as the title states my lighter has blown two fuses in a row. i tested the element in another vehicle and it did not blow the fuse on that one. there have been no changes or work done in that area. ideas/comments please....

 

Did the vehicle come with a cigar lighter, or did you add one to one of the power ports?

 

i believe they are just 12 volt power source , not a lighter

 

originally it was just a power port. i changed to a smokers package about a year ago. i have had no trouble till now. i just installed a third new fuse. the lighter seems ok for the moment. but i have a feeling it will blow this one too...........can fuses get old??

 

In the owners manual it describes how the power port is not to be used as a cigar lighter. Check out page 42 of the owners manual, found here.

http://www.motorcraftservice.com/pub.../06musog2e.pdf

 

thanks for the reply but you misunderstand what i said. i swapped the power port for a ford accessory smokers package which includes a different socket and lighter element.

 

The car is simply concerned with your heath. Its trying to tell you something.

 

I wonder if that smokers package is supposed to use a different fuse, and maybe you are using the standard fuse causing it to blow?

 

no mention or inclusion of a new fuse in the factory instructions. it uses a 20@ fuse.

 

Your voltage might be running low especially while idling with some accessories running due to a weak battery or charging system. This will result in more current draw and possibly overloading the fuse. I=E/R Simple check with a VOM at idle. Try to duplicate it in the driveway with the blower motor and lights on.

"Don't Drive Like My Brother" <-----Click and Clack

 

i fixed it. the socket was apparently shorting out somehow. i installed a new socket and all is well.

 

Using cigarette lighter sockets for 12V power cord plugs plugs are famous for shorting out the circuit when you insert the plug because of the long grounding prongs on the sides of the plug coming in contact with the offset prongs inside the cigarette lighter socket that are intended to only come in contact with the central element of a cigarette lighter insert when it is pushed in. One careless twist of a power outlet plug in a cigarette lighter socket usually yields a blown fuse. If the 12v+ prongs inside the cigarette lighter socket ever become bent or distorted because of forcing a power outlet plug in there, they may also short out against the outer barrell if you resume use of the the cigarette lighter.

Look inside a genuine power outlet socket and you will see only a small round + contact in the back of the socket drum.

Using cigarette lighters as power outlets has been a problem for decades (especially back in the CB radio days) until someone decided that there should be a special power outlet made to remedy the problem.