What to Do When the Car Cigarette Lighter Has No Power?
2 Answers
Solutions for a car cigarette lighter with no power: First, try borrowing someone else's cigarette lighter to connect. If it works, the issue is with the lighter itself, and you can simply replace it. Another possible reason is a blown fuse in the cigarette lighter, which can be fixed by replacing the fuse. The primary function of a car cigarette lighter is for lighting cigarettes, but nowadays, the cigarette lighter socket also serves another purpose: charging. If the car cigarette lighter has no power and you've ruled out damage to the lighter itself, the issue might be a blown fuse or a loose plug in the cigarette lighter. First, check if the lighter has no power by testing it with the original car cigarette lighter.
When I ran a repair shop, I encountered this situation frequently. A dead cigarette lighter socket is usually caused by a blown fuse, since the circuit is protected by one—especially when using high-power car chargers, which are prone to blowing fuses. You can check your vehicle’s manual to locate the fuse box, typically found under the steering wheel or behind the glove compartment. Open it and find the fuse corresponding to the cigarette lighter, usually labeled 15A or 20A. Use a fuse puller to remove it and check if the metal wire inside is broken. Just buy a replacement fuse with the same amperage rating from an auto parts store for a few bucks. If replacing it doesn’t work, the issue might be a loose socket base or poor contact from the spring terminals—try cleaning the metal contacts with a toothpick. If all else fails, consult a professional auto electrician to test the wiring. By the way, avoiding cheap chargers can reduce the chances of blowing fuses.
