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Cigarette lighter doesn't work when lights are on!
Topic Started: Jun 9 2014, 04:17 PM (571 Views)
tonyfalcon
Member
[ *  *  * ]
Hi guys,

I'm new to Metros having just bought my 1st one a few weeks back.

So far I've:

R&R'd Clutch and Flywheel
Rebuilt front end
Installed two new front tyres
Alignment
Made p/s door handle work
R&R p/s window crank

These were all pre-existing issues that the P.O. had informed me about when I bought the car. The only other pre-existing issue was the wipers wouldn't shut off. He provided me with a replacement switch but when I went to install it I found a loose screw inside the original switch which. When I removed it and tested the switch it worked so I stayed with it since the replacement didn't have an intermittent button.

Since I got the car though I developt some new issues:

Receiver for p/s seat belt broke (need to find boneyard replacement)

Clicky starter (have push button switch wired to solenoid 'for now')

Cigarette Lighter has no power when the lights are on


Now the last one has me stumped. If anyone has any ideas why this would be please let me know.

My other question is. Why would a push button switch to the starter (12ga wire from pos terminal on starter solenoid to switch and 12ga wire from switch to S terminal on starter) not solve the clicky starter issue the same as a clicky starter relay fix? (except that now you have a push button to start when the key is in the 'on' position)

thanks
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Metromightymouse
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Powdercoat Wizard

tonyfalcon
Jun 9 2014, 04:17 PM
Hi guys,

I'm new to Metros having just bought my 1st one a few weeks back.

So far I've:

R&R'd Clutch and Flywheel
Rebuilt front end
Installed two new front tyres
Alignment
Made p/s door handle work
R&R p/s window crank

These were all pre-existing issues that the P.O. had informed me about when I bought the car. The only other pre-existing issue was the wipers wouldn't shut off. He provided me with a replacement switch but when I went to install it I found a loose screw inside the original switch which. When I removed it and tested the switch it worked so I stayed with it since the replacement didn't have an intermittent button.

Since I got the car though I developt some new issues:

Receiver for p/s seat belt broke (need to find boneyard replacement)

Clicky starter (have push button switch wired to solenoid 'for now')

Cigarette Lighter has no power when the lights are on


Now the last one has me stumped. If anyone has any ideas why this would be please let me know.

My other question is. Why would a push button switch to the starter (12ga wire from pos terminal on starter solenoid to switch and 12ga wire from switch to S terminal on starter) not solve the clicky starter issue the same as a clicky starter relay fix? (except that now you have a push button to start when the key is in the 'on' position)

thanks


For your first question we will need to know what year the car is so we can reference the correct wiring diagram.

For your other question, the starter button kit will fix the clicky starter issue since it is supposed to work the same way. It's not clear if you used a kit or just a push button or what other solutions you attempted. 12 ga wire may be a little small. Normally when wiring a button the power is taken directly from the battery and not the power wire at the starter. You should have a fuse or a relay in that circuit to avoid melting something down. First step would be to jumper to the connector on the starter solenoid (preferably with a mechanics starter button) and confirm it will start when jumpered to 12v. Make sure the starter is bolted firmly to the bellhousing and all your grounds are clean.

I am a proponent of the starter button/ relay but it's not the first step. It won't fix a bad starter or corroded battery cables (sometimes) etc. It is a solution for an undersized starter wire that has developed some resistance over the years.
Edited by Metromightymouse, Jun 9 2014, 11:23 PM.
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Woodie
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Because sometimes a clicky starter is a bad starter. If the brushes are worn out, you can weld it directly to the battery terminals, and it still won't work.
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tonyfalcon
Member
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Yes sorry 'bout that. It's a 1990 5 door 5 speed with a 1.0L G10.

The pushbutton was just a quick fix I came up with. What happened was I figured I'd better come up with a way to by-pass the starter switch and clutch safety switch in the event that it would not start with the key and I was stuck 65 miles from home. So I did a dry run and hooked up my remote starter to make sure that would get me going. Then that gave me the idea that i could temporarilly install a pushbutton remote starter in-cab. I will most likely install a clicky starter kit but while I'm waiting for that to arrive I'm covered.

I don't really see how there could be a problem with the starter or the battery terminals if it starts every time with the pushbutton. So no, I haven't tried any other solution.
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JellyBeanDriver


on my 92', the cig lighter has two wires going to it, the center is switched +12V, the other is the ground wire. I'll bet the ground wire isn't going to ground and likely got wired into something else like your headlight circuit somehow. Maybe due to some creative radio wiring.
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BadEgg
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MPG is fun
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Turn lights off, light cigarette, turn lights back on. This is how it is when you drive a Metro. :)
Edited by BadEgg, Jun 11 2014, 12:00 AM.
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tonyfalcon
Member
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Mmmmm OK. Well I mainly use the cig lighter to power my GPS and I mostly drive at night. I just wired an invertor to the battery and use the USB charger on that to power the GPS and the bonus is now I have a a/c power for charging phones and tablets etc. using their a/c chargers.
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