maxima cigarette lighter

[Billy Cormic]

Hello,
I have a 98' Nissan Maxima SE. The cigarette lighter never worked.
I would like the use it to charge my cell phone. Does anyone here
know what could be wrong and how to fix it? Could it be a burnt out
fuse?

Thanks,
Billy

[Richard Tomkins]

The 12VDC supply connector in the vehicle passenger compartment can be used
for a cigarette lighter or to power other equipment such as a cell phone,
PDA or notebook computer.

The 12VDC supply connector is only active when the key is in the ignition
and in the Accessories position, notable because the Stereo works but the
Windows do not or in the Start position, notable as the windows also work.

If the car engine is running the 12VDC connector will always have power.

The above operation is detailed in the Owners Manual.

Your unfamiliarity with your car indicates that you have not read the owners
manual. You should take an hour and sit down with your pipe in an easy chair
and read the Owners Manual. There are a large number of special features and
systems in your car that you are not aware of that are detailed in the
Owners Manual and knowing these things will make you a better consumer and
driver.

"Billy Cormic" <billy_...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:dd2f7565.0406...@posting.google.com...

[+G]

"Richard Tomkins" <tomk...@istop.com> wrote in message
news:8a45b7dc3d48c72c...@news.teranews.com...

> The 12VDC supply connector in the vehicle passenger compartment can be
used
> for a cigarette lighter or to power other equipment such as a cell phone,
> PDA or notebook computer.
>

LOL, what part of, "I would like the use it to charge my cell phone",
was unclear to you?

> The 12VDC supply connector is only active when the key is in the ignition
> and in the Accessories position, notable because the Stereo works but the
> Windows do not or in the Start position, notable as the windows also work.
>

My guess is he knows that too.

> If the car engine is running the 12VDC connector will always have power.
>
> The above operation is detailed in the Owners Manual.
>
> Your unfamiliarity with your car indicates that you have not read the
owners
> manual. You should take an hour and sit down with your pipe in an easy
chair
> and read the Owners Manual. There are a large number of special features
and
> systems in your car that you are not aware of that are detailed in the
> Owners Manual and knowing these things will make you a better consumer and
> driver.
>

I don't think it's a PEBKAC isssue here. He didn't say it didn't work when
the car was shut off.
"never" means to me, that it didn't work at any point, including while the
car was running.
He even says so, "The cigarette lighter never worked."!

Obviously there's an issue with the outlet.
It 'may' be that the wiring connector is unplugged in behind the dash;
The lighter socket may also be defective;
Or it could be a blown fuse or possibly a bad wire.

What are you smoking in your pipe Dick?

[Billy Cormic]

"Richard Tomkins" <tomk...@istop.com> wrote in message news:<8a45b7dc3d48c72c...@news.teranews.com>...

Well, I did look it up in the owners manual before posting and was
unable to get it work. There really was not much in the manual other
than what you said. I both turned the car completely on and in the
accessory position and the cigarette lighter still did not work. It
has never worked. Do you have anyother ideas?

[Billy Cormic]

OK. I have just put in a 15A fuse that controls the cigarette
lighter, but the cigarette lighter works fine. Strangely there was a
10A fuse in the cigarette lighter where the 15A should have been.
This must have been done in the factory. Could this have permanently
screwed up the cigarette lighter? What else can I try?

Billy

billy_...@hotmail.com (Billy Cormic) wrote in message news:<dd2f7565.0406...@posting.google.com>...

[Billy Cormic]

EXACTLY! Thanks positve_g! I am not quite as stupid as Richard made
me out to be. Now that I am sure it is not an issue with the fuse
(see my previous post) it has to be something else. As you noted it
is an issue w/ the outlet.
You said that it could be any of the following:

1. It 'may' be that the wiring connector is unplugged in behind the
dash;
2. The lighter socket may also be defective;
3. Or it could be a blown fuse or possibly a bad wire.

Do I have to take it to a mechanic to fix any of these problems or can
I do it myself? Or is it pretty easy to do 1 - 3.

PS I just said it was for my cellphone, for simplicity. I am actually
trying to install an XM satellite radio. I'm not sure if that is any
better though.

Thanks,
Billy

"+G" <posit...@hotmail.removethis.com> wrote in message news:<JifBc.7653$vO1....@nnrp1.uunet.ca>...

[+G]

I just took my lighter apart to check on the A/C fan switch.
I'd say you could do this yourself easily. Just go buy a lighter socket
(and as others mentioned and maybe a new lighter).

I had to start from the bottom (by my 5 speed shifter)
and work up taking the plastic fronts off (some screwed in, some popped
out).

"Billy Cormic" <billy_...@hotmail.com> wrote in message

news:dd2f7565.04062...@posting.google.com...

[Billy Cormic]

Hey G,
Is there a web page that tells how to take off the plastic fronts?
I've never done this before. Also what sorts of tools would I need.

Billy

"+G" <posit...@hotmail.removethis.com> wrote in message news:<HBkBc.7762$vO1....@nnrp1.uunet.ca>...

[+G]

I used my fingers a small standard.
5spd. I started the shifter part off with the small standard;
it popped off with my fingers.

Just don't pull too hard or you'll break the plastic.
Another tip would be to put masking tape
on any "leather" dash surface, keeps the scratches to a minimum.

You should see the lighter part then.

"Billy Cormic" <billy_...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:dd2f7565.04062...@posting.google.com...

[Richard Tomkins]

Well, I didn't really want to say you were stupid, in fact, I never used
that word.

Your post about what is the Fuel Filler Cap led me to believe that you had
an extremely limited knowledge of your automobile.

Two of my neighbours also own Maximas and both of them came to me at one
time and told me that the lighter didn't work at all. When I went to look at
their cars, they did not know that the key had to be on to have any voltage.
Their former North American cars always had power on the lighter regardless
of the ignition key position. So, I extrapolated their experience to yours
and voila, that, coupled with your Fuel Filler Cap question and I figured
that you had better read the manual.

I apologize for jumping to conclusions, but given your Fuel Filler Cap
question, it just seemed probable.

So tell me, why did you ask what a Fuel Filler Cap was? Did you really not
know, or were you trying to be funny?

"Billy Cormic" <billy_...@hotmail.com> wrote in message

news:dd2f7565.04062...@posting.google.com...

[john smith]

Chcek the cigarette lighter when the key is on or the engine is running.
Also, you might check to see if you have a plug in for a lighter or
just a power tap. Plug in a device with the engine on and see if there
is power. My 2000 Maxima had the power tap that looked like a cigarette
lighter but it was only for a power tap. I had to buy the cigarette
lighter kit which included a new receiver that allowed the cigarette
lighter to work. On the 2000 the lighter does nto work when the key is
off.

[rmorgan1016]

I am having a similar problem, but in this case the cigarette lighter used
to work but now no longer does. I've pulled the socket out and verified
that there is no voltage regardless of the position of the key or whether
the engine is on. I suppose it must be a blown fuse, but I'll be darned
if I can find it. Everything else seems to work fine. Would there be a
standalone fuse for just the lighter socket, and if so how could I find
it? There's no diagram (at least not one I can find) in the Owner's
Manual, and it looks like there at least three fuseboxes under the hood,
which is a lot of fuses to check manually. I noticed that an earlier
poster said he had changed the fuse from 10A to 15A, so I'm hoping he will
tell me where he found it!

Thanks.

[E. Meyer]

On 7/19/04 1:02 PM, in article
4ec9a343b81e366c...@localhost.talkaboutautos.com, "rmorgan1016"
<rmorg...@comcast.net> wrote:

Might help if you post (or re-post) what year Maxima this is. There are
fuses in the car as well as under the hood on most if not all of them. Look
in the vicinity of the lower left corner of the dash. The diagram is
usually on the inside of the fuse box cover.

[rmorgan1016]

Aha! Well, it's a 98, but thanks to your help I found the fuse. I
appreciate the advice!

[john smith]

Factory one will not work as a cigarette lighter unless you buy the kit
that allows for the element to make contact with the inside of the unit.
Yes, the cigratte lighter will fit but it will not get hot.

[Bitsbucket]

THAT IS A DUMB IDEA!!! NEVER AND I MEAN NEVER change a fuse to a higher
amperage to get it to work! Engineers with FAR more electronic experience
than you or I determined what amperage that fuse should be, and upping the
amps could cause a fire, so unless you are trying to collect on fire
insurance DON'T DO IT!

Now as far as your question, there is only one fuse for the cig. ltr. if it
is not blown, start looking for a bad ground. (because if the power wire to
the lighter had broken, chaffed, or otherwise been damaged, and touched a
chassis part, it would blow the fuse)
Good Luck
2Maximas

"rmorgan1016" <rmorg...@comcast.net> wrote in message
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[Richard Tomkins]

Geez, this tuff does seem to hang around, This topic was posted like, 3
months ago.

"Bitsbucket" <userof...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
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