cigarette lighter element receiver replacement 87 C4
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Heel & Toe
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 24
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cigarette lighter element receiver replacement 87 C4
How do I replace the cigarette lighter element receiver in my 87 C4? If I have to remove center console how do I do it? Unable to use GPS, element burned out.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 9,272
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easiest way is to rake the screws out of the radio/heater/info bezel, take the screws out of the front of the speedo/tach bezel, take all the screws out of the shifter plastic cover, if its an auto, put your shifter in low, lift the back of the shifter cover and the radio bezel , that will give you enough room to get the front of the shifter cover out from under the radio bezel. After that , unplug the power from the cig lighter, rotate the shifter cover till you can remove the cig. receptical. install in reverse. sounds major , but really simple.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 509
Likes: 5
From: Edmonds WA
Just wanted to add a bit, since this post was great in helping me figure out how to get my lighter out.
I had to remove a few of the screws around the instrument panel, as well, to allow the center radio bezel to move further to get the shifter trim panel out from under it. Remember that there's a screw on the left side of the bezel, next to the odometer.
In another post, I found a tip for removing the lighter, since it's tight quarters even when the trim panel is out from under the bezel. Stick your thumb inside the lighter and rotate counter-clockwise to unscrew it from back side (best to remove the CTSY/CLK fuse first, of course). Otherwise, you have to unhinge two clips (one on each side) from the 'barrel' on the back side, which can be tricky with much room.
If you have a Helms Factory Service Manual, there is an illustration on page 8C-8 (Figure 8C-12).
In my case, there wasn't a good ground connection because some of the plastic around it had melted at one time. Once I cleaned that up, and tested the wires with a 12V test light, it made a good ground connection again, and it works fine with my phone charger now.
I had to remove a few of the screws around the instrument panel, as well, to allow the center radio bezel to move further to get the shifter trim panel out from under it. Remember that there's a screw on the left side of the bezel, next to the odometer.
In another post, I found a tip for removing the lighter, since it's tight quarters even when the trim panel is out from under the bezel. Stick your thumb inside the lighter and rotate counter-clockwise to unscrew it from back side (best to remove the CTSY/CLK fuse first, of course). Otherwise, you have to unhinge two clips (one on each side) from the 'barrel' on the back side, which can be tricky with much room.
If you have a Helms Factory Service Manual, there is an illustration on page 8C-8 (Figure 8C-12).
In my case, there wasn't a good ground connection because some of the plastic around it had melted at one time. Once I cleaned that up, and tested the wires with a 12V test light, it made a good ground connection again, and it works fine with my phone charger now.
Last edited by K87ZZ4; Sep 29, 2013 at 04:42 PM.
