Cigarette Lighter Fuse

[hearingyourlies]

Driving down the road the other day, and my radio and GPS (that's plugged into my cigarette lighter), just shut off. Nada, no power.



Stop at the gas station, pull the cigarette lighter fuse and it's popped.



Replace with identical fuse (#2), start truck, nada.



Check fuse, popped again.



Unplug GPS, replace fuse, start truck, radio comes right back on.



Question is, obviously I'm drawing too much on the lighter fuse (the dimmer for my aftermarket radio is hooked up to it), can I replace the fuse with a 5 or even a 10?

 

[jakprince]

Do not put in a larger fuse than came from the factory. You could burn up your truck by doing that.

 

[CDonaldson]

If it were me, I'd be looking at something like a painless wiring kit to use for all my aux power needs. I believe the power plug in your console is on a separate fuse, maybe you might want to use it for your 'other' needs, even possibly tap into it an locate another plug-in to use for your aux needs.



Most cig lighters are already at their max when heating the coil/lighter, anything else IS or will be an overload. Truly a lousy place to tap for any kind of power or use for aux power.



NEVER put in a larger fuse, the wiring itself is also gauge related to amps of fuse. If the fuse is not big enough, the wire will not be either, can you say electrical FIRE???



CD

 

[hearingyourlies]

That's why I love this place, a plethora of knowledge.

 

[GaryOwen]

Are you saying there was a 2 amp fuse in the cig lighter position? I would have thought it should be a 20 amp or so. The correct size should be on the inside of the fuse cover or in the owners manual. I bet you had the wrong size fuse in there to start with.

 

[hearingyourlies]

Definately had a 2 in there. If it was the wrong size, it was wrong from the factory.

 

[BSteffens]

I just happened to look at mine today and it was a 20A. I believe it is location 29 in the fuse panel.



It should tell you on the underside of the cover what the correct fuse should be.



B

 

[icman95]

If you had a 2 amp in there that's your problem. The cig lighter has some of the biggest power draw of any accessory in the truck. Takes a lot of juice to get it glowing red. A GPS and radio dimmer don't draw enough power-even combined- to pop a properly functioning lighter circuit. If you solve the problem by putting the right amp fuse in, great. If not, I might start looking at the cig lighter power cord for the GPS. It's possible that it's damaged and causing the fuse to pop. If so, this is EXACTLY what the fuse was designed to do. The damage to the cord might be hard to spot. It could even be in the round part that goes into the cig lighter. This is assuming that the fuse in the truck is right. Good luck

 

[hearingyourlies]

The GPS cord actually has a fuse built into, so if it was the cord, that would've blown, right?

However, I have the 2006 diagnostic manual and according to that thing no. 40 - cigar lighter is suppose to be a 20 amp yellow fuse. So, that may be the problem ...