Hello everyone. I own a 2006
Boxster S
. I've had it for 3 years I've had no issues but recently the cigarette lighter fuse blew and every time I replace it it blows as soon as I
plug
it in. There is nothing plugged in to either sockets. Any idea what could be causing it?
A short circuit. Have you had any of the interior apart recently? Look where you last worked.
Do you use said
plug
for a maintainer or as a lighter? Maybe start right at the
plug
seeking any shorts.
And make sure nothing has fallen into the lighter socket. A dime will cause havoc.. a nickel too.. and probably a penny or quarter if it fits.
I haven't had any interior work done.
I would start first by popping the socket out of its nesting place and disconnecting the
plug
that feeds the socket to eliminate any issue with socket itself. Looking inside the socket, there are little springy metal tangs that grip the base of anything inserted into it. That is the grounding portion, the small metal base at the very bottom center of the socket is the ‘hot’ or +12V feed. If something is deformed inside the socket, the grounding portion may be coming into contact with the positive side of the circuit. Disconnecting the
plug
from the socket will rule out any problems with the physical socket. If the fuse doesn’t blow, the problem is in the socket. If it still blows a fuse, then a) there is something else on that circuit causing the issue, (not sure, but I doubt the fuse powers only that device), or b) there may be a problem with the actual wiring. It would not be out of the realm of possibility that it could be caused by the dreaded mouse/rat chewing on some wires. If you have done no recent work, the socket worked without blowing fuses, and the problem arose suddenly with no apparent cause, that could be the problem. Wiring harnesses that are installed and static do not just ‘go bad’ for no reason. Movement, chafing, rubbing will cause short circuits but the wiring to the power socket is well protected inside the console so there is something happening elsewhere away from the naked eye. I don’t have a fuse panel diagram but maybe someone else could provide what else that fuse feeds besides the cigarette lighter/power socket.
