Cig Lighter problem

[Moparinho]

I have problems to make the cigar lighter working.  I connected the original plug to the back of the lighter but I no have idea to how grounding the lighter socket.  Should it be grounded through the dash frame ?   

[BruteForce]

Yes, it grounds through the frame.

I'd put a voltmeter on the plug wire to see if it has power. If it does, then check the resistance (with an ohmmeter) of the lighter body to the car ground. If it is greater than zero, there is a grounding problem.

Let us know how these work out, and we can proceed from there.

[Moparinho]

there is power in the plug wire but no in the socket that is attached on the frame.  Using a test wire I've connected the lighter socket with the frame of the instrument panel and the lighter starts to work.  I should have power on this side of the frame too ?

[BruteForce]

I just checked mine to be sure, there is no ground strap on it.

The grounding is done through the case of the lighter to the case of the socket to the lighter sheet metal assembly to the dash frame. I'd start looking at those with the grounding test lead one by one. When you find which interface is bad, it's probably corrosion or too much paint.

[Moparinho]

do you have the same situation on the back  ?  My concern is that something is missing on the back thread of the socket...

[BruteForce]

That looks like it.

[Chryco Psycho]

I agree , there is a round center pin for power & it grounds through the dash frame

[Moparinho]

so, I definitely don't have ground on that side of the frame.   I have ground only on the instruments cluster panel  frame  (and only when the headlamps switch is turned on).

Any ideas ?

[the_engineers]

I bought a replacement lighter receptacle that has a tab for a spade connector.  I attached a ground wire to that.

[dodj]

so, I definitely don't have ground on that side of the frame.   I have ground only on the instruments cluster panel  frame  (and only when the headlamps switch is turned on).

Any ideas ?

Thats tough to understand. Could you rephrase?

[Moparinho]

using the tester, if I connect one wire in to the lighter plug and the other on the lighter frame I do not have any power.  But if I connect one wire in to the lighter plug and the other wire on the frame where the instrument panel is attached on, I have 12V on the display of my tester (only with headlights on).

[the_engineers]

using the tester, if I connect one wire in to the lighter plug and the other on the lighter frame I do not have any power.  But if I connect one wire in to the lighter plug and the other wire on the frame where the instrument panel is attached on, I have 12V on the display of my tester (only with headlights on).

Let's take this one step at a time:

Does your lighter work with the lights on?

Do you have continuity (lack of resistance (Ohms)) between the lighter frame and the dash frame?

[Moparinho]

Let's take this one step at a time:

Does your lighter work with the lights on?

Do you have continuity (lack of resistance (Ohms)) between the lighter frame and the dash frame?

No, it doesn't work with the lights on.  It was only a test I did connecting the lighter socket to the instrument panel, and the lighter works so when the lights are on.

Yes, I have continuity between lighter frame and dash frame.

[the_engineers]

No, it doesn't work with the lights on.  It was only a test I did connecting the lighter socket to the instrument panel, and the lighter works so when the lights are on.

Take a look at the attached pic.  If you pass all of the tests listed, your push-in ligher itself is the culprit.

[dodj]

A picture's worth a thousand words. Nice job engineers