Cigarette Lighter Fuse Keeps Blowing
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Joined: Nov 2017
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2004 E500 Station Wagon
Cigarette Lighter Fuse Keeps Blowing
I've got a 2004 E500 Station Wagon, and last weekend I started having issues with the Cigarette Lighter Socket. First, I had a Power Inverter plugged into the Socket in the backseat middle console (Not the way way back seat where the kids sit facing rearward). After a few hours, this socket stopped working, which i was sure was a blown fuse.. So i plugged the inverter into the Cigarette Lighter in the main console (under the radio) in the front seat. After about an hour, this socket stopped working also. For the remainder of the drive, I used the Socket in the trunk area to charge my phone, which worked fine. I never had an issue using the inverter before and I previously used it for two 6 hour drives about a month ago, with no issues. Anyways, the next morning, I went to use that socket in the rear to charge my phone, and that one doesn't work anymore now either. I started by replacing the fuse in fuse slot 54 (which had unsurprisingly blown), and it immediately blew when i turned the car on and tried to plug in a phone charger. I physically inspected all the sockets and there is nothing in any of the sockets (like a penny or something that would mess with it). I tried replacing the fuse again, and sure enough it blew first thing when i tried to plug in another phone charger.
Does anyone have any insight, or troubleshooting tips as to how i should go about working this mess?
Does anyone have any insight, or troubleshooting tips as to how i should go about working this mess?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2016
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From: In the Shadow of the Tetons
2013 ML350 Bluetec
How much power was your inverter drawing during use? If it was pushing the limits of the ciggy lighter, a loose connection anywhere in the wiring could have finally burned up and shorted out thus blowing the fuse.
Step one: Measure the resistance between the unloaded cigarette lighter positive and ground, with the fuse removed.
Step one: Measure the resistance between the unloaded cigarette lighter positive and ground, with the fuse removed.
