How to make my old cigarette lighter work in my new car?

July 9, 2011 10:35 AM

I have two Toyotas, a '91 and a 2005. The 2005 has a cigarette lighter socket, but no ashtray -- hence the lighter socket is empty. I would like to plug my old lighter into the new socket to light my cigar, but it doesn't heat up. Anybody know a hack to make it work?

When I push the lighter in, it doesn't stay in like a real lighter. Okay, the non-smoking socket is missing something -- according to Wikipedia, "when pushed in, the lighter is held against the force of a spring by a hook attached to a bi-metallic strip." But even if I hold the lighter in manually, it never even gets warm. Why? How to enable it?

posted by Rash to Technology (10 answers total)

Have you used a test lamp or voltmeter to ensure thew socket has power?
posted by buggzzee23 at 10:40 AM on July 9, 2011

It's entirely possible that to save money Toyota offered a non-smoking option that simply reused the same fascia without any of the electrical wiring. Go get the Chilton guide for your model (the '05) and see what it shows. The wiring is probably something you can buy and install as if you were replacing.
posted by dhartung at 11:22 AM on July 9, 2011

Yeah the socket itself is probably disconnected or super rusty at the contact.
posted by Max Power at 11:22 AM on July 9, 2011

If you don't have a multimeter, check that there is a fuse present in the fuse box, and if it is present, check that it is not blown.
posted by fake at 12:17 PM on July 9, 2011

It may be that the socket is actually deeper than the lighter can reach. Most car-adapter-plugs (like the one for a cell phone) are a lot longer than a cigarette lighter plug.
posted by Thorzdad at 1:27 PM on July 9, 2011

Response by poster: The socket's live; I'm guessing my problem's something like Thorzdad's describing. So -- non-smoking cars may have lighter sockets that are deeper than a standard lighter. Is there a hack or mod to make a lighter work in an extra-deep socket? Or can somebody point me to specific details about these two types of cigarette lighter sockets -- those for actual lighters, and those strictly for accessories?
posted by Rash at 1:36 PM on July 9, 2011

Best answer: There are at least two different lighter sizes in passenger automobiles, and the shorter lighter will not heat up in the longer socket. Get thee to an auto parts store and buy the longer lighter and it'll probably work just fine in your car.
posted by DaveP at 1:39 PM on July 9, 2011

Newer cars tend to contain "DC power outlets" that happen to be lighter-shaped. They're not intended to be used as lighters. DaveP's solution may work, but it also may be that the outlet is not designed to handle the heat and you will melt something.
posted by knave at 4:44 PM on July 9, 2011

My last three cars have been Toyotas and in all three the lighters never worked. I'd buy new ones, they'd last a few days, and die. I definitely plugged them into appropriate holes. I think Toyota doesn't like smokers.
posted by mareli at 6:04 PM on July 9, 2011

Response by poster: They're not intended to be used as lighters ... it also may be that the outlet is not designed to handle the heat and you will melt something.

Definitely not designed for lighters as they're missing the key component, the spring and bi-metallic strip mentioned above, which release to pop out the lighter when it gets red hot. Since I'd be to holding the lighter in with my finger, I might get too hot, may be forced to let go before it reaches ignition/melting temperatures. But thanks for the warning.
posted by Rash at 7:40 PM on July 9, 2011