My lighter socket is having connection problems. I'm assuming some sort of oxidation of the hot tip is playing a role. Has anyone replaced one? I'm able to turn it in circles, but can't figure out how to remove it from it's dash unit.
The lighter is a 2 piece unit that screws together and it sounds like the back half is rotating freely.
If you can get behind the dash you can grab and hold it while you turn the front or on some models AFTER DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY you can reach in with a pair of needle nose pliers through the front and twist the front part.
It is also possible the hot wire might be loose or as the unit grounds through the case if your lighter unit is loose you are getting, occasionally, a non grounded circuit.
You can test this by pinning the lighter unit to its grounding frame with a screwdriver while you try operating the lighter.
I replaced the one on my 99 TJ. I had to use the plastic tab for the cover to back-up the back side of the lighter to prevent it from sliding through. I also had to trim the the back side of the dash to get everything to fit.
This was a while ago, but IIRC, all of the ones with bezels had too large of a cannister to fit properly. The stock one is keyed and rotates into a locked position instead of being sandwiched with a bezel.
I would buy the genuine replacement, and then quit smoking so it doesn't wear out like the last one did. What are they, like $4.00 a pack now, for the good ones? Math says that if you stop smoking, you can afford the dealership item.
I have a 1999 TJ. To get at the Lighter Socket, you have to remove the PLASTIC DASH SURROUND that goes around the A/C-Heater Vents and Controls, the Radio, and the Switch Mounting bracket/ Lighter bracket and ashtray in the middle of the dash.
This is easy to do! First, remove the plastic piece on top of the dash with the defrost vent holes. It's about 3" x about 36" long. I used a small putty knife to carefully pry it up, as it is only just held in with plastic clips (Be careful you don't break them!).
This will give you access to two 1/4" phillips screws that hold the top part of the center plastic dash surround. Remove these two screws. Next remove the ashtray from the dash and you will find another 1/4" phillips screw behind. Remove this screw.
Then carefully pry off the plastic dash surround, using the putty knife, from the bottom and along each side at the bottom of the dash surround and the whole piece will just pop straight off toward you.
Then you can just remove the four 1/4" phillips screws that holds the switch mounting bracket and the cigarette lighter socket and unplug the Lighter from the rear connector.
Just reverse the above procedure to reinstall everything, being careful to not break the little plastic tabs when you push them back into their holes.
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