Where is the cigarette lighter fuse: replacement, how to find it

All modern cars are equipped with this device. Even non-smoking car owners use it. The cigarette lighter socket is used to connect additional devices, i.e. like a 12-volt outlet. Install into the connector:

charger for mobile phones, tablets, laptop;
additional fan;
electric compressor for inflating tires;
GPS navigator;
DVR.

Failure of the cigarette lighter is fraught with operational inconvenience. Often the cause of failure is the protective element. You can find out why the fuse for the cigarette lighter blows, how to replace it and find out where it is located, where the mounting block is located.

Cigarette lighter fuse

Car protective elements come in different designs.

Cylindrical. Out-of-service cars from the Soviet Union era were equipped with fuses, which are called so. The denomination of the product is engraved on a thin metal bridge.
Strip fuses. They are a metal plate with holes for bolts at the ends. The inconvenience is the complex installation scheme, when it is necessary to tighten each individual element.
Thermal fuses. Reusable elements that operate on the principle of a circuit breaker located in a household network. When the current exceeds, it simply snaps off. In order to restore the network, you should press the corresponding button.
Knife (see photo). The most common fuses for the cigarette lighter, installed on many Russian VAZ models and foreign cars (Focus, Corolla, etc.). Such elements are used in the vast majority of cars.

There are several standards for the size of blade automotive fuses:

mini – width 16 mm;
midi – 19 mm;
maxi – 34 mm.

The element values differ. Each fuse is painted in a corresponding color. There is a unified system of standards:

Color	How many amperes
Black	1
Dark grey	2
Lilac	3
Pink	4
Cream	5
Brown	7,5
Red	10
Light blue	15
Yellow	20
White	25
Green	30
Violet	35
Orange	40
Scarlet	50
Blue	60
Dark brown	70
Citric	80
Dark lilac	100

Why does the fuse blow?

The protective element can fail for various reasons. The most common.

Network overvoltage. When connecting one or more powerful devices to the cigarette lighter socket, the current strength of this section of the circuit exceeds the maximum permissible values. To protect the wires from burnout and fire, the cigarette lighter fuse simply blows. The maximum power of connected devices should not exceed the value calculated by the formula P=I*U. Here I is the nominal value, and U is the network voltage (12 volts). The fuse rating for the cigarette lighter is usually from 10 to 25 amperes. This means that the total power of the devices fluctuates between 120-300 watts.
Short circuit. Due to exposed wires, poor contact in the cigarette lighter or other reasons, a short circuit occurs in the network. Because of this, the protective element burns out. If, after replacing the fuse with a new one, a similar breakdown occurs again, then it is worth checking the cables for short circuits.

Types and Types of Automotive Fuses

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Automotive fuses are classified according to the material of the fusible insert into:

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lead;
tin;
alloy (tin + lead);
aluminum.

Their important characteristic is the response time. The faster the insert melts, the more reliably the circuit will be protected during a short circuit against overheating of the conductors and possible ignition. For this purpose, inserts are made of metals and alloys with a lower melting point (transition from solid to liquid state of aggregation). Some types use spring loading to speed up operation (FJ types).

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The car uses fuses of various sizes.

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The types of fuses that are most widely used in vehicle systems are:

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MAXI FX – power fuses in the engine compartment;
FTX NORM – fuses in the engine compartment and cabin blocks;
FNL VINI - in the engine compartment and interior fuse blocks;
FJ10 - in the underhood power fuse block.

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Depending on the fuse rating, usually indicated on its body, additional color marking is used, more precisely, the main color of its body.

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Replacing the cigarette lighter fuse

Before repairing, you should verify the cause of the breakdown. The fuse responsible for the cigarette lighter is a protective element for other devices. On the Priora it is responsible for the heater fan. In other VAZ models, there is illumination of the glove box or dimensions. If any other devices fail, the protection needs to be replaced.

Changing the cigarette lighter fuse is easy - just get to the mounting block. In each car it is located differently, as a rule, its place is in the cabin, behind the decorative panels, to the right or left of the steering column.

Turn off the engine, open the hood, and remove the negative terminal from the battery. This will open the circuit and prevent a short circuit.
We remove the facing panel, gaining access to the mounting block with fuses and additional relays.
There is a diagram on the back of the cover. Let's find out which fuse goes directly to the cigarette lighter.
We pull it out using tweezers, also located on the mounting block. If you don't have one, you can use small pliers.
We carry out the replacement by installing a new fuse in the mounting block.
We connect the negative contact, turn on the ignition and check the functionality of the device.
We close the mounting block and install the decorative panels back.

General recommendations

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If you use your car all the time, download and print out the fuse diagram for your brand of car and keep this diagram in the glove compartment.

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In some cars (almost all Korean and Japanese) there is a decoding of the fuses on the cover of the fuse box. In German and French cars, the list of fuses may be in a foreign language that you do not know. In this case, translate and print out such a transcript in advance, which can help you out.

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Look at what types of fuses are installed in your car. Buy the appropriate sets of fuses, you will probably need them someday.

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Check for plastic tweezers in the fuse boxes. If it is not there, complete the car's repair kit. Special medical clamps are very suitable for this purpose.

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If you need Wi-Fi in your car, this can be arranged without any problems.

How to properly install and connect a DVR in a car.

Video - why sometimes the car wiring burns, and not the fuses:

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Video help on finding the right fuse

The location of the mounting block and the number of the protective element are different on all models. The video will help you find where the fuse for the cigarette lighter is located. Below is a table with common cars and information on where the mounting block is located.

Model	Block location	Fuse number
Kalina	Mounting block to the left of the steering column, behind the headlight control panel.	F20 (15A)
Priora	Block on the bottom left. Located at the driver's left foot. To access the block, you need to rotate three locks 90 degrees.	F13 (15A)
Niva	Block behind decorative cover. Located near the driver's door. To access the block, unscrew two screws and then slide the cover up.	F6 (15A)
Focus	Block under the glove box. It is necessary to pull down the two latches and remove the protective cover.	F38 (20A)
Corolla	The block is behind the decorative trim, under the dashboard.	F23 (15A)

Other causes of cigarette lighter failure

There are other factors besides a blown fuse. Common.

Burnt out heating coil. Inside the metal cigarette lighter socket there is a nichrome spiral that is exposed to heat. Due to age, she burns out. The breakdown can be corrected by purchasing and installing a new part.
Bad contacts. As they age, they develop plaque or rust. Because of this, the circuit remains open. Repairs are carried out using a needle file. After disassembling the device, it is necessary to clean all contact points, ridding them of traces of plaque or rust.
Short circuit. Broken cigarette lighter wires, broken or fallen solders, or burnt insulation can lead to a short circuit and failure. All cables should be inspected for external damage, use a multitester to test the wires.
Burnt out cigarette lighter light bulb. A light filter is installed around the nest for easy searching in the dark. The bulb inside may burn out with age. In this case, it is necessary to disassemble the device and replace the light bulb with a new one.

What fuse goes to the cigarette lighter?

A hint that it is the protective element that has burned out will be the failure of a number of adjacent devices. The cigarette lighter fuse on many models is also responsible for the signal, side light or heater fan. If several devices fail, then the protective element must be replaced.

The instruction manual or the back cover of the mounting block will help you determine which fuse is responsible for the cigarette lighter. There are pictograms here, as well as the value of the element. It is important to purchase and install a fuse rated for the specified amperage. Otherwise, there is a high risk of a short circuit, melting of the wire insulation, and a fire.

Why do fuses melt in a car?

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Let's look at why fuses burn in a car - the most common typical reasons.

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Cigarette lighter

The cigarette lighter fuse often fails. In most cases, it is not related to smoking. The cigarette lighter often contains power connectors for additional equipment (radar detectors, navigators, other auto gadgets), a compressor, chargers for mobile equipment, splitters and tees of dubious quality.

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In some cases, simultaneous connection of several gadgets can lead to exceeding the maximum current in the power circuit of the cigarette lighter connector.

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There are car owners who artificially increase the fuse rating in the power circuit of the cigarette lighter connector. Doing this is extremely dangerous! The cross-section of the conductor leading to the connector may not be suitable for the increased current, it may overheat, causing a short circuit and fire.

Such situations often arise when using an advertised additional electric interior heater powered from the cigarette lighter connector.

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2. Washer

The failure of this fuse is associated with possible freezing of water in the tank and washer system pipes at negative and slightly positive temperatures. The mobility of the electric pump drive is impaired, as a result of which the current increases and the fuse blows. To prevent such situations, it is necessary to promptly replace the water with non-freezing liquid and clean the entire system of water.

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3. Janitors

It fails if the wipers freeze to the glass or the gearbox gets jammed. Therefore, before driving in the morning during the cold season, it is necessary to check the brushes for freezing to the glass.

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Heated glass and mirrors

It may burn out due to a short circuit in the electrical wiring. The weakest wiring points are in the corrugated hoses of the front doors, the trunk door, and under the driver's sill trim.

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5. Stoves

A fuse rated at 30 Amps is usually responsible for the stove. If the heater electric motor wears out, especially the bearings and bushings, the current in the electric drive circuit increases significantly. Timely maintenance of the stove fan helps to avoid such situations.

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Lighting systems

They often burn out if the power is set, non-standard lamps are installed, especially xenon lamps with an ignition unit, the current consumption of which is much higher. When increasing the rating, you should simultaneously “strengthen” the electrical wiring of the lamps by laying wires of a larger cross-section.

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Engine cooling systems

They fail when the radiator fan current consumption increases for the following reasons:

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foreign objects entering the area of rotation of the fan blades;
wear of fan motors;
production of engine lubrication.

Engine control unit

Their burnout leads to failure to start the engine. For this reason, the driver must know where the fuses serving the engine control unit are located. Almost half of all malfunctions associated with failure to start engines are determined by their burnout.

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Electric power steering

Electric power steering systems are increasingly being used in automobiles. The electric drive of the electric amplifier consumes a large current; under increased loads, the fuses often fail.

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Electric parking brakes

Electric parking brakes on some car models (for example, VW PASSAT B6) are a headache for many car owners. The electric parking brakes are located in an “uncomfortable” place near the wheels.

Why does the cigarette lighter not work after replacing the fuse?

If the protective element is working, but the device is not functioning, then you should look at other aspects. Initially, you need to check the reliability of the cigarette lighter in the socket, as well as the presence of oxides on the contacts. They should be bent and cleaned.

It is important to check the serviceability and integrity of the cigarette lighter wires. The connection diagram is implemented as follows. There are three wires going to the cigarette lighter.

Red. Constant plus. Connected via a fuse directly to the battery.
Yellow. Constant plus. Responsible for the backlight lamp of the device.
Black. Negative, coming to the body of the product. The second end is the mass going to the car body.

Using a tester, you should check the integrity of all wires.

Other reasons:

Burnt out spiral. Such a malfunction can be diagnosed with the naked eye. Fixed by replacing the device.
Short circuit. Measure the battery voltage with the ignition off. Turn it on and try again. If there is a drop of more than 0.5 volts, then you should look for a breakdown using a multitester.

How to replace a video fuse

That's all, I hope my article was useful to you, especially for CHEVROLET AVEO owners.

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