# 1999 Astro lighters don't work, checked both fuse boxes **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [August 17, 2014, 1:02am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1999-astro-lighters-dont-work-checked-both-fuse-boxes/86650 "2014-08-17T01:02:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![oldschoolguy](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/oldschoolguy/32/83_2.png) [@oldschoolguy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldschoolguy)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2014, 1:02am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1999-astro-lighters-dont-work-checked-both-fuse-boxes/86650/1 "2014-08-17T01:02:57Z")
I just had a rebuilt engine put in my 1999 Chevy Astro. However, when I got it back the lighter and auxiliary lighters don’t work. I checked the fuses under the driver’s side dash and the one for the lighter looked good. I change it anyhow, and it still doesn’t work. Anything else I should check? I am planning a long trip and would like to use my radar detector. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2014, 1:26am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1999-astro-lighters-dont-work-checked-both-fuse-boxes/86650/2 "2014-08-17T01:26:43Z")
The cigarette lighter and power outlets share the same ground connection. I’d check the ground connection under the dash to see if its’ good. Tester ---
**Author:** ![oldschoolguy](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/oldschoolguy/32/83_2.png) [@oldschoolguy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldschoolguy)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2014, 2:56am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1999-astro-lighters-dont-work-checked-both-fuse-boxes/86650/3 "2014-08-17T02:56:43Z")
Any idea what the ground connection would look like? There are tons of wires under there. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2014, 3:07am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1999-astro-lighters-dont-work-checked-both-fuse-boxes/86650/4 "2014-08-17T03:07:59Z")
The ground connections would be wires connected to any metal surface of the vehicle. Here’s an example of a ground connection. [![](http://gallery.8thcivic.com/albums/audio/wi11.jpg) ](http://gallery.8thcivic.com/albums/audio/wi11.jpg) Tester ---
**Author:** ![Yosemite](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/yosemite/32/643_2.png) [@Yosemite](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Yosemite)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2014, 3:27am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1999-astro-lighters-dont-work-checked-both-fuse-boxes/86650/5 "2014-08-17T03:27:41Z")
THere might have been some reason that the mechanic that did the engine, had to do something under the dash and maybe he forgot to plug in the lighter. Yosemite ---
**Author:** ![oldschoolguy](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/oldschoolguy/32/83_2.png) [@oldschoolguy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldschoolguy)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2014, 4:32am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1999-astro-lighters-dont-work-checked-both-fuse-boxes/86650/6 "2014-08-20T04:32:28Z")
I called a friend of mine that used to drive Astros and he said to look under the cupholder, that there might be something that the mechanic forgot to plug back in. I took out the glove box and sure enough there it was. Got it re-connected and all lighters work. Hoorah! Thanks to all for advise. See ya! ---
**Author:** ![Triedaq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@Triedaq](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Triedaq)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2014, 5:27am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1999-astro-lighters-dont-work-checked-both-fuse-boxes/86650/7 "2014-08-20T05:27:26Z")
Your mechanic can be forgiven for this. I purchased a new Ford Windstar back in 2000. One power outlet low on the dashboard didn’t work. I used the cigarette lighter socket higher up on the dashboard to power the charger for my cell phone. However, the power outlet would have been more convenient. I got curious one day about why the power outlet wouldn’t work. I don’t remember all the details, but I removed either a cup holder or the ashtray and found a wire that had never been connected to the back of the power outlet. I connected the wire and had a working power outlet. The power outlet hadn’t been connected at the factory.