My cigarette lighter hasn't worked since I purchased the car.

I have removed the actual lighter bit and check whether there was current flowing using a multimetre (+ve to the ligher socket, -ve to ground)

But nothing - is this the correct way to check it? - if so what should I do now to get it working ie how do I fix the wiring?

 

The cigarette lighter gets its power from the 20 amp accessory fuse. If the fuse is OK, and you don't have 12 volts between the center contact at the base of the socket & the socket case, then try from the center contact to a chassis ground (the dome light switch in the door jam) - if still no power, then pull the panel & check for power at the orange wire going to the lighter socket. If the power is OK to chassis ground, check for continuity from the lighter socket case to chassis ground. It should be on the order of a few ohms. If no continuity, then pull the panel & check for continuity to chassis ground at the black wire connected to the lighter socket.

Tim