Power socket / cigar lighter - problems

[loric]

G'day all,

I noticed that the front cigar lighter/power socket wasn't working, so i whipped out the multimeter to check it.

Funny thing is, it puts out a fluctuating voltage anywhere from 0V to 7V.
I checked the fuse (it's fine), but stranger still is that with the fuse pulled out, it still has the fluctuating voltage! The voltage isn't on-off either (like a broken wire) but rather a smooth and random rise and fall.

Has anyone else experienced this? Just thought i'd ask before ripping all the panels off the dash.

In fact, i don't think the socket has ever worked properly coz i had noticed in the past that sometimes my phone didn't charge... at the time i thought i musta not plugged it in properly...

Thanks,
Eric.

[mkh]

Originally Posted by loric

G'day all,


In fact, i don't think the socket has ever worked properly coz i had noticed in the past that sometimes my phone didn't charge... at the time i thought i musta not plugged it in properly...

Thanks,
Eric.

Now THAT'S bizarre. If I remember back to when I had mine, sometimes I'd plug my phone in and it'd charge in about 20mins. Other times I'd be on a 2hr drive and it still wouldn't be charged. Now in my Prado it charges reliably in about 20-30minutes. I'd always put it down to maybe having a dodgy phone charger.

[loric]

Originally Posted by mkh

Now THAT'S bizarre. If I remember back to when I had mine, sometimes I'd plug my phone in and it'd charge in about 20mins. Other times I'd be on a 2hr drive and it still wouldn't be charged. Now in my Prado it charges reliably in about 20-30minutes. I'd always put it down to maybe having a dodgy phone charger.

That's exactly what used to happen to me! I never thought to check with a multimeter coz whever i stuck the test pen in the socket it lit up.

If it's not a common problem i'll hafta dig up the wiring diagram and see where the lines run. I'm just concerned that i have a chafed harness somewhere (and the harness has more important wires in it!)

Eric.

[loric]

Checked the wiring diagram in the workshop manual.
The cigar lighter fuse is #31!! (It was listed as #3 in my Jeep in-car operating manual/book).

Tested fuse #31, it was ok.
Tested the open circuit at the fuse holder - 12.5V, so OK.
Tested the cigar lighter (with the fuse in) - weird ass V fluctuation!

Pulled the fascia off and mucked around with the plug, blew a bit of metallic dust out, bent some prongs...



Problem solved!! I 'think' that the fine metallic dust (from socket friction etc) was acting like a resistor.

Easy solution in the end!

Eric.