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Cigarette lighter wiring question

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Old 08-15-2006, 06:48 PM
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MF64VETTE
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Default Cigarette lighter wiring question

I've had ongoing problems with blowing the fuse to my brake lights and courtesy lights. After lots of troubleshooting, finally broke down and took the car to a reputable repair shop. They found a short in the cigarette lighter wiring, and said it was spitting sparks. I never use the cigarette lighter and thought it was disconnected. Is the cigarette lighter wiring part of the fuse for the courtesy and brake lights?
Old 08-15-2006, 08:50 PM
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64roadster
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If I read my '64 wiring diagram correctly the cigarette lighter runs off the circuit breaker mounted on the LH kick panel.
Old 08-15-2006, 09:08 PM
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achapman
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Be real careful with the cigarette lighter, its always live, even with the ignition key off. That is the main reason I replaced the dash harness in my 63 SWC. The wire was left dangeling free, it shorted and the white plastic connector actually started burning..... while I was driving the car..... Had to cross four lanes of highway, smoke coming out of the car..... probably explains why the driver's seat was wet......
Old 08-15-2006, 09:30 PM
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magicv8
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Dunno about the 64 diagram, but the 65 and 66 show it coming from the main dash harness junction that is powered by the big red wire from the alternator - through the bulkhead with no fuse or breaker.

The junction also powers the key switch, the power antenna, the headlamp switch, the bottom two fuses in the fuse box, and the circuit breaker that feeds the headlamp motors (the only factory installed breaker in the car before I added two).

Keep it from rubbing on anything.
Old 08-15-2006, 10:23 PM
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MF64VETTE
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Thanks for your imput
Old 08-16-2006, 02:23 PM
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JohnZ
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The lighter feed circuit wasn't fused until 1967; prior to that, a dead short in that circuit will result in a fried harness and possibly a fire.
Old 08-16-2006, 02:25 PM
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JohnZ
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Originally Posted by 64roadster
If I read my '64 wiring diagram correctly the cigarette lighter runs off the circuit breaker mounted on the LH kick panel.
That circuit breaker only protects the power feed to the headlight rollover switch.
Old 08-16-2006, 06:08 PM
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MF64VETTE
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Originally Posted by JohnZ
That circuit breaker only protects the power feed to the headlight rollover switch.
So as long as the cigarette lighter wire is disconnected, the fire threat is gone?
Old 08-16-2006, 09:27 PM
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buns
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If the repair shop said it was "spitting sparks" , they must have seen where the problem was. Why didn't they fix it ?
Old 08-17-2006, 11:49 AM
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Originally Posted by MF64VETTE
So as long as the cigarette lighter wire is disconnected, the fire threat is gone?
That wire is "hot" all the time, key on or off; as long as it isn't chafing on anything from where it exits the harness to its end and the connector on the end is taped up, you shouldn't have any problem. Or, you could just add an in-line fuseholder and re-connect it.

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