Trick in getting to cigarette lighter?

[alfisti]

It's the little adventures with this car that make it all worthwhile, isn't it? :-)

I have my '87 Carrera, which had the cigarette lighter missing, and a controller for a CD changer velcro'd over the hole, and the wiring for the changer going through the lighter hole, down the console, and under the passenger seat.

All fine and good, but the changer was long since kaput when I bought the car, and I want to return it to a stock look, or even better, have a working cigarette lighter.

(on a side note, the previous owner DID wire a lighter outlet (two, actually) out the back of the console, with an on/off switch - so I CAN charge my phone, etc.)

So I went online and after some searching, found a complete lighter unit. All set!

I open the package today, and find the "new" unit in great shape. This should be easy.

I look inside the hole, and what do I see? A metal cylinder sitting sideways, with two wires connected to it.... ! DANG! So it looks like the original lighter (or at least, the outer sleeve) is still in there, tucked inside the dash, and still wired.

And I can't figure out how to get it out. There doesn't seem to be access under the dash - when I feel around, I feel some kind of metal frame that appears to block access to the cigarette lighter, which is just sitting there, laughing at me. I can only get a finger through the hole, and therefore can't maneuver it to a point where it's facing the right way. The wires might even be taped to the frame, or something....

So here's my question.... how can I get in there? I pulled the radio a bit and it didn't seem to open any new possibilities. Is there a way to get to that spot? Maybe if I remove the glove box?

Thanks
-Glenn

[timmy2]

Through the trunk after removing the blower cover and some ductwork you can get to it... Barely, with long arms.
I tried removing the glovebox, sheet metal is in the way there too.
I ran a new constant hot wire to it is why I know.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[alfisti]

Thanks, Timmy2... but... I do NOT have long arms. I'm 5'2"... and unfortunately not built like a chimp.

Hmm, if people can build entire boats inside a bottle, I should be able to figure out how to turn this thing so I can mount it the way it's supposed to be. Will have to get creative here...

Thanks
-Glenn

[group911@aol.co]

Thankfully, you aren't built like a chimp because you need to pull the clock and reach through the hole to hold the back while you screw the front into it. If you have chimp like forearms, pull the speedo and teach in through there.

[alfisti]

Bob- are you saying that pulling the clock is ANOTHER way of reaching the back of the cigarette lighter, or that I'll have to do that AND open the front trunk and remove duct work as well?

Thanks
-Glenn

[group911@aol.co]

Yep. Reach in through the hole with your left hand and hold the back while you spin the outer part into it. The back should have 2 wires. The hot in the middle and a ground. Easy

[alfisti]

That sounds a lot easier! I will give it a try. Thanks

[timmy2]

I couldn't fit my arm through the speedo or clock hole and the other switch for the defrost was in the way for my gorilla arms..
Being 6'2" my arms are long enough, but too thick past the wrist to fit in the clock hole and make a turn.. Pretty tight for my hand to fit through too!

[timmy2]

LOL,
I couldn't fit my arm through the speedo or clock hole and the other switch for the defrost was in the way for my gorilla arms..
Being 6'2" my arms are long enough, but too thick past the wrist to fit in the clock hole and make a turn.. Pretty tight for my hand to fit through too!

[alfisti]

Hah! THANKS FOLKS! I got it. Or rather - my helper got it. My 10 year old daughter was able to get back there, manipulate the barrel to the point I could hook it with a screwdriver, and together we shimmied it into position and screwed in the front. SUCCESS!!

A quick check reveals that the lighter isn't actually WORKING, but I can live with that - just didn't like staring at a hole on the dash. It looks complete now.

My concern about the lighter not functioning is, I hope there are not exposed wires, or that I didn't create any shorts, or pull anything loose... but for now, I'm happy.

Next step: repair the fog light switch....

Thanks all
-Glenn

[group911@aol.co]

Popeye?

Originally Posted by timmy2

LOL,
I couldn't fit my arm through the speedo or clock hole and the other switch for the defrost was in the way for my gorilla arms..
Being 6'2" my arms are long enough, but too thick past the wrist to fit in the clock hole and make a turn.. Pretty tight for my hand to fit through too!

[timmy2]

Olive?

[group911@aol.co]

Contortionist. And used to working under dashes.

Originally Posted by timmy2

Olive?

[alfisti]

So this may sound like a silly question - but if I have a push-in/pop-out rear defrost switch down by the a/c controls in the console, does that mean I do NOT have a 2 stage control on the dash?

I ask because after removing the Velcro strip the previous owner used to hold the CD changer control panel on, I have exposed what I thought was the fog light switch. I am just wondering, though, if this is in fact the fog light switch, or if it controls the rear refroster. (you can see from the photo, I have more glue cleanup to do)

I would expect it to control the fog lights, mostly because, I don't see a switch anywhere else for them. They are on right now, and I see no way to turn them off. The switch that has been exposed is missing the knob and the associated stalk that extends into the switch, so I can't tell what label was on the switch when it was whole.

And another clue - this may just be age/bad connections etc., but when I turn on the rear refroster via the console switch, it doesn't clear the whole rear window- just a couple of sections.

So.... anyone care to guess what the exposed switch controls? I'd like to fix it up so it looks right. Need to know what to replace it with.

Here's a photo of what it looks like now:



Thanks
-Glenn

[timmy2]

I don't know the normal configuration of the '87 dash, but my no fog light option '78 has no center switch just like yours. The far left one is for my defrost switch.
Maybe your fog lights are wired directly to your running lights, or are they always on?

[timmy2]

Originally Posted by group911@aol.co

Contortionist. And used to working under dashes.

LOL, Me too, but sometimes my frame size limits my access.

[group911@aol.co]

If you can't turn the fog lites off, that must be the switch and all you need is the knob and stalk.
Your back glass probably has broken wires. Fairly common.

[Cooper911SC]

Yes, you need the fog light stalk/knob.

The 2 stage defrost switches work with a "pull" for stage 1 and a clockwise "twist" for stage 2.

Nice that you are restoring the original look/function of things. Velcroed CD controller = yuck. :-(

On the cig. lighter, have you checked the fuse? Maybe the PO pulled fuse when they tucked the barrel into dash?

Cooper

[midnight911]

removing the ducts in the trunk shouldn't be that bad. i just did that exploration few weeks ago. surprisingly easier than i anticipated. 84 carrera here.

[kidrock]

I'm not a "big guy", but I can't imagine anybody getting their hands in thru the clock or even the speedo hole. There is no way I'd ever be able to shove my mitts (or arms) in either of those tiny holes.

I removed the ducting and blower. A little time consuming, but not that difficult. You need to be careful removing and installing the cable clips, I remember.

IIRC, the lighter had a single wire to it, and it was brown (ground)? Actuating the lighter by pressing it in closes the circuit and makes it hot, right?