Trying to rewire broken cigarette lighter

[AquariusTony]

Hi guys,

I’m trying to fix the cigarette lighter socket as it was broken when I bought the car.

I have changed the fuse and the bulb comes on fine, just trying to get the socket working.

I have 4 wires (refer to photos)

• 2 that go to the bulb
• Black/red/white cable that goes to a brass fitting
• Brown cable that goes to black plastic and a piece of metal, both with holes in them.

Please help!!
Thanks.

 

[Mazza]

Bentleys doesn't show much.

Feed to the bulb is GR/RT. Grey / Red
Earth from Bulb is brown
Earth from lighter itself is the large brown one

Two fuses are F37 10amp. Bulb , And F32 30amp. lighter

The bits look different to mine as yours is a facelift version.

 

[AquariusTony]

Bentleys doesn't show much.
View attachment 135408

Feed to the bulb is GR/RT. Grey / Red
Earth from Bulb is brown
Earth from lighter itself is the large brown one

Two fuses are F37 10amp. Bulb , And F32 30amp. lighter

The bits look different to mine as yours is a facelift version.

Thank you for that image.

I managed to get the metal socket out, away from the orange plastic. I’ve ordered another socket and now it should just all go together. To be honest I think the one that was in was totally broken.

It was awkward getting it out, but we’ll see how easy it is putting it all back together when the new ones comes

 

[Jjim]

Was going to suggest a new or used unit.

I’ve had to change mine due to no power supply (use it for the Sat Nav).
The hard bit is getting it out as it has the compression tabs.
Refitting is nice and easy, just push in

 

[AquariusTony]

Was going to suggest a new or used unit.

I’ve had to change mine due to no power supply (use it for the Sat Nav).
The hard bit is getting it out as it has the compression tabs.
Refitting is nice and easy, just push in

Yes I’m a newbie to the Z3, and have been doing some bits on it to learn about them. Yeah the tabs were annoying, but like you say, it should be easy once the part comes!!

 

[t-tony]

To pul those tabs in you need a pick something like this.

I needed similar to remove the centre air duct on my Z4 to remove the head unit.

Tony.

 

[AquariusTony]

To pul those tabs in you need a pick something like this.View attachment 135518
I needed similar to remove the centre air duct on my Z4 to remove the head unit.

Tony.

Great, thanks Tony!

I’ll be taking the passenger side air duct out anyway as I believe it has been put in wrong (it doesn’t move up or down and points downwards too much). I’ll get one of those picks for it.

 

[Gfor]

Has anyone changed the lighter socket for a USB socket, or is there anywhere out of the way recommended to put one in? Most of my needs would be better met with a USB capable socket, and I'd rather not use a cigarette socket adaptor.

 

[mwpe]

I replaced the lighter with this:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/2802668172...mBTHJE47-gsYnZqlLpUd2yvQIu4A622BoCpj8QAvD_BwE

I routed the live cable through the switch on the left to avoid having the socket permanently powered.

 

[Mazza]

Similar idea, but I put it on the left, via a switch, powered from the cigarette lighter.

 

[the Nefyn cat]

Put my USB socket in the fag lighter hole, and then realised it was permanently live, so had to fit a little switch. Could have found an ignition-switched live, but this gives me the option of leaving something in there being charged while I'm out panic buying.

 

[AquariusTony]

So the new socket came to today, so I tried connecting it up before putting it all back together.
It still doesn’t work!

Does anyone have any ideas?
Thank you!

 

[Mazza]

Make sure you have power getting to it. It should be a permanent live. If not check the fuse. F32
Confirm that the brown wire actually goes to earth.

 

[AquariusTony]

Make sure you have power getting to it. It should be a permanent live. If not check the fuse. F32
Confirm that the brown wire actually goes to earth.

Thanks Mazza, I’ll have a go!

 

[AquariusTony]

Hi everyone,

I have finally managed to fix the cigarette lighter and I feel a little embarrassed!

I got the multimeter out and checked to see if the live wire was receiving power. I then checked to see if it was all properly earthed.

The live wire was not receiving any power, so I went to check the brand new fuse that I had put in and it had blown. I changed the fuse again, wired it all back up and voilà, it worked.

Maybe the fuse had blown when I was trying to wire up the old cigarette lighter socket.

I didn't check the new fuse when I was first putting the new socket in

Thanks everyone, and sorry .

 

[Mazza]

Glad you got it all sorted.

 

[Nodzed]

Thank you for that image.

I managed to get the metal socket out, away from the orange plastic. I’ve ordered another socket and now it should just all go together. To be honest I think the one that was in was totally broken.

It was awkward getting it out, but we’ll see how easy it is putting it all back together when the new ones comes

Personally I would forget the lighter and stick a double USB in there instead

 

[AquariusTony]

Personally I would forget the lighter and stick a double USB in there instead

I thought about that, because it would be so much easier haha, but I wanted to keep it as original as I could! I have a double USB that fits in the socket anyway from my old car!

 

[jay edd]

I replaced the lighter with this:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/2802668172...mBTHJE47-gsYnZqlLpUd2yvQIu4A622BoCpj8QAvD_BwE
View attachment 135581

I routed the live cable through the switch on the left to avoid having the socket permanently powered.

can you just connect the wires already there for the cigarette lighter? I have bought a usb socket like yours but has an inbuilt on off switch

 

[mwpe]

can you just connect the wires already there for the cigarette lighter? I have bought a usb socket like yours but has an inbuilt on off switch

Yes, just connect the cigarette lighter cable to the USB, mine wasn't switched and I didn't want it permanently live.