Why is the car cigarette lighter not working?
4 Answers
The reason the cigarette lighter is not working could be due to contact issues or damage to the cigarette lighter socket. Here are the relevant details: Contact Issues: Due to prolonged use and repeated insertion and removal, the spring clip may become loose, preventing the cigarette lighter from receiving power. You can first test it with a household appliance to check if it's functional. Use a multimeter to test the contact surface by setting it to the continuity test mode. Damaged Power Plug: Repeated plugging and unplugging or improper use may cause a short circuit, blowing the fuse. Check if there is a 12V voltage output. If 12V is present, it indicates the circuit is functioning properly.
My car vacuum cleaner suddenly stopped working, and I realized the cigarette lighter had no power. The most common cause for this is a blown fuse, which is located in the fuse box under the steering wheel—just find the corresponding 15A fuse and check it. Last time my car had the same issue, replacing it with a spare fuse fixed it immediately. Another possibility is that the spring contacts in the cigarette lighter socket have deformed; frequent plugging and unplugging over time can cause this, leading to poor contact and no power. If you’ve installed accessories like a dashcam or charging devices, check if the wiring has caused a short circuit. Once, I found that accumulated coin debris in the socket caused a short—cleaning it solved the problem. As a temporary fix, try using another cigarette lighter socket if available, as many cars now come with two or three charging ports.
It's really frustrating when the cigarette lighter suddenly stops charging. I've encountered this issue several times. First, check the fuse located behind the panel near your left leg in the driver's seat - you can use the tweezers from the tool kit to remove it. If it's not the fuse, try plugging in a new cigarette lighter, as these components burn out easily, especially when using high-power devices. Wiring degradation is another common issue, particularly in vehicles over five years old - inspect the wires from the fuse box to the lighter socket for any exposed copper. A mechanic once told me that unused lighter sockets can oxidize and rust over time; a quick spray of electronic cleaner usually solves this. It's best to avoid using it for car refrigerators, as power overload is the most damaging to these devices.
Don't panic if your car charger suddenly stops working—80% of the time it's a fuse issue. Locate your vehicle's fuse box and identify the cigarette lighter fuse position using the manual. If the metal wire is broken, replace it with a new 10A or 15A fuse. If it's not the fuse, check if the spring contacts in the cigarette lighter socket have sufficient tension—if too loose, have a repair shop adjust them. Avoid bending them yourself, as they can snap easily. Also, rule out poor contact from the charger plug, as low-quality chargers often have easily damaged bottom chips. Last time, the issue was faulty wiring during a dashcam installation—reconnecting the wires fixed it. These checks will resolve 90% of common failures.
