Repair Car Lighter

Repair Car Lighter

Buying a used “old” car may have several drawbacks; some of them are aging parts. On electrical side, there is usually just a “simple” breakage on connection. Such as: loose connection, rusty/oxidation, or rotten cables (due to heat or humidity exposures).

Following tutorial is an example of malfunctioning car lighter repair. The impact of this malfunction is not functioning USB charger which is plugged into it.

 Tools and Materials Preparation:

•       Multimeter (Voltmeter and Ohmmeter)
•       Pliers
•       Cutter/file
•       Contact Cleaner or any anti rust spray (such as WD4o*)

Repair Step:

1. Measure voltage on (+) terminal and (-) of the lighter using voltmeter. Normal voltage shall be greater than 12V.

a.      If it is 0V, there must be loose wire or connection. Measure resistance between both terminals. Resistance must be 100K Ohms, or oL (no connection, there must be no short circuit). If there is short circuit, trace “wild connection” which causes the short, and break it. Change the Fuse after the wild connection has been broken.

b.      If it is less than 12V, there is usually an oxidation or rust at connecting terminal. The example on my case is only 9V which is insufficient to power up USB Charger.

    2. Unplug and measure the voltage at connector behind the lighter. If it is greater than 12V, meaning the voltage up to the connector is good. The damage location is at the lighter after the connector.

         3.       Remove cover panel of the lighter by pulling it straight forward: 

    4. Measure the terminal connection resistance:

            a. Measure terminal connector (-) to the body of the lighter using Ohmmeter. The resistance must .

               be less than 3 Ohms. 

           b. Measure terminal connector (+) to centre screw (terminal) of the lighter using Ohmmeter. The 

                 resistance must be less than 3 Ohms.

             c.  If terminal resistance above is high, meaning there “damage” is at the terminal. The example on my case is the resistance between terminal (+) to the centre screw intermittently varies between 17 to 150 Ohms. This means there is bad connection.

             d.  Trace every connection using Ohmmeter, where is the location of the problematic resistance:

      5.      After the problematic resistance location is found, repair the connection at the place as following: open the crimping, scratch the metal contact surface using cutter or file from rust/oxidation.

      6.      Fasten it back using pliers.

     7.      Spray Contact Cleaner/anti rust WD4* to prevent the rust growing back. Do not wipe off.

     8.      Re-measure the resistance at the ex-problematic location to ensure it is already less than 3 Ohms.

     9.      Measure the resistance between (+) and (-) too. There must be no short circuit (the resistance must be above 100 Kilo Ohms, or oL (no connection)).

     10.      Install back, check the function:

Profil Ceria:
Baru kesampaian memiliki Ceria di 30 Juli 2017. Kondisi 2nd murah-meriah, dengan beberapa PR yang perlu di-optimasi. Kesempatan untuk belajar bertahap, dan mencicil biaya perbaikan pelan-pelan, daripada kredit Mobil Baru melibatkan bank/leasing/rentenir = dosa riba :[  

Wallahu musta’an