Does this lighter receptacle look busted inside or just a bit rusty. Trying to decide whether to replace it or just clean up the rust. Won't recharge my phone. Thanks for your thoughts.
71gold asks the right question. The lighter is on a fuse along with the hazard flashers, so if your hazard flashers do not operate more than likely you have an open fuse.
Also, check to make sure the wire is connected to the back of the cigarette lighter. IIRC, its a blue wire with red stripe?? It just pushes over the stud on the back. I would replace it, it's cheap insurance.
Thanks for all the tips. Here's what I did, in the order I did it: 1. Turned on the hazards. They flashed OK. 2. Used my voltmeter on the receptacle. I could get 12 V but only if I scraped the tip of the voltmeter lead across the bottom of the receptacle (where it is rusty). I get power both when the key is off and when it is in Accessory position. 3. I used my plug-in from my radar detector, checked it in my Ford Taurus . Worked OK, then plugged it into my Maverick. Would not work in the Maverick. 4. I guess the wire is not an issue since I am getting power, but on that topic, I am guessing the only way to get up to lighter assembly is under the dash, correct? I pulled the ashtray but cannot get access to behind the lighter socket. I'll try polishing the rusty bottom of the socket but has anyone replaced a socket? Any other ideas? Thanks M.D.
Just get some sand paper, tape it to the eraser end of a pencil, and spin it like you are trying to stay a fire the old fashioned way. The rust on the center post is what is messing you up. The ash tray bracket comes out after you remove the door/tray. Look for two screws, one on either side of the bracket. Or you can remove the instrument cluster to get to the back of the ash tray bracket.
