No Power-- Cigarette lighter socket- Advice Wanted

[Pirate]

OK guys and gals... I have a minor problem with my 2003 Ford Explorer...

My cigarette lighter socket has stopped working. All it's ever been used for has been powering a GPS or charging a phone or radar detector... I checked the fuse under the dash and it's good. I replaced the fuse and I'm still getting no power at the socket. Before I do anything..... I'm asking for some advice...

1. First... other than the fuse under the dash.. do any of the fuses under the hood affect this socket??

2. Do cigarette lighter sockets go bad?? It is 13 years old although rarely used.

Any advice will be appreciated...

 

[Perana]

Check main fuses under the bonnet(hood)??

 

[Pirate]

Mystery solved... While I hate to take things apart for fear of breaking plastic tabs, etc...I pulled the ashtray / console area around the cigarette lighter socket this am thinking I'd check the connection.. Maybe it had come loose... As it turns out.. there were no wires running to the socket... Nothing.. it was just hanging in air..

My theory is.. the last time I had the truck in for work at the local dealer (they did some minor electrical work.. fixed my cruise, a power window button, etc)... the mechanic forgot to plug the lighter socket harness back in when he reassembled my center console.

I called the dealership today and told them my theory and while NOT admitting to the mistake.. they made me an appointment next week to bring it in and they would re-attach the harness to the socket at (supposedly) no charge... A rare happy ending.. Thanks

 

[TechGuru]

Reminds me of the time I installed a new Kenwood stereo headunit and forgot to reconnect the plug to the 4x4 switches.