Why is my car's 12V socket not working?
What we would buy
- UGREEN63W USB-C car charger
Compact USB-C charger, well inside a 120 W socket limit.
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Check in this order
- Ignition: many sockets only work with the ignition in accessory or on.
- Charger: try it in another socket or car. Cheap chargers fail often.
- Debris: with the ignition off, look inside with a torch. A coin can bridge the centre pin and the side and blow the fuse. Remove debris with something non-metallic.
- Fuse: find the socket's fuse in the handbook's fuse chart, pull it and look for a broken strip. Replace it with a fuse of the same amp rating; some fuse boxes hold spares.
If the new fuse blows again
Something is shorting. Stop using the socket and the charger you used, and have the wiring checked. Never fit a higher-rated fuse: it protects the wiring from overheating.
Do not overload it
Sockets have a power limit, often 120 W (10 A); Mazda's and Nissan's manuals give that figure. Double adapters and high-power devices can blow the fuse.
Where to buy
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Frequently asked questions
Which fuse is the cigarette lighter?
It depends on the car. The fuse chart in the handbook or on the fuse box lid names it, often as 'power outlet' or 'cigar lighter'.
Can a phone charger blow the fuse?
A faulty one can. If the fuse blew when you plugged it in, do not use that charger again.
The fuse is fine but the socket is dead. Now what?
The socket or its wiring may be faulty. A garage can test it.