Cigarette lighter not working

[snags621]

I have a 1998 dodge grand caravan and about a week ago we changed the serpentine belt. After that I have noticed that the A/C unit is not working, but then also noticed that the cigarette lighter wasn't working. How I found this out is I have my cell phone charger plugged in and it's a new charger. The extra outlet I have in the back of the van doesn't seem to be working either.

I have checked every fuse possible, none of have been blown. Also, we had put a cd player in it. My boyfriend says that the wires were not messed with. Anyone have any suggestions? Please help!

[n0c7]

Definitely sounds like a fuse, check them again, they sell cheap testers that probe them and light up if there is proper current as its sometimes hard to judge if the fuse is good just by looking. If it isn't a fuse, it could also be a relay. Changing the belt should make no difference with the issues you're having unless you shorted something out, disconnected a harness, cut some wires, etc. which could have happened while doing the CD player installation. When installing CD players it doesn't take much to accidentally ground out the unit and blow a fuse. Did you check the fuses under the steering column area and under the hood?

[n0c7]

The fuse tester looks similar to this:



Should cost under $10. This one works with ATO/ATC fuses as well as the MINI fuses.

[Mackey]

Just my $ .02

While jockeying to replace the belt you may have accidently disconnected a connector that supplies power to some of the accessories.

Just peak under the hood and scan around to see if any connectors appear lose or seperated.
Try lightly tugging on the connectors and reseat them.

I like to use a test light when testing fuses. Put the clip on the neg. side of the battery and use the pointy end of the light on both sides of the fuse. If GOOD the test light will light when touching both sides of the fuse. If BAD only one side of the fuse will allow the test light to light. Make sure the accessorie is turned ON when testing.

Let us know what you find.

Good luck!

[equinox]

In the main power distribution panel under the hood there maybe a relay for cigar/acc. When you checked the panel under the dash did you look specifically for a fuse marked 'cigar'? How did you check the fuse? Continuity test, or visual?

[Edward074]

I had a Plymouth grand voyager, they are kind of the same, as lot of parts are interchangeable. I lost power to the radio, lighter, dash lights, and a few other things. I forget where it was, but there is like a 15 amp fuse that controls all of that. I got rear ended at a stop light, didn't hurt the van, but I got hit hard enough that the trailer hitch pinched the plug for the trailer and blow the fuse.