Sojo300E

on my 300E it seems as though my cigarette lighter is dead.. The light turns on every once in a while and when i try to plug things in, it doesn't want to charge. Is there a way i can check for sure if its dead or just a bad connection? And if it is dead then how would i go about replacing it?

recently got a tomtom and i want to be able to charge it in the car if the battery dies.

ZorroAMG

mine does the same thing...works for a bit, dies, if I hold the charger in a certain position, it works sometimes...

Odd.

ML55CLA45

im sure you guys have looked into this issue....

but have you checked the fuse?

my c class had this issue and it was a simple fuse replacement.


-hope this helps
-carino

ZorroAMG

if it goes on and off, it can't be the fuse though, can it?

battlecat714

...unless you're being sarcastic ...the fuse may have a tiny incision that sometimes allows for contact and other times not, its happened to me.

ZorroAMG

hmmmm ok, will check...i wasn't being sarcastic, just didn't know

Sojo300E

which fuse is it?

carlson03

mine did that, turns out, the charging device plug wasn't making a good connection because it couldn't seat correctly in the plug...I got a charging splitter and it helped a lot...just an idea if nothing else

Sojo300E

hmm, i also notice that it cuts out whenever my headlights are on... bad battery too perhaps?

ML55CLA45

not sure about the 91... but in the 94 and 95 the fuse box is under the hood on the drivers side rear. basically by the hood hinge. once you open up the fuse box there should be a paper afixed to the lid that tells you what fuses control what...

if you dont have this paper... let me know and ill go look.

-carino

Sojo300E

yeah, the paper is gone... i dont think the previous owner took care of this car very well.

battlecat714

Well from here, you should look to see if any are burnt/dead and simply replace them.

capthook

Have you checked the harness behind the ashtray yet? It could be loose.

1. Pop out the tin ashtray insert (switch to your right below the cig. lighter)
2. locate the philips screws behind the tin insert which attach the ashtray itself
3. remove the ashtray (pull out slowly) the harness is behind the cig. lighter
4. If it's connected properly, hook the harness into a volt meter and see if it's giving a constant 12v or if it's fluctuating

... here are the fuse locations:

Sojo300E

whoa, thanks so much. i'll get to it after finals and such. the 300E in your sig pic is the look im going for with my car! i need to get clear corners and euros. gonna cost me a little bit.

capthook

The pic is photoshopped ; it's the look i am also definitely going for - I want the clear ones too and the updated headlights / taillights here's a good link for the clear turn signals another member gave me, they're $39 + shipping:

http://www.katmac.com/Merchant2/merc...egory_Code=CM1

I will eventually do the euro headlights, clear turn signals, new taillights & an e320 hood conversion as well to update the look.

Let me know if u get that cig. lighter working again, I'm fairly certain is something simple. My first step would be to pop the ashtray and test it at the connector / harness with a voltmeter or just see if it's plugged in correctly.

malmon

Another solution is to put in an independent line connected directly to the battery going into the cabin through a hole located at the back of the battery (You might have to remove the battery to be about to easily access the hole). Be sure to put in a fuse on the lines as you connect them to the battery.

The nice thing about this solution is that you will have a power line to connect anything you want to connect (depending on the size of wires you use... and of course the fuse you use) without being limited by the capacity of the cigarette lighter line.

jharrisiii

Quick followup question - Does the factory cigarette lighter work? consistently?
The lighter test will isolate the problem; car or third party 12v adapter.

Accessory adapter plugs like the TomTom are generic and sometimes don't seat securely.