Help! Lighter Plug Pushed Through Dash

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Mar 30, 2005 | 10:06 AM

jtexas

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From: Arlington, TX

Help! Lighter Plug Pushed Through Dash

I was plugging a map light into the cigarette lighter and pushed it right through into the dash beside the factory radio. I tried to pull it back in with needlenose pliers but gave it up before doing any damage.

I'm a bit embarassed to say it, but I don't know how to access that area; where to start, what's the first step? If I could pull the radio out it would be a piece of cake, but it's just not obvious to a hack like me how to do that.

It's a 1998 Explorer Sport with XLT package, with the "mystery" radio (the one where the display stays dark all the time; I have the fix for that from FTE printed out, maybe this would be a good time to try it).

Anyways, I'd really appreciate whatever help you could offer.

thanks,
jtw

Mar 30, 2005 | 11:00 AM

rblais

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Your right, it would be a good time to repair the radio. That fix is relatively easy. The radio simply unplugs once you get it out of the dash using the removal tool; $6 @ Pepboys. The cigarette lighter can be accessed thru the radio opening. Disconnect it and reinstall from the front of the dash. Don't push too hard....oh, you already know that!

Mar 30, 2005 | 11:45 PM

jtexas

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From: Arlington, TX

Thanks for the tip on that radio tool, $4 at Auto Zone. The lighter was a piece of cake.

But the radio: I went ahead & followed the procedure, to be honest I thought it was just some kind of wierd voodoo ritual. No way can I solder surface-mount components, just don't have the skill or the eyesight for it, but I melted the solder a little bit around 'em. Would you believe it - IT WORKS! I am just amazed!

thanks!

Mar 31, 2005 | 12:36 PM

rblais

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Ya that's what I did also. I reheated (reflowed) every solder point I could find on the power board. I went out and picked up one of those magnifying lamps that clamp onto a work bench for about $12-$18 at Staples. It works great! Throws light onto the object your working on and blows it up 8X(?).
I ended up resoldering the radio 4 times before I finally replaced it with an aftermarket unit. It would fail after 1 or 2 months of fixing it. There's an inherent problem with it I think has to do with thermal expansion/contraction.
Glad to hear you fixed yours. It'll be a lot easier next time!