Cigarette lighter/clock fuse keeps blowing

Tiny
KIWASABI1
  • MEMBER
  • 2001 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE
  • 2.4L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 209,000 MILES
Years ago my clock and cigarette lighter quit working on me. I've just been living without them for years now. But recently I started needing the socket for a tire inflator for when I go tubing. So I decided to check the fuse, sure enough it was blown. I replaced the 15 Amp lighter/clock fuse, started the engine, and the clock turned on. I then plugged in my tire inflator, turned it on. The LED came on for a split second and turned off, and the clock turned off. I checked and the fuse blew again. From some searching I found that a piece of metal in the lighter well can cause a short. So I looked in there, sure enough there was a piece of metal wedged in the bottom of the lighter well. I pulled it out, put in my last replacement fuse, and turned on the car. I figured now it would start working again but this time it blew immediately I guess because the clock never turned on and my tire inflator wouldn't power on (I didn't plug it in until after the engine was started and after the clock hadn't turned on). Now I'm worried that piece may have actually been part of the socket. That's the only explanation I have for why removing it made the fuse start blowing immediately.

I've attached some pictures of the socket and the piece I pulled out. I can't imagine what else it could be than part of the socket, but I also don't really see anywhere where anything looks broken inside the socket. Only other thing I can think is my other backup fuse was bad, which is possible since I don't think I looked at it beforehand. From cursory searching online, and just looking at the thing, it seems replacing the cigarette lighter is way more of an ordeal than I'm willing to partake in. I guess maybe I should just start by spending a few dollars on several more fuses and see if they keep blowing. Mostly I'm just wondering if you think that piece actually was part of the socket.
Thursday, August 6th, 2020 AT 9:25 PM

7 Replies

Tiny
DANNY L
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,648 POSTS
Hello, I'm Danny.

Yes, that is a possibility that it was a piece of the original cigarette lighter assembly. It's also possible that having that piece in there for so long that it has damaged the lighter socket causing this problem of blowing fuses. I've attached a picture below of the exploded view of the assembly if you choose to replace. Hope this helps and thanks for using 2CarPros.
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Thursday, August 6th, 2020 AT 10:14 PM
Tiny
KIWASABI1
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You have to remove the dash and everything to replace it don't you? I'm wondering if maybe I can somehow disconnect/eliminate the cigarette lighter, and just use the outlet inside the console.

One thing I forgot to mention was the first time it blew when the clock came on and everything, the male lighter part was inserted. The second time when the clock never came on and it blew, the lighter was removed. Of course that first time it didn't blow until I plugged in the tire inflator plug and turned it on, so obviously I had to unplug the lighter to put that in. Argh it's so annoying, thought it was going to be an easy fix with a fuse replacement. I will try a few more fuses when I get some and see what happens. The fact it got worse after removing that piece of metal boggles my mind. So I guess I'm gambling maybe I had put a bad fuse back in with the spares once upon a time. By the way; I don't think you attached the diagram.
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Thursday, August 6th, 2020 AT 10:47 PM
Tiny
DANNY L
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  • 5,648 POSTS
Hello again.

Sorry, I've must have forgot to attach the pictures and diagram on my last post. No, You don't have to remove the entire dash to remove the cigarette lighter just take apart the center console. Here are the pictures and diagram.I cut the wiring diagram in 2 so you can view larger. Hope this helps and thanks again for using 2CarPros.
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Friday, August 7th, 2020 AT 12:39 AM
Tiny
KIWASABI1
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Alright this is fixed with a new fuse after removing the metal piece from the cigarette lighter. I'm going to assume the other backup fuse I had was already bad, since I didn't even get the clock to light up before it was blown like I did the first one. So this was simply the metal piece causing a short.

Anyway, one quick question. Could you help me identify which fuse is for my side mirror adjustments? I can't figure it out from the diagram (attached a pic). I've been having to adjust these by hand for years. Might as well fix that fuse too.
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Friday, August 14th, 2020 AT 6:37 PM
Tiny
KIWASABI1
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  • 198 POSTS
Found this, so I guess they should work now too.

"If i'm not mistaken the acc. Outlets (cigarette lighters) are on this circuit as well, and a few other things. So is there any other things that do not work?"
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Saturday, August 15th, 2020 AT 2:05 PM
Tiny
KIWASABI1
  • MEMBER
  • 198 POSTS
Alright yeah the mirrors, clock, and cigarette lighter are all on the same fuse. The mirrors work too now, just hadn't tested them yet. Quite an important fuse evidently.
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Saturday, August 15th, 2020 AT 3:02 PM
Tiny
DANNY L
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Hello again.

Glad you were able to find the problem and fix. Yes, I agree that it's a pain when a fuse shares multiple circuits. My 1897 Chevy Silverado blew the power window fuse. The fuse box had no fuse labeled power windows. Come to find out it shared the cigarette lighter circuit.I never use the cigarette lighter so I didn't know it wasn't working either. Thanks again for using 2CarPros and hope you will use our site again in the future.

Danny-
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Sunday, August 16th, 2020 AT 1:47 AM

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