the cigarette lighter in my 1996 850 turbo wagon doesn't work. i know this seems like a mundane issue and isn't a big deal, and that's what i thought to, but i'm becomming a volunteer fire fighter and need the lighter for power to the flashing lights. (i don't want to hardwire it in).

i have checked the fuses under the hood and they all seem to be ok. i can't think of anything else that it could be. it worked when i got the car a year ago and then mysteriously stopped working one day.

is there any other easy things to try and get it working? can you test something like that? should i just get a whole new one?

thanks again for any help

Chris

The last I checked, a universal (fits the common size/car) lighter was like RM7.50 a piece. (A Big-Mac here is about RM4.00) If the price is similar, then you could just replace the whole thing.

:)

thanks for the idea, maybe i'll try that.

so there's a pretty good chance that just changing it out will make it work or is there any possibility that it's something beyond the lighter socket itself? maybe something i could test for

Some of them work only when the ignition key is on.

Turn on the key, stick a volt meter in it, one probe in the center, one probe on a handy ground point. You should see your 12+ volts.

Also, behind the panel you'll probably find at least one place where they connect the wires. Maybe one fell out or is loose.

Any other electrical gadgets that not working?

nope, all the other electronics work as far as i know. except for the little light on the switch for the passanger side heated seat that says when it is on. (but that could be totally not be related to electrical cause the heated seat still works fine).

and i've never known whether there was supposed to be a light behind the computer trip, mpg, ave speed, and such, but if there is, that doesn't work. (i've always thought it would be useful for their to be a light behind there, can't see it without turning on one of the cabinet overhead lights).

Just a burnt bulb...



Does this mean you've finally found it / changed the bubs already? If you havent, try getting a skinny hand (excuse the expression) to wiggle his way up to change the bulb from under the dash panel. Disclaimer though: Not all the bulbs can be changed this way. So, if he can't then the dash has to be removed to change the bulbs. In the future, it may be a good practice to not put the dimmer on full blast, just to protect / ensure the longer life of the bulbs....

actually all the lights behind the speedometer, odometer, fuel level and such are all on and working. and i usually actually keep it pretty dimmed. it's just that ever since i've owned the car i've never actually seen any lights for the computer right below the speedometer (you know where they show the MPG, ave. MPG, ave MPH, and so forth). my friend owns the same car only a glt version and he doesn't have a light for the computer either so i was just wondering if that was normal

thanks for all the help, this site has really been amazing to help me understand this car and hopefully work the kinks out of it

Sorry to say it's not normal, dude...
:)
Looking at the brighter side, maybe just the bulb is burnt.