Replacing the cigarette lighter requires removing the floor tunnel panel, which in turn may involve removing the handbrake pad or removing the front seats. If necessary, the cigarette lighter can be replaced with a car socket.
The cigarette lighter is used by car owners not only for its intended purpose, but also as a power source for various electrical appliances. If the cigarette lighter breaks down, its replacement is required, which can be done by the motorist on his own. The cigarette lighter mounting scheme may differ depending on the specific car model, which is reflected in the replacement process.
Cigarette lighter replacement technology
There is a general sequence of actions that must be performed by the car owner to replace the cigarette lighter on his own:
1. Remove the tunnel floor cladding.
2. Disconnect the power supply terminals from the cigarette lighter.
3. Remove the cartridge from the tunnel seat shoulder.
4. Disconnect the cigarette lighter lamp from the power supply.
5. Disconnect the backlight from the cigarette lighter.
6. Remove the cigarette lighter socket from the tunnel by pushing it out and through the bore hole along with the power wiring.
7. Squeezing the plastic clips, remove the cigarette lighter light guide from the seat belt.
Some features of installation and dismantling
The panel is fixed to the floor with screws, unscrewed with a screwdriver of the appropriate size. In some car models, before removing the panel, it is required to dismantle the handbrake lining. Also, to remove the tunnel, it may be necessary to dismantle the front row seats.
If the cigarette lighter coil burns out with a working cartridge, you can replace the cigarette lighter, leaving its socket in place. To check the functionality of the cartridge, you need to make a trial heating of the working cigarette lighter.
The installation of the cigarette lighter must be carried out in the reverse order. If the cigarette lighter coil is not burned out, you can check its performance. The duration of heating the cigarette lighter coil should be a certain time specified in the vehicle operating documentation. If the heating time is more or less than the normalized value, it is necessary to adjust the position of the cigarette lighter power supply contacts.
If the car owner is a non-smoker, a more suitable option would be to replace the cigarette lighter with an outlet that can later be used to charge and connect a phone or tablet. The car socket can be installed instead of the cigarette lighter using the standard power plug.
