Topic: Why does my cig. lighter keep blowing fuses? (Read 5856 times)

05_Candyman · « **on:** May 28, 2007, 09:32:57 AM »

I finally decide to buy a lighter after losing mine somewhere over two years ago. I've used the cig. lighter plug for my little air compressor many times with no trouble, but the lighter itself keeps blowing the 15 amp fuse when the element pops out or is about to pop. Should I try another socket assembly? I did see a real small amount of rust inside the socket so I took it completely apart to clean and polish it up ... still no difference after wasting my time doing that. I couldn't see any signs of the wire rubbing and shorting anything out. I haven't got a clue of what to try next ... Any ideas?

I would rather figure this out on my own than take it to the dealer for them to carelessly finger everything up. Thanks in advance for any help.

displacing air · « **Reply #1 on:** May 28, 2007, 09:43:21 AM »

If you got a Volt/Ohm meter you should be able to disconnect the lighter from
power and hook the ohm meter up. Plug the lighter in and out to see if it shorts
out at any time...if it does replace socket and or both. If its not shorting out then
you may have to get a little deeper and check current draw of the lighter. There may be other stuff pulling current from the fuse that may have been wired in that you might know about. I am not sure what all that fuse feeds...but someone on the site will hopefully chime in and let you know. Hope this helps.

Barry

05_Candyman · « **Reply #2 on:** May 28, 2007, 10:02:30 AM »

Thanks Barry, I knew someone would bring up one tool I never bothered to buy.

That fuse also runs the tach, instrument lights for the tach and speedo, turn signals and something for the security system since the little icon blinks on the speedo when the fuse blows. I'm no electrician, but that seems like alot of stuff on one 15 amp fuse. The positive spade terminal on the back of the lighter socket does have a (factory, I hope) jumper wire that feeds power to the signal/flasher module whatever taped to the bottom, inside of the fairing.

Since a new lighter socket is probably cheaper than a good ohm meter, I guess I'll try that next. If that doesn't work ... I wonder if I could try getting power to the lighter from elswhere? Something tells me I shouldn't try that one though.

Brian

Puzzled · « **Reply #3 on:** May 28, 2007, 10:07:33 AM »

05_Candyman if an air compressor will work I'd venture to say the socket is good (maybe). I'd think that it would be the lighter itself is "kaput".

Barry is correct with following the power with a meter. Sounds like a tool road trip.

jeffj · « **Reply #4 on:** May 28, 2007, 10:59:19 AM »

Ummmmm, you have a non smoking scooter?

LOL

jeffj

hard10 · « **Reply #5 on:** May 28, 2007, 11:35:48 AM »

I'm having the same problem with mine. I have a short in the wire. It sounds like your lighter is the problem and not the socket. Go to a auto parts store and buy a new one for a couple of $. I was at West Marine yesterday and they had an ohm meter (a continuity meter that only lights up when there is complete circut) for $4.

05_Candyman · « **Reply #6 on:** May 28, 2007, 07:33:31 PM »

Quote from: hard10 on May 28, 2007, 11:35:48 AM

I'm having the same problem with mine. I have a short in the wire. It sounds like your lighter is the problem and not the socket. Go to a auto parts store and buy a new one for a couple of $. I was at West Marine yesterday and they had an ohm meter (a continuity meter that only lights up when there is complete circut) for $4.

I'm starting to think that's my problem too. I've tried two different lighter elements and both still popped the fuse. Have you found your short yet? I'm curious to see where I should start looking.

Tbone · « **Reply #7 on:** May 29, 2007, 06:13:15 AM »

Since we're on the subject of lighters and I have everyones attention, here's my problem:

The lighters on the 05 and 06 both work, even when I interchange them.

When I put the lighter adapter attached to my Zumo in the 06 socket, it works fine. When I put the adapter in the 05, I get no power at all, not even the green LED on the socket itself.

Anyone have any ideas on what to check?

Thanks,

Bob

05_Candyman · « **Reply #8 on:** May 29, 2007, 10:47:00 PM »

Oh well, I give up on this POS. Looks like a job for the dealer since I'll be taking it in for new wheels and other crap anyway. I can't wait to see how long the new ones last before the cheap chrome peels again. Once this thing is all straightened out, I just might trade it in for a BMW and be done with all of Harley's overpriced garbage.

displacing air · « **Reply #9 on:** May 29, 2007, 11:13:53 PM »

Quote from: Tbone on May 29, 2007, 06:13:15 AM

Since we're on the subject of lighters and I have everyones attention, here's my problem:

The lighters on the 05 and 06 both work, even when I interchange them.

When I put the lighter adapter attached to my Zumo in the 06 socket, it works fine. When I put the adapter in the 05, I get no power at all, not even the green LED on the socket itself.

Anyone have any ideas on what to check?

Thanks,

Bob

Bob,

Make sure the socket on the 05 doesnt have an indexed ground...some lighter sockets dont use the hole tube as ground...they just have tabs on each side for ground. Might just need to turn it until they line up. If the depth of these tabs are off...then you will have to put a different plug on the zumo. Or put an 06 style socket on the 05.
Hope this helps...

Barry

Tbone · « **Reply #10 on:** May 30, 2007, 05:07:43 AM »

Thanks Barry, there you go expecting me to have mechanical abilities again.

I'll see if I can make any sense of it.

Bob

flyingwillie · « **Reply #11 on:** May 30, 2007, 08:53:22 AM »

Bob, Barry's suggestion does not explain why your Zumo works in my 05 SEEG and not yours unless you have an issue with socket. See, you should have bought a cherry seeg instead of the jalapena

Tbone · « **Reply #12 on:** May 30, 2007, 09:27:32 AM »

It could be a socket difference I guess. My bike was a very early production 05.

sooiee · « **Reply #13 on:** June 01, 2007, 11:33:11 AM »

Quote from: 05_Candyman on May 29, 2007, 10:47:00 PM

Oh well, I give up on this POS. Looks like a job for the dealer since I'll be taking it in for new wheels and other crap anyway. I can't wait to see how long the new ones last before the cheap chrome peels again. Once this thing is all straightened out, I just might trade it in for a BMW and be done with all of Harley's overpriced garbage.

How about you borrow a lighter from someone...try theirs out and if their lighter works...you KNOW it's the lighter and not the socket. Or take your lighter to their bike and pop their fuse. Well...maybe bring a spare fuse just in case...to be nice that is.

J

05_Candyman · « **Reply #14 on:** June 04, 2007, 08:30:14 PM »

I fixed it!

I went to Advanced and bought a new lighter AND new socket for about five bucks and that did it.

I'm glad I took the fairing apart since there were quite a few wires rubbing the inner fairing brackets. Nothing was all the way through the insulation, but would've been pretty soon. I doctored those up with some electrical tape and spiral wrap and all is good now.

displacing air · « **Reply #15 on:** June 05, 2007, 12:14:41 AM »

OK Tbone (Bob),

What about yours?

Barry

Tbone · « **Reply #16 on:** June 05, 2007, 06:23:53 AM »

No luck so far Barry, I have to take it in for the 15K service so I'm going to let them check it out.

Bob

displacing air · « **Reply #17 on:** June 05, 2007, 11:00:05 AM »

Bob,

We are a lot alike...I know I could probably fix the stuff...but with or without the
warrenty...I just drop it by the dealer and say fix it...see ya later...its just so
easy!

Barry

Midnight Rider · « **Reply #18 on:** June 05, 2007, 04:01:32 PM »

Quote from: Tbone on June 05, 2007, 06:23:53 AM

No luck so far Barry, I have to take it in for the 15K service so I'm going to let them check it out.

Bob

Dammit, Bob...you let me forget to check that the other day!!! I CRS, so you have to remind me!

iski · « **Reply #19 on:** June 05, 2007, 04:51:56 PM »

Sometimes it is like a "mystery" when this button does not work.

Tbone · « **Reply #20 on:** June 05, 2007, 06:33:44 PM »

Quote from: displacing air on June 05, 2007, 11:00:05 AM

Bob,

We are a lot alike...I know I could probably fix the stuff...but with or without the
warrenty...I just drop it by the dealer and say fix it...see ya later...its just so
easy!

Barry

Barry,

Our only difference is me being able to fix anything

LOL

Bob

Tbone · « **Reply #21 on:** June 05, 2007, 06:34:42 PM »

Quote from: TCnBham on June 05, 2007, 04:01:32 PM

Dammit, Bob...you let me forget to check that the other day!!! I CRS, so you have to remind me!

No biggie Terry, I forgot myself, guess we both suffer from CRS!

Author Topic: Why does my cig. lighter keep blowing fuses? (Read 5856 times)