Cigarette lighter leaps out of socket when used

[mccalli]

I don't really care about this because I don't smoke, but whilst investigating all the hassles I've been having around phone charging and loss of reception I decided to see if it was the 12v socket itself that was causing it. To do that, I dug out the old lighter and pushed it in, watching to see if any effect on reception whilst the lighter heated up.

Results:

• Zero effect on reception (phew)
• Very surprised at how fast the lighter is ready
• Lighter repeatedly jumps out of the socket when done and lands on the controls bit of the centre console
• ...which in turns means when I reached down for it I caught my finger on the front
• One seared finger later, and the sacrifice to the machine gods is complete

It's bizarre - it leaps nearly a foot out of the 12v socket and lands in the middle of the centre console. 100% repeatable. Surely it shouldn't be doing that - what's causing that? As I say I'm unfused because this is a problem I will simply never experience - I don't smoke, so I don't use the lighter and it's not normally even in the vehicle. But I am curious about it.

 

[Ianmc]

It must have been incorrectly wired to the ejector seat relay.

 

[ZTec]

I don't really care about this because I don't smoke, but whilst investigating all the hassles I've been having around phone charging and loss of reception I decided to see if it was the 12v socket itself that was causing it. To do that, I dug out the old lighter and pushed it in, watching to see if any effect on reception whilst the lighter heated up.

Results:

• Zero effect on reception (phew)
• Very surprised at how fast the lighter is ready
• Lighter repeatedly jumps out of the socket when done and lands on the controls bit of the centre console
• ...which in turns means when I reached down for it I caught my finger on the front
• One seared finger later, and the sacrifice to the machine gods is complete

It's bizarre - it leaps nearly a foot out of the 12v socket and lands in the middle of the centre console. 100% repeatable. Surely it shouldn't be doing that - what's causing that? As I say I'm unfused because this is a problem I will simply never experience - I don't smoke, so I don't use the lighter and it's not normally even in the vehicle. But I am curious about it.

Mine does that as well. I put it down to being a M44 and the engine having far too much power

 

[Mazza]

I have tried mine and it pops up but doesn’t eject.
I think it’s probably due to the two spring ears on each side at the bottom of the socket.
Have you used your socket with a USB adaptor??
It may well be that the ‘ears’ have been bent outwards and now no longer catch the heater part.

 

[mccalli]

I have tried mine and it pops up but doesn’t eject.
I think it’s probably due to the two spring ears on each side at the bottom of the socket.
Have you used your socket with a USB adaptor??
It may well be that the ‘ears’ have been bent outwards and now no longer catch the heater part.

Interesting - yes, I have. Will have a look for that.

 

[Redline]

You’re supposed to preempt it, and, as it is performing a somersault arcing through the air, you catch it mid flight by the cool handle part. That will impress anyone sat in the passenger seat.
I’d suggest a little practice though - dropping it in to the passengers lap may not be received well.

Phone reception or lack of it is more likely to be poor signal made worse if the phone is low in the car. Is it always bad in the same places?

 

[the Nefyn cat]

Had the same with mine back when I first got it, took me by surprise when the lighter shot out, bounced off the centre console and disappeared behind my seat. One emergency stop later all was sorted, got a twin USB socket in there now so it'll never happen again.

 

[Mazza]

Just one thing springs to mind.
The cigarette lighter is a permanent live. If you stick a usb adaptor in it then the unit is on all the time.
Even though there could be nothing plugged into it, the unit itself, is permanently live.....is that a problem or potential hazard??

 

[Ianmc]

Just one thing springs to mind.

Very good!!!

 

[Redline]

Very good!!!

This’ll become a hot topic

 

[colb]

Agree sounds like the metal tangs inside the socket have spread use something plastic to poke in and adjust bend the tangs in so they grip the element part tighter, don’t go poking it with a metal screwdriver or you will end up blowing the fuse.

 

[t-tony]

I have tried mine and it pops up but doesn’t eject.
I think it’s probably due to the two spring ears on each side at the bottom of the socket.
Have you used your socket with a USB adaptor??
It may well be that the ‘ears’ have been bent outwards and now no longer catch the heater part.

Exactly that Malc.

Tony.

 

[misterpie]

This is bonkers! Trying to find my sunnies, they where in the Z recently, but cannot be found. Even looked in the ash tray, which is where I found my cigarette lighter and thought I'd give it a go

 

[the Nefyn cat]

Just one thing springs to mind.
The cigarette lighter is a permanent live. If you stick a usb adaptor in it then the unit is on all the time.
Even though there could be nothing plugged into it, the unit itself, is permanently live.....is that a problem or potential hazard??

Thought of that, and fitted a neat little round switch. Also thought that this phenomenon could explain all the grass verge fires in summer, it's Z3 drivers firing hot fag lighters out the back of the car. Just a thought, but it amuses me.