How do you change the fuse on a cigarette lighter?

Answer 1

The fuse for the cigarette lighter is located in your vehicle's fuse box, along with fuses for the rest of the electrical system. You may need to refer to your manual to find the exact location of the fuse box, but it can usually be found either on the driver's side near the steering column under the dash board, or near the battery itself inside your engine compartment. Fuses come in two basic styles; most commonly are blade fuses (color coded plastic fuses with two metal "fins" on either side that plug in) or sometimes glass tube fuses that have metal caps on either end. (Some newer vehicles are using "mini" blade fuses which look the same as a typical blade fuse, but is smaller in size.) Both types of fuses provide an area in between the metal terminals where you can view the fuse wire. If its missing or broken, you've got a blown fuse! First look in your fuse box to see if the fuses are labelled (they usually are) and your cigarette lighter will either be labelled as such, or possibly labelled as "accessory." Worst case scenario you will have to pop out fuses until you find one that is blown, and replace that one. A cigarette lighter/accessory lead fuse is usually 15A, and will typically be colored blue. There are usually a number of spare fuses attached to the lid of the fuse box, and if you find a matching one you can simply replace it with the spare. Otherwise, you'll want to take the blown fuse to a local electronics or automotive store and purchase one with the same rating (don't worry, they only cost a few cents!) When choosing a replacement, make sure the current rating is exactly the same, eg, 15A. The current rating should be clearly displayed on the fuse. If a voltage rating is also given, make sure it is for at least 14V (most fuses will have ratings far above 14V, as 200V are quite common.) Using a current rating that is too small will not harm your electrical system and might work (say, you only have a 10A spare available to replace a 15A), this will work in a pinch, but it may cause the fuse to prematurely blow again. In no cases should you use a replacement fuse with a higher rating however! Using a replacement fuse for more than its rated will allow more current to flow than the system was designed for and can cause damage to your electrical system or present a fire hazard.