to install a higher power fuse. Increasing the power of the device will result in failure of the cigarette lighter socket itself.
Engine preheater: do-it-yourself installation
This is usually due to the fact that constant heating and cooling provokes a burnout effect. The spiral simply wears out. Therefore, carefully examine its condition visually. Buying a new cartridge (head) will not be difficult. Especially for running and popular cars in Russia. Just buy only a head whose spiral is suitable specifically for your car. Not all of them are universal, which can cause problems.
If replacing the cartridge does not change anything, then the problem should be looked for in the car's electrical network, which powers the cigarette lighter.
When diagnosing, carefully examine the condition of all contacts and connections. It is important to eliminate the possibility of some wires burning out.
Checking the integrity of the electrical circuit is carried out strictly with the negative terminal of the battery removed.
Particular attention should be paid to some elements.
In case of self-assessment of the condition of the cigarette lighter assembly, experienced motorists and specialists in the field of auto electricians are advised to look at:
- The integrity of all wiring that is located on the device body itself;
- Integrity and condition of wiring in areas where connection and connection are made;
- Safety and operability of the cigarette lighter fuse located in a special block;
- No signs of fire in the wiring;
- No traces of foreign objects;
- Functionality at the plug from the cigarette lighter socket;
- No possible overloads during operation of the element.
By checking all these components, you can determine exactly where the problem is coming from.
Experience shows that most often the fuse blows. Finding it and replacing it will not be difficult. But if the fuse is intact, then check whether the socket itself has blown. This occurs when using a faulty plug from the connected source, as well as when using inappropriate devices.
Cigarette lighter repair instructions
If the cigarette lighter stops working and you decide to do the repairs yourself, first of all you should dismantle it. The complete procedure for repairing the device is as follows:
- Initially, you should have a new, working copy on hand.
- Remove the negative battery terminal
- Using pliers, carefully remove the cigarette lighter from its socket.
- Lift the device by the edges one by one, without sudden movements, so as not to break the contacts
- When the cigarette lighter is in your hands, pay attention to its contacts, there should be no burning on it
- If a soldered wire is found, solder it
- Install the mechanism into the socket, doing all the steps in reverse order.
Another common problem is that current flows, but the coil does not heat up. In this case, the head must be completely replaced. It is necessary to install new, original spare parts of the device in accordance with their specific brand of car. If the above steps do not bring the desired result, install a new cigarette lighter.
What is not recommended to do in case of breakdown
If a car's standard cigarette lighter in the passenger compartment does not work, it needs to be checked, the culprit found, the cause eliminated and thereby the system's functionality restored.
But sometimes motorists make mistakes during the repair process. There are several examples of what not to do in such a situation:
- Ignore the situation. The consequences can be very different, starting simply from a cigarette lighter failure and ending with short circuits and fire of the car.
- Use fuses that differ from the original ones in rating. Too high values may not protect the node in time. With a small number of Amps, each new fuse will burn out very quickly.
- Clean contacts with metal objects. This is done with a knife or screwdriver. But this can damage the insulation and cause a short circuit.
- Carry out work with the negative battery connected. Any work related to electrics is carried out only after first resetting the negative voltage from the battery. It is important to de-energize the on-board network.
- Use cheap consumables and parts. When replacing the head or the entire fuse, choose a kit made by a trusted manufacturer. Not necessarily original, although that is a priority.
You can solve the problem of a faulty cigarette lighter with your own hands. But to do this you need to follow the instructions and follow safety rules.
Other problems
In many cars common among domestic drivers, the cigarette lighter may have various malfunctions unique to this brand of car. Owners of many American SUVs note every time smoke appears in the cabin the moment they connect a powerful device to the connector. In its significance, the problem is comparable to engine smoke.
The whole difficulty lies in the fact that a seemingly insignificant breakdown can lead to the failure of the car’s electronics. After all, a wire burnt out from overvoltage may be in the same bundle with the rest of the wires.
On domestic VAZ cars, the fuse is considered the most vulnerable point. To check if it is working properly, just do the following:
- Turn on the heater fan, if the heater does not turn on, then there is a problem with fuse F18
- To replace it, you don't have to go under the hood. It is located to the left of the steering wheel in the common block
- If the stove fan is running, there may be a breakdown in the wiring. But you shouldn’t blame it right away, it’s best to check fuse F6 first
The latter also affects the operation of the cigarette lighter, like F18. Therefore, in the event of a malfunction, both should be checked for functionality.
Bottom line
It is best to use the cigarette lighter strictly for its intended purpose, then the likelihood of it breaking is significantly reduced. But over time, the “antennae” becomes loose, even if used in rare cases. There's nothing wrong with that - just bend them with the help of a tool at hand. In especially severe cases, for example, when the problem lies in the entire wiring, of course, you simply cannot do without the help of a specialist. In any case, there is no need to connect powerful electrical appliances to the cigarette lighter. Then the device will serve faithfully throughout the entire operation of the car.
Troubleshooting
Many motorists use a cigarette lighter to supply power to the compressor to inflate tires, some connect an FM transmitter instead of an audio system, and others vacuum the interior.
Any device requiring 12V power can be connected through this socket. Usually these are DVRs, laptops, smartphone chargers, navigators. Sometimes even auto-inverters.
