Blowing fuse Need Help

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Oct 23, 2011 | 08:53 PM

Tdraym

Thread Starter

New User

Joined: Apr 2011

Posts: 21

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From: Elma NY

Blowing fuse Need Help

I have a 2012 F-250, 20 days old. I replaced power point #1 w/ an aftermarket 12 v cigarette lighter socket and element. After about 5 times used it stopped working, when I checked it w/ a gps adpt. I still had power at the socket, I bought a new Element thinking the first was bad, the 2 nd. one worked 3 times and blew the 20 amp. fuse. I replaced the fuse #83 under the hood in fuse/relay box. Tried the 2nd. element it worked 2 or 3 times and blew the fuse again, I checked the elements (both) in another truck (93 chevy) both elements worked fine. Pulled the panel to check wiring, all ok with new 20 amp. fuse in place I have 12v at leads and socket, left gps adpt. in a hour and no problems. I tried 3rd. element and blew fuse again. Is the power point wired not to work with cigarette lighter, surge protecter? Even thou the lighter socket lets the gps adpt. work fine. Where do I find a Ford lighter socket to install rather than aftermarket socket I have ,if this is causing the problems ? Any help Please Thank you, Tdraym

Oct 23, 2011 | 10:09 PM

carltonwebb

Cargo Master

Joined: Oct 2010

Posts: 2,089

Likes: 16

I imagine it is a crappy socket causing your issue. I imagine you are not the first one to want a lighter element. I know there was a smokers package when we ordered the escape but do not remember seeing it on the trucks.

Give www.partsguyed.com a call( i was wrong, use contact form) or your dealer. They are still putting the lighters in the econolines so I would imagine it would interchange but they will know by part number or if one is available.

Oct 24, 2011 | 02:04 AM

hotroddsl

Posting Guru

Joined: Jan 2007

Posts: 2,364

Likes: 3

From: Gilbert Az.

If I remember correctly most lighter elements take 20amps to work that means you need a circuit that is rated significantly above 20 amps or you will blow that fuse as it is working at it's failure rating! That's like hanging 20lbs from a rope that is rated to brake at 20lbs! You need a rope (circuit) that's rated to brake at 30lbs! Do you follow what I'm saying? The reason it works a few times is that heat will cause the lighter to draw more current ^so as you use it subsequent times it is just a little hotter and draws more current untill the fuse blows (rope brakes) it's not un common for fuses to handle a little extra current like that a few times before they get hot enough to blow! I hope this helped?
Jim & fat (over the weight limit for his rope) Monty

Oct 24, 2011 | 09:58 AM

NumberDummy

Ford Parts Specialist

Joined: Nov 2006

Posts: 88,826

Likes: 787

From: Simi Valley, CA

Quote:

Originally Posted by carltonwebb

Give wwwpartsguyed.com a call

or your local dealer.

PartsGuyEd.com does not accept phone orders and Ed isn't there regardless, as he suffered a stroke.

The 2011 Lariat I bought came with a lighter and ashtray as standard equipment. The socket is already there as it can be used as a power point.

Therefore, the socket is not part of the 'smokers package.'