Hello all,
I'd like to know how to replace the cigarette lighter socket in a '96 Toyota Avalon. I've looked at it carefully and can't see how to get the old one out of there. It, along with the ash tray, is in a slide-out drawer in this model and I think in the Camrey too. There is a little phillips-head screw on the under side of the drawer, not directly under the cigarette lighter. I've taken the screw out, but nothing happens. Any expert advice welcome.
Cheers, Robert
Car cigarette lighter sockets are usually held in place by a large tin nut accessible on the underside.
Jason
Not in this case, unfortunately. I guess I'll have to take it to the dealer and end up paying $50 to have a $3 part installed.
On some, the back side of the lighter case itself will unscrew leaving the smaller center to be pulled out from the front.
Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT'sRobert wrote:
i haven't had a play with those but it'd be far more likely to be a clip in fitting than a screw on one. try squeezing around the sides of the lighter socket.
...
If it is like the Camry, there is a "U" shaped piece of plastic trim that surrounds the radio. Pry in the lower right or left corner and this lower portion of the radio surround containing the cigarette lighter should pop out. You should then be able to remove the lighter socket from the rear.
What's wrong with it? Many problems can be fixed in situ. If the lighter element gets hot when you *hold* it in, there are usually only two things that go wrong: either the lighter won't stay in long enough to heat, or the lighter pops all of the way out of the holder when it releases (that one can be dangerous...nothing like trying to track down a red hot lighter in traffic); or a combination of both.
Either condition can be alleviated by carefully bending the metal tabs inside the housing. The first problem is caused by the two copper 'fingers' at the end of the housing which are supposed to grab the little flange at the tip of the lighter. Bend them slightly toward the center. (Be careful not to go too far with these, or you'll bend them flat the first time you plug the lighter in--blown fuse is the result.) Check the operation afterwards to make sure there's enough 'grab' to hold the element in until it gets cherry red--without staying in too long. If you overflex or break one of the tabs, the socket will have to be replaced.
The second condition is fixed by bending the tabs around the inside circumference of the 'barrel' of the housing slightly inward--just enough to give the lighter some friction so it doesn't pop all of the way out--just a little bit will do.
Both problems are most often caused by ill-fitting accessory plugs, or by twisting/bending/flexing properly fitting ones. Push accessory plugs straight in with only as much twist needed to ensure a good connection; and don't pull the cords laterally when inserted.
The only other (much less) common problem is corrosion or carbon on the center contact. This one may neccessitate a replacement, but can usually be fixed.
****CAUTION! TURN OFF THE KEY WHEN PERFORMING ANY OF THE ABOVE!! (If you have an 'always on' socket--uncommon these days--you can use a nonmetallic tool to perform the procedures.)jak
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