# Plugging in something when you have no cig lighter to use **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** ford, taurus\ **Created:** [December 10, 2009, 4:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/plugging-in-something-when-you-have-no-cig-lighter-to-use/40577 "2009-12-10T16:48:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![indy4192](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/aeb1de/32.png) [@indy4192](https://community.cartalk.com/u/indy4192)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 4:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/plugging-in-something-when-you-have-no-cig-lighter-to-use/40577/1 "2009-12-10T16:48:13Z")
For somereason the people who owned the car before me removed the entire cig lighter unit. I lost my phone’s normal charger and was charging via my car charger with my prevouis car, but now can’t, is there anything I can buy, or adapt to be able to use a car charging item. I also have one of those emergency kits that comes with an item to use to with a cig ligter to power it to pump up flat tires, so I can’t use it either. ---
**Author:** ![edb1961](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/edb1961/32/122_2.png) [@edb1961](https://community.cartalk.com/u/edb1961)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 4:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/plugging-in-something-when-you-have-no-cig-lighter-to-use/40577/2 "2009-12-10T16:51:43Z")
Pick up Taurus cigarette lighter from a salvage yard or buy a generic one from an auto parts store and reinstall it. I installed a generic one in a 98 Windstar when the original lighter failed. Ed ---
**Author:** ![indy4192](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/aeb1de/32.png) [@indy4192](https://community.cartalk.com/u/indy4192)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 5:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/plugging-in-something-when-you-have-no-cig-lighter-to-use/40577/3 "2009-12-10T17:29:57Z")
There is a wire hanging down behind where the back end of the cig lighter should go, do you just “plug it into” that wire? ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 5:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/plugging-in-something-when-you-have-no-cig-lighter-to-use/40577/4 "2009-12-10T17:37:57Z")
You can actually buy something for this. It’s a rubber plug that plugs into the lighter and has a no/smoking sign on it. I have one in my 4runner. I’ve seen them at Wallmart. ---
**Author:** ![Triedaq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@Triedaq](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Triedaq)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 5:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/plugging-in-something-when-you-have-no-cig-lighter-to-use/40577/5 "2009-12-10T17:43:25Z")
That wire is probably the one. It may have a connector on it and will just plug into the new cigarette lighter socket. I purchased a new 2000 Ford Windstar and the power socket in the front didn’t work. I checked fuses and they were all o.k. I finally pulled out the ashtray and looked behind the power socket. The connector had never been plugged in from the factory. It took 15 seconds to solve the problem. ---
**Author:** ![mcparadise](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mcparadise/32/32_2.png) [@mcparadise](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mcparadise)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 5:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/plugging-in-something-when-you-have-no-cig-lighter-to-use/40577/6 "2009-12-10T17:43:40Z")
Test the wire with a test light. If it’s hot that’s probably the wire for the lighter socket. Whoever removed the lighter socket may have removed the fuse, too, so check that. ---
**Author:** ![lion9car](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/59ef9b/32.png) [@lion9car](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lion9car)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 6:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/plugging-in-something-when-you-have-no-cig-lighter-to-use/40577/7 "2009-12-10T18:30:58Z")
If you add a lighter back in, make sure the correct fuse is being used. If the previous owner removed the lighter because it was causing electrical issues, they might have tried a higher-current fuse (which is dangerous, of course). ---
**Author:** ![Caddyman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/caddyman/32/23_2.png) [@Caddyman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Caddyman)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 6:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/plugging-in-something-when-you-have-no-cig-lighter-to-use/40577/8 "2009-12-10T18:53:02Z")
This is an easy DIY project, especially is you go to a salvage yard and pull the “Power Point” socket out yourself. Or any auto-sound shop should be happy to install a multiple power outlet… ---
**Author:** ![ken\_green](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/ken_green/32/816_2.png) [@ken\_green](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ken_green)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 7:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/plugging-in-something-when-you-have-no-cig-lighter-to-use/40577/9 "2009-12-10T19:22:28Z")
At a parts house you can buy a power socket to put there. ( it will not take a lighter element, power only ) ---
**Author:** ![indy4192](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/aeb1de/32.png) [@indy4192](https://community.cartalk.com/u/indy4192)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 8:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/plugging-in-something-when-you-have-no-cig-lighter-to-use/40577/10 "2009-12-10T20:11:54Z")
What is a power socket? Does it plug in like the cig lighter does or does it have to be wired itself? ---
**Author:** ![rocketman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@rocketman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/rocketman)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 12:21am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/plugging-in-something-when-you-have-no-cig-lighter-to-use/40577/11 "2009-12-11T00:21:36Z")
Agree . . . go to a salvage yard and look for a car like yours . . . pull the lighter socket out of it and watch what you do, then reinstall it in your vehicle. Might cost you a buck. Rocketman