96 saturn power point

Hi to all, my daughter just got a 96 saturn (SL I think)and the power point,or cigarette lighter or whatever it's called has no power to it.I checked the fuse box under the hood and didn't find any blown or obviously missing.
There is no manual with the car so I had no help there.
Is there another fuse location or something that I missed?
I could run a seperate fused wire to the socket but I'd rather do it right :)

Thanks for any help

Check the connector on the back of the lighter to make sure that you still have a connection. If it's still there and connected, check to see if there is power going to the lighter and make sure that the ground is also grounded.

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Jeff
Velocity Custom Home Theater
Mobile Audio/Video Specialist
Morden, Manitoba CANADA

Hi Velocity Motors,
I did check those things. The ground wire is grounded (0 ohms to chassis) and there is no voltage on the hot wire. (between chassis ground or the ground wire)
With no blown or missing fuses obvious it has me puzzled.
The diagram on the inside of the fuse cover is not a wealth of information either :)

Thanks

How many fuse panels did you find? I think my 95 had 3. One in the driver side door jam area, one on the left passenger side foot area (just behind the stereo), and one in the engine bay.

It definitely sounds like a blown fuse.

DXAV

Hi dxav,
I only found one fuse panel after looking in all the usual places, including the glove box.
The one under the hood seemed to have all the fuses needed and then some. There were spaces for fuses for abs and other options that the car doesn't have so I didn't go unscrewing panels or anything to look further.
One of the big 30 amp blanks in the box under the hood did have a label that said "POWER CONVNC" but that was the closest thing I could decipher that might mean "cigarette lighter". I sure hate to buy a Chiltons just to fix a lighter plug :)

Thankd dxav

       

Well, it looks like I'm gonna run a new wire to the thing and just be done with it. I was hopefull that someone might have had the same problem and had a simple solution to it. It's good to hope :)

So, my plan is to run some #8 stranded off the battery with a 20 amp blade fuse greased up with some silicone to a new socket (in case the old one had a shorting problem).
The old wire looks to be about 22 guage which I think imho is way under what it should be and *maybe* it melted somewhere in between the fuse block and the socket. I don't see any evidence of heat though.

Thanks to everyone for the input, nice board, nice people


   

Cig Lighter may be tied to the interior dome light, or something similar (like the glove box light). Do all your interior lights work normal? My sister just got home for Thanksgiving, and she has a 96. I will check on her's tomorrow.

DXAV

Thanks dxav, I appreciate it.

And also,I don't know if all the interior lights work or not. It was a bright sunny day here when I was working on her car so I didn't really notice the lights. I'm pretty sure she would have had that on her "fix list" though if any were not working :)

Sorry, bonehead, I didn't have a chance to check her car out this weekend (much too busy eating!). I will check my old '95 in the next day or so, it may help. You can probably call the local Saturn dealer.

Did you get a chance to check the interior lights yet?

DXAV

No need to apologise dxav, I did nothing more important than replacing the oven light. And I think that's why I gained an astonishing 37 pounds. If the light had not been on, those evil calories that make me sleepy and fat would never have been able to grow. :)

Yes, all her interior lights work.
I may call one of the dealers like you said, I just don't like the attitude that some take towards do-it-yourselfers. (no offense to anyone)

Short of taking apart the fuse box under the hood and tracing the orange wire through the loom to the lighter I can't think of anything else to do to find the break.

Thanks for your continued attention dxav

No problem. Can you take the lighter out and test the wires behind the unit? Maybe the connections to the lighter are loose.

Be honest if you call the dealer. Just tell them your lighter doesn't work, and ask for the location of the fuse.

I seem to remember when I blew my lighter fuse, it was the only electrical thing that didn't work. I seem to remember the fuse located on the left side where the passenger sits. If you are looking at the radio, down and to the right a panel should pop off. Check all the fuses there, even if you don't know which is which. The inside of the panel should give a chart, too.

Good luck,
DXAV

Hi dxav,
I checked the wires at the back of the plug first thing.
Had a good ground but no 12 volt.

Next time my daughter comes by I'll look for that panel you mentioned. I'll let you know.

Thanks again

Mr.dxav you are the man. My daughter came by the other evening and there is a fuse panel on the passenger side of the console. I have no valid excuse except for dumassiotis for not finding it before. For any others who care the fuse was labeled SUN. It is about in the middle of the block.
I popped in a 20 then a 25 and they both blew instantly when I inserted the cigarette lighter plug. (there was no fuse even in the socket before I started)
So I told her to go get a replacement lighter plug and then we will see.
I did not expect a fuse panel to be located where you said it was. Surprised the crap out of me. Thanks much Amigo.

my forte is analog electronics so if I can ever help in that respect I would be honored to do so.

Thanks again for your help

And also, there is no glove-box light.
(she got one of the cheap ones I guess) :)


Thanks to all