1973 Polara cigarette lighter question

[73Polara360]

I plugged my charger in and it's on even when the car is off.

I haven't had any battery drain problems and it's showing 12v.

My question is, is the ciggy lighter on these cars activated by physical insertion and i should only insert a charger when charging, or is there likely an issue that needs tracking down?

My intuition is the former because I've had no battery drain issues. Something tells me in these old cars you could light a smoke even without the key in the ignition.

 

[MrMoparCHP]

Correct, they work with the key off. As for the drain? Not sure it is an issue, may depend on how much you drive it.


Alan

 

[73Polara360]

Correct, they work with the key off. As for the drain? Not sure it is an issue, may depend on how much you drive it.


Alan

I haven't had any drainage issues since taking over the car, overall the car is factory wired and correct, original stereo no aftermarket bells or whistles, it's not a mess or been hacked on by previous owners that I can see, so everything should function normally. Only thing I did was unplug it so I could take the lower half of the dash trim down and follow the fan wire because I have blower fan issues but I put everything back together fairly meticulously.

I guess when the phone charger is plugged in it's like having the cigarette lighter element .pushed in

 

[MrMoparCHP]

I guess when the phone charger is plugged in it's like having the cigarette lighter element .pushed in

It is actually simpler than that. The adapter just makes contact. The cigar lighter socket is hot 12v all the time.
With the lighter element when you push it it you are engaging the element with the center (positive) terminal.


Alan

 

[Big_John]

Yes. The cigar lighter is always hot. Us Mopar guys lit our cigars rather than cigarettes though And I haven't had a cigar in years.... or Bourbon... A Maduro and some Jim Beam would be nice right now. But, I digress....

The battery should check around 12.6 volts though. Check it right after you shut the car off and see if it drops. Better yet check the voltage right at the battery.

The lower voltage could be just some crude in the socket, or some drop from the wiring, but keep an eye on it.

 

[73Polara360]

Yes. The cigar lighter is always hot. Us Mopar guys lit our cigars rather than cigarettes though And I haven't had a cigar in years.... or Bourbon... A Maduro and some Jim Beam would be nice right now. But, I digress....

The battery should check around 12.6 volts though. Check it right after you shut the car off and see if it drops. Better yet check the voltage right at the battery.

The lower voltage could be just some crude in the socket, or some drop from the wiring, but keep an eye on it.

Love a good cigar. Always partial to Romeo y Juliet, particularly cigarillos because they're a quick smoke.

I haven't started the car in weeks but I have been in and out of it and drawing some current when the courtesy lights come on. Also just had a slippy chirpy alternator belt changed. I will keep.an eye on it!