Questions and Answers

Honda Civic Lighter Not Is Working Q. Hi, I just bought a 1997 Honda Civic LX and I discovered that the cigarette lighter outlet does not work. I checked the fuse and it looks fine. Then I noticed that the outlet was a little loose. So I twisted it about 360 degrees and it tightened up. It still did not work. Then I loosened it. Now it is VERY loose and still does not work and it won't tighten back up.

Do you have any DIY suggestions? Or should I just take it to the dealer and see what they can do?

Thanks,
John

A. First of all, we have to be politically correct. It is no longer a cigarette lighter, it is an Auxiliary Power Outlet (APO). We must be ever mindful of those who chose not to smoke and make the lives of those who do chose to harder and harder.

Anyway, the APO is held in place with a very large, but flimsy nut. There are only a couple of threads on the APO for the nut to hold so it is easy for it to come off. What has probably happened is when you loosened it up, the nut twisted off, or loose enough that it will not retighten. What you will have to do is remove the APO and reinstall it so the nut is tight. While it is apart, it is easier to test.

Just make sure you have power at the bullet connector and that the ground wire at the spade connector is good and attached tightly.

If power and ground are good, then you have a bad heating element.