Cigerette and aux power plug issues

[indybyron]

Ok I am having some issues with both the cig and aux power plug. Both are dead. The cig has been dead since i got the Eddie Bauer but now the aux is dead. Nothing else is dead or faulty could it just be the plugs them-self? I am currently going through my truck and trying to fix all I can in my down time and these two thing all be them minor i would like to fix. If they are dead is it as simple as replacing the plugs them-self, or is there a fuse or some other ting i need to be looking for. I dont have a bunch of testing equipment so the fix need to be pretty simple.

Thanks for the help.

 

[koda2000]

Sorry if this seems obvious, but have you checked your fuses? In my experience, when a lighter element wears out it will short out the socket and then the fuse blows. This can also happen with some charging plugs if they fit poorly or wear out. Both the lighter and aux sockets are protected by fuses. You'd have to have metal debris inside the socket for it to be the problem.

 

[SoNic67]

Check the associated fuses. There are listed in owner manual (in mine at pag 191, fuse #17 and 22).
Pay attention, the cigarette lighter one can be shorted-out with some chinese plug-in adaptors (thou they are working right in the auxiliary port).
Garmin GPS adaptors work just fine in both of them, they are build right.

 

[Radioace318]

Ok I am having some issues with both the cig and aux power plug. Both are dead. The cig has been dead since i got the Eddie Bauer but now the aux is dead. Nothing else is dead or faulty could it just be the plugs them-self? I am currently going through my truck and trying to fix all I can in my down time and these two thing all be them minor i would like to fix. If they are dead is it as simple as replacing the plugs them-self, or is there a fuse or some other ting i need to be looking for. I dont have a bunch of testing equipment so the fix need to be pretty simple.

Thanks for the help.

If you do not have your owners manual you may down load it in PDF format at this web site for free.

Dead Link Removed

Cheers
Rick

 

[indybyron]

I didnt have much time to check on the fuses today but i will tomorrow morning. I know when i changed the fuse for the cig lighter a month or so ago as soon as i pushed the lighter to see if it would work i could hear the fuse pop. So i know for a fact that one is burned out i will have to check on the other one.

Ok say both fuses are burned out i change them which is a nothing job to do and i use them and they burn out again. What could be the issue in that case? Would at that point changing the plugs do any good?

 

[Jorel]

Like Koda said, there would have to be something foreign inside the outlet for the outlet to be the problem. I would use something you're confident that works to test the outlet. Also, you'll want to check the connection. On the 91-94, the drawer containing the outlet pulls out. I forget what the exact connections are, but I thin there is a knife connector for the negative and bayonet-ish connector for the positive. Those two sometimes slip off on mine, although it's probably because i've taken them off so many times to pull my dash off. Good luck!

 

[indybyron]

Well i am going to have to wait till Friday, i am currently in Kentucky and my truck is in my home town. But on that note, When i replaced the fuse for the lighter i pushed in the lighter itself and it blew right out. So i will have to take a better look at the plug itself( it has not work since i got the explorer). The aux power i normally run my sirius out of it so it may be nasty or screwed up. Either way i will have to check it on Friday or Saturday when i am home.

 

[budwich]

you wouldn't happen to have a "few non-stock items" connected in your truck... like a sound system, etc. Perhaps these have been also connected to the lighter wiring... a "common technique".... that in combo with actually using the outlet might be putting you over the limit... just a thought though.

 

[indybyron]

No the truck is stock. I have made no changes im not that mechanically inclined. the first owner only owned it for 3 years and they made no changes none lol .

 

[koda2000]

one more time. are you sure your lighter element isn't shorting out the socket? look at the element, if it looks the least bit crudy replace it. if it's been used to light cigs it will short out eventually because of the crud built up and corrosion. elements are cheap, just replace it. the lighter is about as simple an electrical circut as they come. unless you're exceeding the amp rating of the fuse by having other stuff tied in to the lighter circut (bad idea by the way) it has to be the element or something in the socket. i found a penny in on once.

 

[indybyron]

Well I wont be able to deal with any of this till i get home on Friday or Saturday. I have to make more money to put all these fixes into my truck. New cig and aux plugs cost $38 for one, my thought was i need to work more to be able to afford them.

 

[koda2000]

i doubt you're going to need new sockets. a new element for the cig lighter (the part that heats up only) is probably around $5 (maybe less) at any discount auto parts store. walmart might even sell them.

 

[stevedtat]

Here's what fixed it for me. the fuse for the auxillary port is NOT in the dash fuse panel. It's located in the distribution box under the hood. it's a 20amp fuse. I replaced it and WAHLAH! she works!

eliminate the impossible and only the obvious remains -Albert Einstein

 

[Melon]

If one works, but the other - cig lighter, but not the AUX - could it still be a fuse? I recently noticed this and haven't taken the moment to check it out yet.

 

[bobflood]

Yes - they are on two different fuses.

 

[Jeffrey E Brown]

Yes - they are on two different fuses.

Yes they are: power port 1 (front of console) is on fuse 21. Power port 2 (rear of console) is on fuse 25. Sirius and subwoofer are both on fuse 22. These are all located in the center section of the Power Distribution Module (underhood, to the rear of the battery), and are all 20 amp fuses. I replaced them all with new, and all of the above electrical accessories began working again! Thanks to all responders above—you are superb contributors!