Anyone ever replaced the stupid cigarette lighter under the cup-holders with a real-life power supply instead?? Is it just a matter of popping the lighter out and popping the power supply in?

Please advise.

 

Yes, it is the same thing. If you want to use the lighter in the power port it will work too. Any and all cigarette lighters throughout your vehicle are power ports.

 

They are the ORIGINAL power ports. Way back when, the only access to power in a vehicle was through the cigar lighter. As more and more personal electronics came out that used cigar lighter plugs, the car manufacturers started adding dedicated "power points" to vehicles. (the rear ashtrays started to be deleted through the years as less and less people smoked, too) The Power points sometimes cannot use or operate a lighter, but are just for accepting the power plugs.

I remember that was one of the things that made the Cadillacs and Lincolns so cool back in the 70's and 80's. there was a ashtray and lighter in each door and sometimes also in the back of the front seat. If you had something that needed power, the points were everywhere. In my 1984 Town car that I bought new, there were a total of 4. most other cars only had one in the front.

 

So that cigarette lighter can also be used as a power outlet?? I was always afraid it might ignite the power adapter! (I know that is foolish, just a thing!!) I suppose I can just get rid of the actual lighter and then try different adapters to see which ones work. I know the power adapter for my iPhone does not work in the lighter. I will just have to test which ones do. Otherwise, I guess I could just replace it with a simple power supply.

 

My phone chargers work in either port in front and everywhere else in the EX.

 

You can get all that stuff at the auto parts store.

 

Heh, I will have to check out that auto parts store!!

 

I have to check the fuses on my cig lighter as it wont power up my adapter but my powerpoint will curiously enough.....

 

There is no difference between a "power point" and a cig lighter! Both are fuse protected, 12V power supplies.

 

My iPhone works fine in all the power outlets front to back!

 

I agree there is no difference between a cigarette lighter and a power port, but my GPS will only power up in the cig lighter and not the other power ports. I do use the power ports to charge my phones.

 

Typically when there is a problem getting power to a particular device it has to do with dirt/corrosion of some sort in the outlet or a problem with the device plug. Many times you can achieve positive contact by rotating the plug in the outlet and/or pulling it out just the slightest bit at the same time.

 

I have that exact problem. The prior owner years ago apparently used it for smoking and the humidity and debris from the use caused the receptacle to corrode/rust and now it is intermittent when I use it. Turn and wiggle to get good connections which has led to a blown fuse twice. I tried to run down a replacement at OReilleys (not big enough, no trim ring and 2 wire vs 3). I tried at the dealer and they had the receptable without ring. Stumped at the moment...may have to salvage yard the part

D

 

Just grab one from the junk yard

 

I would get one of these and cut the cigarette plug and hard wire it to an ignition switched 12V+. This way you'll have 3 cigarette lighter ports and 2 USB power ports for your phones and tablets.

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