Cigarette Lighter Removal Options

[lancer778544]

Hi gents,

Does any one know how to remove the cigarette lighter from the check panel? It looks like the centre metal barrel needs to come out so you can release a clip that holds the green illumination ring in but I've tried prodding, pushing and twisting and it does not wanna budge. Am I missing something? I'd rather not destroy it to remove it nor damage the housing.

Thanks

[dante giacosa]

hey Lancer-

There's NO WAY that is coming out from the front, without releasing it from behind.

Take out the ashtray, crouch down, and look up behind where it was and there's two screws; undo these and remove the check panel & fag-ancillaries as one unit.

You'll then be releasing plastic-tabs within the cylindrical socket-frame

[lancer778544]

Cheers Dante. I've got two complete ashtray, check unit/switch module thingies spare to practice on. The original I have from the 145 has the main clip on the illumination ring broken so the whole thing spins and the spare is all in one piece. If I get one out then I can swap just the check panel/switch module over as they are all in similar sort of condition just with clocks in various states of borked. I shall have another bash, ta

This post has been edited by lancer778544: 4th October 2019 21:27

[lancer778544]

Success! Got the cigarette lighter out with a bit of prying and I was able to fit this in it's place:



About £16 on Amazon. 2x QC compatible USB ports and a little voltmeter. I've wired it so it comes on with the ignition as the original wiring in my car was live all the time. The voltmeter probably isn't very accurate but it should be ok for checking if the alternator is keeping up e.t.c

[dante giacosa]

nice one, Lancer: that's a really neat install!

You should never underestimated the usefulness of a voltage gauge in the car

In my own example, I've got a somewhat oversized (and under-readable in a bright daylight situation) external-temperature gauge, which I stuck on the end of a fag-lighter plug so I can pull it out (as I never thought it would be permanent)

I'm on the cusp of swapping it for a dual-module (in the same format) that gives external temp & gearbox temp! But that's another thread...

This post has been edited by dante giacosa: 14th October 2019 07:17

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[dante giacosa]

Holy thread-resurrection!

I thought I would come back to this, as I have recently shared Lancer's pain, and ended up 'knowing everything' This info may be of use to someone in the future.

Basically, as Lancer described, the lighter has a front-removable top-half bezel, and then the cylindrical metal-insert separates from the green transparent illuminated-ring, by two heavy tabs which interfere with the metal sides of the insert. Use a 4mm flat-bladed screwdriver, and don't spare the horses- it's quite a tough collection of parts.

(It may be possible to remove the assembly whole, without separating these two parts, but it seems with the metal-insert removed; the green ring can achieve the correct angle to come out, as it has a considerable lamp-holder section within it's shape, behind the front panel)

There is an additional lamp-holder lamp insert and cover; which sit on the rear of the green transparent ring, these have to be removed from behind.

Then to remove the green illuminated ring, there is a tab on the top surface, which has to be levered under a locating cutout on the centre-console hole itself. It removes forwards, through the hole.

see attached images.

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[mrmarkyt]

nice one, Lancer: that's a really neat install!

You should never underestimated the usefulness of a voltage gauge in the car

In my own example, I've got a somewhat oversized (and under-readable in a bright daylight situation) external-temperature gauge, which I stuck on the end of a fag-lighter plug so I can pull it out (as I never thought it would be permanent)

I'm on the cusp of swapping it for a dual-module (in the same format) that gives external temp & gearbox temp! But that's another thread...

Interesting!

is that a graphic equaliser that you have installed under the stereo? Was it easy to do?

Cheers
Mark..

[dante giacosa]

Haha- well spotted Mark,

That's my super-rare programmable EQ, which I got sent over from the U.S. off eBay.

It stores correction-curves which are applied to the stereo-output, before the amplifier in the boot, to account for tonal deficiencies within the sound system & cabin.

So, running a pink-noise test-source through the system, lets say you can see the response is too 'bright' at 4k Hz you can attenuate 4K on the EQ to provide a flat output.

It was 'easy' but took a while to sort out, if you see what I mean. You need to plan the cabling.


(Sorry to hijack your thread, Lancer!)

This post has been edited by dante giacosa: 11th January 2020 12:31

[mrmarkyt]

Haha- well spotted Mark,

That's my super-rare programmable EQ, which I got sent over from the U.S. off eBay.

It stores correction-curves which are applied to the stereo-output, before the amplifier in the boot, to account for tonal deficiencies within the cabin.

So, running a pink-noise test-source through the system, lets say you can see the response is too 'bright' at 4k Hz you can attenuate 4K on the EQ to provide a flat output.

It was 'easy' but took a while to sort out, if you see what I mean. You need to plan the cabling.
(Sorry to hijack your thread, Lancer!)

Wow impressive stuff!

Thanks
Mark..