Recently my lighter socket stopped working. Naturally I checked the easy option first which is to check the fuse. It had blown so I thought happy days nice cheap fix.

New fuse in and I got the misses to start the car with nothing plugged into the socket. Straight away to fuse blew again. I repeated this and the same thing happened.

Any ideas how to fix/stop this happening I use my Sat nav a lot so need it working. Thanks

make sure no foreign object including the sat nav plug end coming off causing this fault in the ciggie holder

Also check under the lighter socket itself that the wires are connected properly (you'll have to remove the console around the handbrake and gear stick gaiter)

Mine had come away but if it's got a bad connection it may be causing the short.

Great I will try that.

Is it easy enough to take the console off? The metal bit inside the holder moves up away from the plastic bit. But not completely out. Could that cause it too.

Thanks

welshy0007 said:

Great I will try that.

Is it easy enough to take the console off? The metal bit inside the holder moves up away from the plastic bit. But not completely out. Could that cause it too.

Thanks

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Don't try and yank the socket from the top, mine didn't fit through that way very easily due to a bulge on the hidden part of the lighter socket.

You can try to get access via the gear gaiter: just pull gently at the plastic trim around the bottom of the gaiter and lift it all off over the gear stick.

If this won't give you enough access take off the console: pull the rear section around the handbrake up and off (takes a bit of tugging but watch you dont snap any clips, it does just pull up though trust me).

Then you'll have better access, there are a few (10mm?) bolts to remove near the handbrake, then remove the panels in the footwell (driver's has 1 bolt, passenger's just pulls off), then there are a couple of bolts behind these then the console is off.

Its pretty clear what to do anyway, despite sounding a bit long winded