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An interesting cigarette lighter plug issue...

Help, Advice and DIY Tutorials on Volvo's P80 platform cars -- Volvo's 1990s "bread and butter" cars -- powered by the ubiquitous and durable Volvo inline 5-cylinder engine.

1992 - 1997 850, including 850 R, 850 T-5R, 850 T-5, 850 GLT
1997 - 2000 S70, S70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70, V70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70-XC
1997 - 2004 C70

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XxJenoxX
Posts: 91
Joined: 12 March 2010
Year and Model: 1995 Volvo 854 GLT
Location: Lehigh Valley, PA

Re: An interesting cigarette lighter plug issue...

Post by XxJenoxX »

I think I know where you're talking about, Mine only has one wire, and I believe it's black and yellow. I just took out the 2 screws, pushed the diagnostic plug out the side, put the car in neutral, and wedged it out!
Image
1995 Volvo 854 GLT, 217k and counting.

jh_on_the_cape
Posts: 152
Joined: 7 December 2009
Year and Model: 2006 V70 n/a FWD
Location: MA
Has thanked: 1 time

Post by jh_on_the_cape »

XxJenoxX wrote:I don't know much about the differences in how the manual and autos are assembled, but are you SURE they're not there? On mine, under the coin slot after you pull up the coin slot/diagnostic cover and in front of the lighter.....But they're in the vertical lip in the front, so if you were directly in front of it, the threading would be more or less facing you, with the screw head facing away from you...so unless you know exactly where they are, they can be a bit sneaky!
Mine is a 94 which I believe does not have the diagnostic port. I do not even have a coin slot...

The whole console, from e brake to lighter, looks like one piece.
Bright Red 1994 850 Wagon, nonturbo, FWD, stickshift 150k-ish miles SOLD
2006 v70 FWD nonturbo, boring silver A/T, 200k miles

Ozark Lee
MVS Moderator
Posts: 14798
Joined: 7 September 2006
Year and Model: Many Volvos
Location: USA Midwest
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Post by Ozark Lee »

The whole console, from e brake to lighter, looks like one piece.
It is indeed. There are a couple of torx screws under the ashtray that hold the front and a couple of torx screws - as I recall they are under the snap out parking brake adjustment window for the rear end.

This is for a right hand drive car but the differences are negligible.

https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... 21&p=52787

...Lee
'94 850 N/A 5 speed
'96 Platinum Edition Turbo
Previous:
1999 V70XC - Nautic Blue - Totaled while parked.
1999 V70XC - RIP - Wrecked Parts Car.
1998 S70 T5
1996 850 N/A
1989 740 GLT
1986 740 GLT
1972 142 Grand Luxe

mvsuzr
Posts: 108
Joined: 19 March 2009
Year and Model: S80 T6 2001
Location: California

Post by mvsuzr »

Sometimes the case of the lighter socket supplies the return if it is secured to the metal frame. Not sure if this is what you have.

You might have had a ring which has come off, or a broken tab. Check around for some funny looking loose wires... :P .

Make sure you're getting power at the lighter. If you've got it, and it's truly the negative that's missing, just take a wire (the same gauge as the hot wire), attach it to the case of the lighter socket (perhaps solder it?) and run it to a good ground point. That should solve your problem.

dtropnevad05
Posts: 78
Joined: 11 January 2010
Year and Model: S-80, 2001
Location: NW Ohio UAS

Post by dtropnevad05 »

If the ground wire is missing you most likely will need to remove the center consul to find it. My guess is someone removed the consul at some point and the wire never got reinstalled and you will find it tucked off to the side. If you still can't find it just add a section of wire to a good ground with a screw and ring connector and add a female spade connector to the other end. Like MVSUZR said there should be a male lug on the outer shell of the lighter, this is the ground for the lighter.

As far as the lights just look for any openings that do not have a light installed in them. Again it would be a smart idea to remove the consul and find the factory wire and not just add a new one, it's there somewhere.

Don

my850wagon
Posts: 1
Joined: 31 December 2011
Year and Model: 850 base wagon 98
Location: ny

Post by my850wagon »

just bought my first 850 wagon base and the 2 things that dont work is the cigurette lifghter and the dash light . but thanks to MVP I'm going to wake up in the morning and disect these little issues . but it is helpfull as hell when people share their issues and experiences online so that others can learn . I refuse to pay dealer rates when I can go online and tackle it myself. thanks a million for the lighter info !!!!!

petax
Posts: 16
Joined: 7 May 2012
Year and Model: 850 T-5R 1995
Location: Bilbao

Post by petax »

my850wagon wrote:just bought my first 850 wagon base and the 2 things that dont work is the cigurette lifghter and the dash light . but thanks to MVP I'm going to wake up in the morning and disect these little issues . but it is helpfull as hell when people share their issues and experiences online so that others can learn . I refuse to pay dealer rates when I can go online and tackle it myself. thanks a million for the lighter info !!!!!
Me too, very helpful thread, thanks for sharing, I need to fix the lighter socket, works for lighting cigarettes, but not for my satnav. I am hoping to find out why the drivers seat heats up when it is not switched on whilst I am there!
1995 Black 850 T-5R Saloon 210,000 kms

Pauloil
Posts: 1038
Joined: 21 March 2006
Year and Model:
Location: davenport, IA

Post by Pauloil »

petax wrote:
my850wagon wrote:just bought my first 850 wagon base and the 2 things that dont work is the cigurette lifghter and the dash light . but thanks to MVP I'm going to wake up in the morning and disect these little issues . but it is helpfull as hell when people share their issues and experiences online so that others can learn . I refuse to pay dealer rates when I can go online and tackle it myself. thanks a million for the lighter info !!!!!
Me too, very helpful thread, thanks for sharing, I need to fix the lighter socket, works for lighting cigarettes, but not for my satnav. I am hoping to find out why the drivers seat heats up when it is not switched on whilst I am there!
probably the switch is bad and always on. using a voltmeter, compare it to the opposite side and see if it is always on. the the solution would be to clip one of the wires while you look for a new switch. if the cig lighter works, then look at the plug for the satnav. it my not be touching the bottom of the socket. the socket could have dirt in it. good luck!
99 V70XC 158K

95 850glt 188K

petax
Posts: 16
Joined: 7 May 2012
Year and Model: 850 T-5R 1995
Location: Bilbao

Post by petax »

Pauloil wrote: probably the switch is bad and always on. using a voltmeter, compare it to the opposite side and see if it is always on. the the solution would be to clip one of the wires while you look for a new switch. if the cig lighter works, then look at the plug for the satnav. it my not be touching the bottom of the socket. the socket could have dirt in it. good luck!
Thanks Paul, clipping the wires is definitely on the agenda, heated seat when it is already 40c in the street is not on my list of favorites.

I did clean the lighter bottom connection, the sat nav is brand new and worked fine in a hire car, I extended the reach of the bottom contact on the plug, as soon as it made contact it blew the fuse, I am going to have to buy a voltmeter. I haven't had it all apart yet, I am waiting for a moment when I can park in the street. I have an underground car park, and it is too gloomy to see anything.

I noticed that the car has after market Oil Temp and battery charge gauge where the ashtray should be., I think that they are taking their power from the cigarette lighter, certainly on the same fuse (as is the heated seat). It has been very tidily installed but I am expecting there to be something not quite right about the wiring when I get it open.
1995 Black 850 T-5R Saloon 210,000 kms

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