Fixing the cigarette lighter

[Linda]

Hello all,
My cigarette lighter was working ,but I decided to check the wiring. All looked good but in reconstructing the parts I do not have power. I am wondering if there is a part I lost, such as an insulator or something. Does anyone have any pics or a breakdown on parts? I need the big rubber piece that goes in the hole to prevent road debris, and wondered if anyone had a fix for that also.
Thanks!
Linda

[jrusso07]

IRRC, the lighter is on the same circuit as map light and both get ground through the chassis - that is, they need to be mounted in the console and the console mouned to chassis.

As for the rubber part do you mean the shift lever boot or the oval plug? I havd never seen the plug for sale but the boot is zlways on eBay.. For the plug, worse case use duct tape to seal the hole. Its under the console anyway.

[Linda]

Joe,
The oval plug looks like this under the cigarette lighter, mine is trashed:

15462863704110.jpg

The bottom of the center arm rest looks like this:

15462864878401.jpg

On the connections there are tiny nuts and lock washers, should there be a rubber washer or insulator in there also?
And I found this piece, is it related?

15462867725812.jpg

Thx
Linda

[ACote]

IRRC, the lighter is on the same circuit as map light and both get ground through the chassis - that is, they need to be mounted in the console and the console mounted to chassis.

Exactly, I did the same thing. Started working again after tightening the bolts inside the console to the trans tunnel.

[ACote]

I'm not sure about the blue/white wire I'll go look at my car.
I bought the boot here:
https://www.datsunparts.com/2601

[ACote]

Mine is wired just like the bottom right on the wiring diagram:
http://www.311s.org/PDFs/curtis/datsun_ ... out_68.pdf
the blue/white wire has a split to both the lighter and map light. Comes off the heater plug and has 12v power with the key in run but no power with the key in ACC.

[Linda]

Yes, I know how the wiring works from the wiring diagram.
My question was whether I need any insulators.
I tightened the console screws but lighter still did not work...
Everything on fuse box looks good. So must be a grounding issue?
Linda

[ACote]

Oh gotcha, mine doesn't have an insulator. I would check for power at the wire and if that's good it would have to be a ground issue. I'm not sure the socket can go bad unless really rusted.

[Linda]

Thx Alex. Will check.
Linda

[DCooke]

Yeah, mine was missing an insulated washer and blew
A fuse every time I plugged my USB adapter in. I finally took it all apart, cleaned everything, adjusted the prongs inside to make sure there was no chance of a future shirt, then added the insulated washer, reassembled and it works great now.

[Linda]

Ah ha!
I must have lost the insulated washer when I took it apart (how unlike me, NOT) putting all the nuts and lock washers in a pile but somehow that piece got missed.
Does the insulated washer fit inside the hole at the bottom of the lighter housing, fitting just the screw that comes out the bottom, or does it cover the whole bottom of the housing? Can I use a fiber washer
or what else would work?
Thx for the help
Linda

[DCooke]

I’m not sure if it ever actually had an insulated washer. I added one on the underside between the lighter base & the wiring. I thought this would help prevent a short. Seemed logical and preventative in my case. In the future, I have to remember to always take photos, both for documentation and helpful for discussions like this...

[Linda]

Well I tried a fiber washer but that didn’t work. So next I will try a rubber washer under the whole thing. Something is amiss.
Linda

[DCooke]

The bottom electrical connection of the cigar lighter should read 12 volts with a meter between that connection and any good ground. If not, check your fuses for a blown fuse. On my 68, the cigar lighter shares the same fuse as the gas gauge. So it was pretty easy to diagnose my issue as every time the cigar lighter shorted out, my gas gauge went to empty as I kept blowing the same fuse.

[Linda]

Turned out be a bad fuse that had the end cap loose but otherwise looked good. I replaced all my fuses just to take care of the whole box.
Linda