Would be great if someone could answer this, I need to replace mine and can't figure out how it comes out either, doesn't seem to twist out. Mine is an '02 F350. There is no "outer cover" that twists out as was suggested, just the lighter socket with the black plastic bezel that you can see from the front, exactly as ernie described, wiring plugs into the back of the socket. It almost seems like you could push it out from the back, it moves a little, then won't go any further, like ernie, I'm afraid to force it too much.

 

I was able to pull it out...takes a lot of force. I could not get the leverage to push from behind. Was able to, though, have enough gap around the plastic bezel, to wrap some wire around it, then create a loop/handle to pull it out. No, I was not successful at getting the bezel off of the old one, the transfer to the new one. Feared I might damage it...so I bought a new plastic bezel too. It is up to you if you can try and remove the old bezel.

 

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...uper-duty.html

 

thanks for the info. Were you able to remove the wire plug from the lighter socket before pulling the socket out of the dash? I can't get the wire plug out either with the socket still in the dash.

 

just saw this after I replied to ernie, thanks! gonna try the suggestions in that thread tonight!

 

Did it after pulling everything from hole in dash. Could then easily see what I was doing. Trying to do it before hand, could not really feel where the locking tab was, as I did not know how the socket was oriented from the factory, in the opening.

The wire I was used was 14ga. household solid wire with the rubber insulation still on it, so I would not scar the plastic bezel.

It took a lot of effort to pull through! I think there is a way to remove the bezel, but I did not have the patience! Kind of need three hands to do it....not sure if the special GM T-shaped socket removal tool would work, or not. Could also make it possible to remove from dash, and leave bezel in place...but tool cost as much as a new bezel.

 

thanks! The other thread that Sam I Am linked seems to indicate that if you tilt the socket down and push, it should come out. I'm gonna try it tonight and will report back.

 

where is the socket on an '02? On my '05, I removed the panty hook to gain access to try and reach in behind to push it out. I just could not get the leverage to push it out (translation I am not strong enough?)....

 

on my 02 the socket is just to the left of the panty hook panel (same as yours I believe). If I'm reading the other thread correctly, it sounds like there's a couple of tabs that hold it in place, but if you tilt it the right way, those tabs will clear and you can push it out, presumably without a lot of force, at least that's how it sounds to me, maybe I'm reading it wrong. I'll give it a try tonight.

 

got mine out this morning. if you push down on the back of cylinder (causing the front to tilt up) while you are pushing out, it pops out pretty easily. The socket and the black bezel come out together without damaging anything. Now I gotta figure out how to get the socket out of the bezel though, must be a trick to that too!