As the lighter is basically a short, it requires loads of current.
Sometimes the coil can get bent and it shorts internally - effectively
making the coil shorter hence more current than normal. You can often
replace the coil itself but the better solution would be to gut it so it no
longer activates when pushed. In other words, don't smoke.
Peter S
----- Original Message -----
From: Paul McMullen <paul@bessacarr.freeserve.co.uk>
To: Atwell Haines <carbuff@nac.net>
Cc: Spitlist <spitfires@autox.team.net>
Sent: Thursday, September 16, 1999 3:26 PM
Subject: Re: Cigarette lighter circuit
>
> Dear Atwell,
>
> I don't think it's worthwhile to try and clean the coils, I've tried this
> with several lighters using a wire brush but it's better to replace if
> possible. Most lighters have the same components inside and the coil part
> can be unscrewed fairly easily. I replaced the lighter coil in my Spit
with
> one from a Ferguson tractor that a non-smoking farmer friend gave me.
> With regard to the fuse, it seems that something is drawing too much power
> through the circuit, a similar thing happened on my previous Spit when I
> fitted a heated rear screen element to the hardtop. If it was switched on
> for more than 60 seconds the in-line fuse got hot and began to melt the
> casing.
>
> Hope this helps
>
> Regards,
>
> Paul
> 1981 reg white 1500
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Atwell Haines <carbuff@nac.net>
> To: Bob Sykes <stan.part@worldnet.att.net>
> Cc: <spitfires@autox.team.net>
> Sent: Thursday, September 16, 1999 12:20 PM
> Subject: Re: Cigarette lighter circuit
>
>
> >
> > At 11:04 PM 09/15/1999 -0700, Bob Sykes wrote:
> > >> I tried to determine in the
> > >> Bentley manual if the lighter is run off that fuse.
> > >
> > >Nope (at least on a '78)
> >
> > That makes sense... 5 amp continuous is really low for a lighter
circuit,
> > most car's I've seen are 20 - 30 amps on the lighter ("power point" in
> > 90's-speak).
> >
> > ++++++
> > >
> > >One failure mode for lighters is for the coils to short against
adjacent
> > >coils.
> > >The causes the (already low) resistance to drop even further.
Increased
> > >current
> > >results, followed by (sometimes) blown fuses.
> >
> > Or, in Triumph's case, melted wiring! <aacckkk>
> >
> > Anybody ever successfully cleaned-out the lighter's coils? (Mine DOES
show
> > signs of heavy use from the PO.)
> >
> > And lastly, does my charred fuse 2 (the 10/5 amp one) indicate a poblem
I
> > should be looking into? I haven't noticed any functional problems with
> the
> > car.
> >
> >
> > Grateful,
> >
> > Atwell Haines
> >
> >
>
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