I've got an '89 IROC Convertible. Last night, I plugged my car cell phone charger into the cig. lighter, and *POP* damn, fuse blew, that's odd. Get home, only to find out it's the same fuse that releases the top, so I can put it back up. *grumbles* Pop the panels in the car and manually flip the level to release it. I put a new fuse in and *pop* immediately it goes. The charger's not plugged in. Crap. I put in another one *POP* AAARG!!

Ok, so, anyone have any idea what could be causing this? I didnt do anything to the car to cause a short. Maybe something in the cig lighter got messed up, so stuff is touching now?

 

you check to make sure something small like a dime didn't fall into the cig lighter? I've heard many people had a similar problem, only to find out something fell into the cig lighter and was causing the short.

 

erm... No... nothing in there. Good thought though.

-Damen

 

Your lighter has a short in it. My buddies 92 RS is the same way. They get a little anodized on the terminals and causes this problem. Pull it out maybe LIGHTLY sand with 2000 grit the terminal than reattach should fix the problem. It's definetely a short somewhere if it's not the lighter specifically.

 

Not necessarily a short. Stop trying to charge your cell phone in the cig lighter. It kills fuses all the time. The fuse is a 20 amp. located in the #11 slot (third column from the left, third row down).

Lon

 

Lon,

Didn't even think about that. Old systems and new technology I guess just dont match sometimes. I will need to tell my buddy about it. I am going to try to set up a new line to the accessories plug on my new center console with a 30 amp fuse for laptop or cell, but it will not have to contend with any other source. so should be fine. What do you think?

James

 

huh.. the fuse that was in that spot was a 30 amp. That seem wrong?
Also, when I put the new fuses in, the charger is not plugged in, and they still blow.

 

Ok, I have indeed determined that the short is in the cig. lighter. I disconnected it, and put a new fuse in, and everything was happy and working. I checked out the lighter, and inside, one of the two prongs is attached(doesnt look like it's supposed to be) to the side wall. Am I correct in guessing that this is the culprit?

 

Yep, one of the 2 center contacts has broken off and welded itself to the negative side.

 

Ok, so do I just need to replace that then, or can it be fixed? Where do I get a replacement? Thanks.

-Damen

 

Apparently I was right hehe

Best place to go is to the junk yard and just pull one. You can get one off of ebay as well. Just watch out for white and/or green dust on the terminals, bad news if it's there.

James

 

Forget used parts for something like that. I bought one from GM a couple years back and it was $10 for the socket.

 

Ok, ordered a new one from JC Whitney. Thanks much guys
Always love a relatively simple solution to a problem like this.

-Damen