Trouble with cigarette lighter front socket tray help!
 

Last night i had my TomTom attached in the car as usual got to my destination no problems, and then on my return leg it lost power :( being the battery is no good on the tomtom it needs power, for some reason the cigarette lighter socket refused to work i tried and tried rotating the power socket everything pulling it in and out reseating it nothing... i managed to make it home using the cars built in sat nav luckly the area was mapped this time but i was not best pleased tbh! plus it was pouring with rain!

Made it home ok put the car on the driveway, before i switched off the engine i closed the cover again and tried it one last time, now its working fine for the tomtom, i then plugged in a snooper device with a power cable and it worked again! :Confused: thought maybe a fuse had blown but no

Does closing the cover reset the power to the socket on and off?, peering into the socket it looks rusty, how can i clean it up, disconnect the battery? or can i remove the whole tray out, my last attempt it started sparking when i tried to clean up the connections and i was doing it very gingerly meh!

They are a funny size, definitely non-standard, I've had problems with all sort of accessories.

There's no electronics or switching in there. Its just straight 12V power. The ashtray only comes out with the entire centre console out unfortunately - not a small job!

Can the cable reach the rear cig lighter at the back of the centre console? I find that one is much more reliable for charger connections, and the wires tuck down beside the seats so don't get in the way. Plus its rarely used for lighting cigarettes so its not usually as crusty as the front one.

You're right on reliability MJ, I always use that one to plug in my tyre pump.

I tend to use the rear one too. If I recall correctly, the rear one is switched on/off by the red button in the driver's door (the one that also enables/disables the rear window buttons).

If the TomTom power cable won't reach, you could probably buy a longer one or a simple extension like this:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12V-Car-C...w/162020896749

I didn't know that about the window switch! Very handy +++

Wow, I knew something about 8s that you didn't know! That's gotta be a first (and probably last) :D

Actually, the button is black (I was thinking of the memory seat on/off button) but it definitely turns the socket on/off. I know this because I have my Steelmate TPMS Bluetooth receiver plugged into the rear socket most of the time, which illuminates when it gets power. Interestingly, that socket also powers up when you unlock the doors, presumably linked to the interior lighting.

Well I never, just tested it. :respekt: Never have kids in the back so don't use the window inhibit button, but see the logic on safety. :cool:

.. and you dont want them lighting up in the back wihen your back's turned. :ROFL:
PS. Mark , you must win a prize for knowing something MJ didnt.

So less than one hour for one of us to confirm what Mark had said :ROFL:

Well done to Mark for knowing something MJ didn't (a rare event), and Andrew for being the first to confirm it. +++

So, how long after the annual meet will someone post about their rear cigarette lighter not working anymore? Know anyone you want to annoy while they're not looking. ;);)

And the Annual "I Taught MJ" prize goes to:-

MARK

Ta-Da

oooh ... what do I win!? :yippee:

Also works PF too.

How many chewing gum wrapper fires were started in that hole you reckon?

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1520444265

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1520444265

How about the opportunity to utter that phrase in the presence of MJ, whilst not having a big smug grin on your face because the rest of us are all jealous of you. :mexicanwave:

That almost trumps my historic prise-ing. . .er winning of an actual real five pounds off of I.T. (a staunch Yorkshireman) at ADI the year before last which involved a bet about the colour of MJ's "Grey S8" ahemmmm :D

Well I knew it. Obviously you'll have to take my word for it. :) took a while to find it out whilst trying to "fix" the rear cig lighter..........

Didn't that particular fiver immediately move elsewhere? Can't recall the exact details....

Though if we're getting competitive I wouldn't fancy my chances in any Audi quiz against a team comprising MJ, IT and you!

How about the three of them versus the rest of us on the Saturday evening at the annual meet. The only condition is that we disqualify anyone whose username is less that three characters long. That way, we might score a few points.

First of all thanks for all your help and thoughts! really good stuff!

Guys the front one is working perfectly again i got a double adapter for it and it lights up with a power light, so i know if the socket is working seems all good and is a nice snug fit has x2 ports +++

However! the rear one is not working! any ideas??? :Confused:

I replaced the rear one myself (oh knows!) with a prefacelift one in the same lovely shade of beige WJ, when i bought the car as a previous passenger kicked off one of the air vent selectors bits of plastic foolishly i have thrown the old one away thinking job done, i bet it still worked!, but never thought to test the new one really mainly cosmetic reasons, the red ring lights up but no power coming from it, have i got something wrong with the cable possibly? is it dead, is it possible to swap just the power bit out with another one if i can find one on ebay? our sponsors? if i can't find the same colour, tested with engine on so its not switched off