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The outlet, lighter socket is slightly different on these cars compared to newer cars. Your radar detector plug just doesn't fit quite right. Common problem.
If you are going to modify it anyway, consider direct wiring the accessory, and putting a phone charger in place of the cigarette lighter. A step-drill makes short work of the plastic center console (77-82).
The cigarette lighter is on an always hot wire, so you may want an IGN fed wire circuit anyway.
I am loving the car so far in my 12 hours of possession. I consider myself fortunate that I came across it and was able to get it.
I am in the info gathering mode and appreciate the responses. Because the value in my car is the originality, I’m thinking anything I might do should be easily reversible so that the originality can be preserved.
I have had many different devices plugged into my 77 lighter outlet over the years and never had a problem. I would try one of these y adapters before doing any major surgery just for a radar detector. https://www.autozone.com/12v-product...apter/3307_0_0
It's been said that cars with detectors get more tickets that those w/o. Reason being is, the first thing the cop says is: Do You Know How Fast You Were Going?
The correct answer in this situation is: No, I think I was going blah - blah - blah. NEVER admit guilt.
The officer then spots the detector. You will not get out of this ticket.
Back to the issue. Sometime in the 80s they no longer termed them cig lighter port and began calling them 12V supply port. A little bit different inside.
Cigarette lighter power?
