Using Cigarette Lighter for Power-XM radio

JSTOLLE · 09-25-2005

I'm installing a small XM radio in "stealth" mode up front with the rest of the stuff behind the spare tire flap. When I tried to plug the little transmitter thing into the cigarette lighter I got no power. Looks like it is a different configuration than the outlets in cars today. Does anyone have any ideas as to how to get this to work? It's a great location for what I need to do, has the built in transmitter and everything I need if I could just get power from that &#@! lighter outlet.

BQS4 · 09-25-2005

Get an aftermarket unit from a parts store and fit it in the same spot. Run power to it from the ignition side and you're ready

wildone1 · 09-25-2005

I had the same problem with a electric defroster the plug is smaller than the lighter hole I ended up just wraping the plug with tin foil

JSTOLLE · 09-25-2005

Originally Posted by BQS4

Get an aftermarket unit from a parts store and fit it in the same spot. Run power to it from the ignition side and you're ready

Any way to do this without taking off the dash?

BQS4 · 09-25-2005

if you want it mounted in the dash, yes, the dash has to be removed. If you want to forgo undoing the dash, you can wire a new cig lighter in and make a bracket fit to hang just under the dash.
Gene

wrangler · 09-25-2005

Check around at the different auto parts stores or Radio Shack. I remember years ago I installed one for a similar purpose and was able to find one that came with an underdash mount. If you end up wanting to mount it in the original lighter spot it is quite easy to do, the pieces screw apart and can fit into the original slot. Taking the intrument panel off isnt as hard a task as it might seem if you have never done it before. There are a few different threads on here as to how to go about it.
HTH,
Brett

JSTOLLE · 09-27-2005

Thanks guys. All great ideas. I took the dash off about 3 years ago and managed to get it back on without any electrical problems

So I don't think I want to do that so will probably go with the external mount idea.

MikeyOne · 09-27-2005

I had a similar ptoblem with an accessory and my lighter - lighter works but accessory didnt. I took the console apart and found that the wires in the lighter were connected backwards. With DC this doesnt work well!

After swapping the connections all was fine. I'll also note that this was an automatic and that it had another symptom - the 'courtesy light' in the lighter hole was always on UNTIL I turned the dash lights on, then it would turn off. I had always wondered why Opel would think I needed the light in the lighter only when the headlights and dash lights were off!

simplemind7 · 09-27-2005

if the cigarette lighter plug doesn't have a some sort of power converting built into it, then you could just chop it off and wire it right into the fuse box, just find which fuse has a constant +12V, accessory, or ignition depending on what you want to run in on

09-25-2005	#1 (permalink)
JSTOLLE Opeler Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: St. Paul, Minnesota Posts: 12 Classified Rating: 0% (0)	Unanswered: Using Cigarette Lighter for Power-XM radio I'm installing a small XM radio in "stealth" mode up front with the rest of the stuff behind the spare tire flap. When I tried to plug the little transmitter thing into the cigarette lighter I got no power. Looks like it is a different configuration than the outlets in cars today. Does anyone have any ideas as to how to get this to work? It's a great location for what I need to do, has the built in transmitter and everything I need if I could just get power from that &#@! lighter outlet.

09-25-2005	#3 (permalink)
wildone1 Opeler Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Michigan Posts: 20 Classified Rating: 0% (0)	cigarette lighter I had the same problem with a electric defroster the plug is smaller than the lighter hole I ended up just wraping the plug with tin foil

09-27-2005	#8 (permalink)
MikeyOne Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Los Angeles more or less Posts: 97 Classified Rating: 0% (0)	backwards? I had a similar ptoblem with an accessory and my lighter - lighter works but accessory didnt. I took the console apart and found that the wires in the lighter were connected backwards. With DC this doesnt work well! After swapping the connections all was fine. I'll also note that this was an automatic and that it had another symptom - the 'courtesy light' in the lighter hole was always on UNTIL I turned the dash lights on, then it would turn off. I had always wondered why Opel would think I needed the light in the lighter only when the headlights and dash lights were off!

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09-25-2005	#2 (permalink)
BQS4 Southern Red Neck Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Snellville, GA Posts: 5,058 Classified Rating: 0% (0) Provided Answers: 1	Get an aftermarket unit from a parts store and fit it in the same spot. Run power to it from the ignition side and you're ready

09-25-2005	#5 (permalink)
BQS4 Southern Red Neck Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Snellville, GA Posts: 5,058 Classified Rating: 0% (0) Provided Answers: 1	if you want it mounted in the dash, yes, the dash has to be removed. If you want to forgo undoing the dash, you can wire a new cig lighter in and make a bracket fit to hang just under the dash. Gene

09-25-2005	#6 (permalink)
wrangler Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Pensacola, Florida Posts: 464 Classified Rating: 0% (0)	Check around at the different auto parts stores or Radio Shack. I remember years ago I installed one for a similar purpose and was able to find one that came with an underdash mount. If you end up wanting to mount it in the original lighter spot it is quite easy to do, the pieces screw apart and can fit into the original slot. Taking the intrument panel off isnt as hard a task as it might seem if you have never done it before. There are a few different threads on here as to how to go about it. HTH, Brett

09-27-2005	#7 (permalink)
JSTOLLE Opeler Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: St. Paul, Minnesota Posts: 12 Classified Rating: 0% (0)	Thanks guys. All great ideas. I took the dash off about 3 years ago and managed to get it back on without any electrical problems So I don't think I want to do that so will probably go with the external mount idea.

09-27-2005	#9 (permalink)
simplemind7 Opel GT? Who makes that? Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Ayr, Ontario, Canada Posts: 632 Classified Rating: 0% (0)	if the cigarette lighter plug doesn't have a some sort of power converting built into it, then you could just chop it off and wire it right into the fuse box, just find which fuse has a constant +12V, accessory, or ignition depending on what you want to run in on

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