Dr. Bulczynski 3.2 Cigarette Lighter MOD $5.99

[DRACO A5OG]

Hey Fellas,

Another mod, just finished in 10 minutes

An Orthopaedic Surgeon and a good friend of SW 911Chip. He is also fellow weekend amateur racer with a Pristine Metallic Gray 87 3.2 Coupe figured out how to fix the Fancy European Cigarette Lighter WELL (that is the U.S. technical term). You won't TRUST it because I didn't at first, but he is a Doctor so I should, shouldn't I?

He is an active POC member, page 51 of the 2011 General Competition Rules and avid 911 DIYer. I know, a Doctor, (I get grief from my clients too) but like me, it is therapy for him, he feels like a kid when working on his baby, Always So Excited.

We just tweeked his alignment and some other stuff then he asked me if I had issues with my charger fitting into your cigarette lighter. I replied with dismay, "YEAH". Then he showed me the SLEEVE he purchased and modified from a FLAPS, a generic Dual Charger. I was like "DAMN", no way , he gave the other one to his better liked friend SW :-(. JKD.

So immediately after cleaning up and sending him off his way to see his lady, I jumped into my baby and drove to the FLAPS. Thinking to myself, "SELF, what if there is just a replacement SAE plug and I can hack that instead of buying a DUAL CHARGER with Cord and Plug that will just add to the Land Fills" No, I am not a Liberal, far from it, I'm a Gas Hog!

OK, went into the FLAPS then two young guys were looking at me funny and said "Hey is that your 911?" I cautiously said "yeeeeahhh?" then they asked me if I knew about Pelicans. I said "of course, on there all the time, I really need a Life". I think they thought I was being snobby, Sorry to digress.

Anyways, wouldn't you know it, first row in front and to the right was 6 complete replacement lighter then to my surprise just the REPLACEMENT WELL

$5.99

OK, in line I started to talk to them and they realized I was not a Prick in a Porsche. Cool Kats, guess who they worked for? Yeap Pelicans, damn Wayne your workers advertise for you even off the clock! I didn't get their names but they did say PELICANS is MOVING ON THE 17th, Hot Damn just around the corner from me!!! PM me and I will tell you what they told me for locals only, sorry

[DRACO A5OG]

The MOD:

For Safety, Leave Car Off while modifying

Issue: Annoying Floppy SAE Chargers on our Euro Cigarette Wells/Lighters:

Part: Any Brand REPLACEMENT WELL:



Once disassembled, you are left with the WELL or I like to call the Insert SLEEVE (I.S.):



Use a HackSaw or Dremel to cut the bottom off OVER AN 3/8" Do Not Allow the I.S. to touch the inner OEM well's retaining prongs, it will blow your #6 25 amp FUSE, due to the bent ridge it is just to thick and the charger needs to tap the 12Volt source.



I also used the Dremel to sand off the rough sharp edges, don't want to scratch that OEM Lighter



This particular I.S. has tension prongs on the side (as shown above) that will get caught in the OEM WELL, so you will need to turn it 90 degrees to allow it to slip in all the way flush to the OEM rim. If you a have a hooked pin tool, you can go back to OEM/Concours in a heart beat.



Tested: CHARGING = PASSED, tight as a BUG!

Less than a 10 minute Job, took longer to write this thread

Thanks Dr. Bulczynski!

Jim

[911Freak]

And thank you Jim! Nice little details/mods like this make our older 911s nice and clean, with just a bit more modern sensibility...

[DRACO A5OG]

I just could not believe how simple a MOD it was

[MH911]

Great Jim. I'll be doing this. I always keep a USB charger in there if anyone needs to plug in. A bit loose. This should do the trick.

Thanks.

[DRACO A5OG]

Cool Kipp,

EDIT: You Must CUT Off a bit over 3/8" from the bottom to insure the I.S. does not touch the OEM Retention Prongs, if it does you will blow your FUSE #6.

Leave the car OFF while doing this mod. Pull fuse or disconnect battery for safety.

[Canada Kev]

That's an awesome idea! A year or so ago, I bought something similar directly from Escort, the radar detector folks. The one they offered (sadly, no longer...) cost only a couple bucks and is plastic so you won't short circuit anything. Unfortunately they slide out quite easily and often stay attached to the devices previously plugged into the lighter, like maybe your girlfriend's cel phone charger causing some frustration when it won't fit into her own vehicle's lighter...

Anyway, this is a great alternative to the plastic gismo when it inevitably gets lost and is NLA from anywhere I know of.

[DRACO A5OG]

Nice Work Kevin

I concur, unlike yours, one must make sure the metal ones do not touch the OEM inner prongs

Good Side Effects, it will stay in the OEM well until it is pulled out by the Pin Tool shown in the MOD post.

Jim

[porschenut]

Originally Posted by syzygy

A year or so ago, I bought something similar directly from Escort, the radar detector folks. The one they offered (sadly, no longer...) cost only a couple bucks and is plastic so you won't short circuit anything.

There is a similar thread on the Rennlist 993 board where many are saying that these cheap adapter sleeves are available from cell phone stores. I haven't tried to find one yet but I may need to as my new 993 arrives today.

[DRACO A5OG]

Yeap, I was looking in vane but never though of hacking into an existing charger but I wonder if there are chargeres made with plastic WELLs.

Can't imagine the heat will be tolerated.

When I use my Philips USB/Power Adapter it is hot is HELL.

[rfloz]

Most escellent.

But, what's a FLAP???

[DRACO A5OG]

Sorry FLAP = your Friendly Local Auto Parts store.

edited and added "s" for STORE

Hey Bob, what part of La La are you in?

[DRACO A5OG]

Update: Well so far so good, used charger on the road all day.

No more wiggling the damn thing to get a proper contact or falling out when I pull on the phone accidently.

Enjoy fellas

[mnez]

Jim, thanks! That particular annoyance has been driving me crazy.

[USCguy]

My answer to this issue was to cut about 1 1/2 inches of a bicycle tube and make a rubber sleeve which I then slipped over the accessory plug, cutting slight slits in the rubber of the tube so ghat the plug could still ground.

[DRACO A5OG]

Yeap, tried electrical tape, insulation tape, O-rings even bending the inner prongs but due to the fact I have the Porsche, Mini Flashlight with Magnifying glass, using all those items would not allow me to gain access to the slide switch.

[IMG]http://www.***************/genuine-porsche-flashlights.html[/IMG]

[rfloz]

Originally Posted by DRACO A5OG

Sorry FLAP = your Friendly Local Auto Parts store.

edited and added "s" for STORE

Hey Bob, what part of La La are you in?

Doh! Thanks.

I'm in Woodland Hills. If you go on any of the Dave B. (dis)organized runs or to any Oange Coast region auto-cross, say hello. Look for a white Turbo-Look (w/ new this week RSR rear bumper!) driven by an old fart.

By the way, you mention above it gets hot with use. I need it to run one of those plug-in air compressors to adjust tire pressures. I guess I need to watch out for the heat issue. Still a good mod. Thanks again for sharing.

[DRACO A5OG]

LOL, Hey Bob, Old Man Here Too ,

I will certainly Look out for you next time I'm on a Fun Run or AX/DE. Do you also do POC or just PCA events?

"HOT", it maybe the device's design from Philips, when you use your pump, carefully touch the body of the plug in charger/adapter to feel if it is too hot. I don't think it will melt because I drove around for several hours with it plugged in. I have my flash light plugged in all the other times with never an issue, but it draws very little current.

Jim

I visit My Mom's every MonDay (MOMDAY) she lives in Northridge, what a small world. I think we have over 1/2 a dozen Pelicans out in the valley, maybe more

[nineball]

i can't tell you how many of these "my plug won't fit" threads i have read on this board but i can tell you i have never had a problem with any of my charger plugs (garmin, apple) falling out in my '83. i know i still have the factory setup or the lighter would not fit in there. i'll just leave it at a miracle mystery and go on with life.

[NO LIFT]

Please ask the good Dr. to come up with a similar solution to loose rear light bulbs...