hi people-first post. i am in the uk and have a 96/97 escort-anyways this can pretty much apply to most cars i suppose. my problem is that my cigar lighter does not work-mminor i know. the fuse is not blown and i replaced it and nothing...i tried a new top part to the lighter and still it doesnt work. i know i could try replacing the base unit-which i am going to try to do soon. but if that doesnt work-are their any suggestions as to what i could try?...it has not worked for some time-and before i got the car it was inoperable to.

 

you said the fuse was ok but are you getting any power to the lighter check with a test light if you are well you know it is the base and if you have no power then you have a open circuit and will have to trace your wires to find it

 

hi mate...thanks for the reply. sorry for asking silly questions but what do you mean by a test light?.
also....just out of curiosity today i had a look at the wires directly behind/connected to the lighter-hopefully this will make some sense. But basically their appears to be a plug with 3 small recessed prongs that you obviously push into another plug with 3 corresponding holes. I noticed when examining these that 2/3 prongs were fine but 1 of them was much shorter and therefore i suspect-broke. If this is the case would that be enough to stop the lighter from working?. thankyou
daniel

 

yes that would do it and a test light is a pen looking tool with a point at one end and a clamp at the other end clamp goes to ground and point on power side and the little bulb lights up the circuit is ok

 

How did it work out with the cigarette lighter?

I found out the other day that I needed to have my ignition turned on in order for mine to work. I was trying to run a pump to pump up the spare tire in the wagon.