Cigarette lighter socket sparking?

Post Wed Jun 24, 2015 8:27 pm

bit of an odd one, not sure if alternator could be overcharging... or something else but the cigarette lighter socket was sparking as in sparks were flying out,

switched the car off and it was still sparking? pulled the fuse out and left it for the time being, havnt touched anything down there recently...

theres defo no pennies or anything stuck down there, obviously the fuse should blow if it was shorting out but it didnt...

never came across this one!

Post Mon Aug 24, 2015 10:59 pm

Hi, how did you sort this one? Stuck.
Turns out I have a positive feed through fuse twenty eight to the cigarette lighter but also giving positive feed to illuminate the window switches? Puzzled, all works before but now can. Bad word!ni .rehgards

Post Tue Aug 25, 2015 1:11 am

janc wrote:
Turns out I have a positive feed through fuse twenty eight to the cigarette lighter but also giving positive feed to illuminate the window switches?

Thats correct. It allows the windows to operate with the doors open but ignition off.

Post Tue Aug 25, 2015 7:51 am

Nothing as yet just pulled the fuse out, gonna check out later

Post Tue Aug 25, 2015 9:24 pm

Hi, how did you sort this one? Stuck.
Turns out I have a positive feed through fuse twenty eight to the cigarette lighter but also giving positive feed to illuminate the window switches? Puzzled, all works ok until fuse put in. I believe fuse 28 is used for radio as well?

Post Tue Aug 25, 2015 9:40 pm

Any sparking from the bottom of the lighter socket will be as a result of metallic debris of some kind having found its way in there.
Fuse 28 feeds the lighter, the electric aerial if fitted, electric windows and sunroof only when the front doors are open, and is often used as the power feed for an alarm/immobiliser.

Post Tue Aug 25, 2015 9:40 pm

janc wrote:Hi, how did you sort this one? Stuck.
Turns out I have a positive feed through fuse twenty eight to the cigarette lighter but also giving positive feed to illuminate the window switches? Puzzled, all works ok until fuse put in. I believe fuse 28 is used for radio as well?

jmc330i wrote: Thats correct. It allows the windows to operate with the doors open but ignition off.

Fuse 28 isn't for the radio, but is used for an electric aerial if you have one fitted, as well as the lighter and electric window lifts (with ignition off and door open).