My '70 has never had a working socket outlet and looking in the console I found that it isn't wired up. According to the wiring diagram it should have an orange wire feeding it from a common point between it and the fusebox somewhere, before I start tearing into the dash can anyone advise where this point is because there is no sign an orange wire in the console:-(
I often use an Innovate O2 meter and have to connect it directly to the battery, it would be easier if I could use the cigar lighter outlet:-)
Also, I assume this circuit was "hot" regardless of ignition key position?

I can say that the orange wire is in your harness. Where the last person who decided to remove it or use it for something else is unknown. A photo or photos would be great.

YES...the orange wire is HOT all the time...regardless if the ignition key is in the ignition and turned on or not.

DUB

Hi H,
The connections for the lighter's heating element and for the light come out of the dash harness very close to their location in the shifter console.
Regards,
Alan

Car is doing you a favor. You need to quit smoking anyway.

I would like to have it so the lighter on my 75 is Not hot when the key is off.

LOL never smoked in my life, except sometimes when trying to sort this car out and smoke comes out my ears.

Thanks Alan, I will have to dig into the wiring behind the gauge cluster and see where this orange wire is at because it is definitely not where it should be under the lighter location, the light for it is also missing but I'm not concerned about that. Cheers and Merry Xmas.

Thanks Dub, yes I don't know where the wire has got to, will pull the stereo out and see if it is hiding behind there. This was originally an air con car but all of it except the dials on the console was removed at some stage so maybe the orange wire was chopped at that time, the vac hoses for the air con controls certainly were. Merry Xmas.

This picture is from my 71. I believe this is the orange wire that goes to the Cig lighter. It comes out the harness with the alarm relay wires.

Mystery solved, I found a red wire taped up and pushed under the radio, seems my orange wire is now red and the light fitting is missing from the cigar lighter but there is a grey wire there that seems to belong to it. The cigar lighter body is pretty shabby inside so I think I will replace it just as soon as I can figure out how it is attached to the plate in the pic!

The grey wire is the light socket.

Hi H,
Can the lighter housing stay attached to the lighter 'tray' while just unscrewing the element and replacing it?
Regards,
Alan

FOR WHAT THIS IS WORTH:

90% of the time I can put my finger in the cigarette lighter housing and spin off the rear retainer housing.

In that 10% that do not want to do that. I have found that I have to disassemble the cigarette lighter. By going in on the backside where the terminal is and unscrew it and literally take it out that way.

Then .,..when the underside retainer is in my hand...and it still has the copper threaded portion in it...I can often times grab onto the copper and get it to unthread off of the retainer.

The reason I do this is that on some cars that have the special cut-out for the light bulb to light up the cigarette lighter socket...and from what I remember...the aftermarket ones are NOT made like the origianls with the light socket provision. SO...that is why I do it that away so I can save the retainer on the underside of the socket.

DUB

I managed to dismantle the unit okay so now will set about getting it into working condition:-)