An interesting cigarette lighter plug issue...

XxJenoxX · Post by **XxJenoxX** » 17 Mar 2010, 19:53

I've had my 1995 850 GLT for about 3 years, and the cigarette lighter has never worked. The problem is definitely with the power supply to the plug, since the lighter stays pushed in and never pops out, doesn't heat, and I can't get power to anything else that plugs into the socket. I changed the fuse, even though it looked fine and to no surprise, there is still no power to the outlet.

So today, I decided to use my nifty new ipd bone tool to pry up the coin tray and lighter unit. Took the torx screws out, got the unit up, disconnected the obd II connector.....And lo and behold! There is one plug with a bulb in it, another bulb plug with no bulb in it, and they are both freely floating down there, not connected. AND, there is only one plug connected to the lighter socket, and it's on the positive side (right). Where is the plug for the left, you ask? GOOD QUESTION. My Haynes manual shows that there should be one connector on the positive, one on the negative, and a plug with a bulb in it mounted to the back of the unit.

So it should seem that the connector for the negative side is COMPLETELY MISSING! So I'm wondering, can anybody confirm that there is or is not a plug for the other side, where the hell my other connector went (if there is supposed to be one), and how I can fix this? Also, should I disconnect the battery when I'm working under there? Not sure where all the airbag wires run through this car, other than the obvious spots. I just want to charge my GPS! Is that too much to ask?

Also...I cannot, for the life of me, find a good diagram or tutorial on how to disassemble and/or fix these components on an 850. So if anyone has one, I would like to see it!

jh_on_the_cape · Post by **jh_on_the_cape** » 18 Mar 2010, 11:15

I am also looking for help in repairing my 12v cigarette lighter in my 850. Did you find any pics online of using this 'bone tool'?

Post by **matthew1** » 18 Mar 2010, 11:39

https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... f=1&t=8018 <- manual, zipped

Sorry, don't know what to look for specifically with the lighter.

Post by **BEJinFbk** » 18 Mar 2010, 13:24

A bone tool is just a little platic pry bar for taking trim apart without scratching it up.
Here's an example: http://www.ipdusa.com/Universal-Product ... 2-620-197/
These guys have some cool stuff, too: http://www.goodspeedmotoring.com/speciality-tools.html
A great item for any tool box!

As for the loose connectors in your console. Pics, please?

XxJenoxX · Post by **XxJenoxX** » 18 Mar 2010, 16:46

Yeah, the bone tool is great. It's a nice, stiff nylon...and it works fantastically.

However, it is not a fix for my plug. So I am still sad. Boo.

cmarcoux · Post by **cmarcoux** » 18 Mar 2010, 16:58

First you did it wrong you didn't need a bone tool the center console is only held by 2 screws under the arm rest. I took mine apart last week and it took me about ten minutes. There are 2 wires that plug into the lighter plug (so your missing one) your car may have mistreated. You can get on from a junk yard for about 20 dollars.

XxJenoxX · Post by **XxJenoxX** » 18 Mar 2010, 17:12

I resent the statement that I 'did it wrong.' I did it right, I just may not have had to use that tool....And I didn't have to pull out the center console just to get to the 12v.....That's an excessive amount of disassembling and would probably lean more towards 'doing it wrong.' But at any rate....

I suppose the issue isn't really getting the wire...it's where the hell do I hook said wire up to if I have no reference point from the old wire??? And the car was dealer maintained, which is why I really don't understand what would have happened to it. 2 previous owners, dealer maintained with documents to prove it until a little while before I bought it.

jh_on_the_cape · Post by **jh_on_the_cape** » 19 Mar 2010, 13:11

My car is a manual transmission 850, so there is no little screw next to the lighter or anything. I cannot see how to get the plastic up around the outlet to see if it's just a loose plug. I am afraid I will break it by just prying, since it might be held on with screws.

XxJenoxX · Post by **XxJenoxX** » 19 Mar 2010, 18:56

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!

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 21 Mar 2010, 00:46

On my 850s the ground is a black wire that plugs into a spade lug on the shell of the lighter outlet. The only time I have had access to it was when the entire center console was removed. I don't think you can get to it without getting under the console.

...Lee