The VAZ-2109 cigarette lighter does not work: which fuse is responsible and where is it located?

Every modern car has this device. Even non-smoking drivers use it. A lot of electronic devices are connected to the cigarette lighter socket. The connector is used for:

• direct purpose (lighting cigarettes);
• connecting a GPS navigator that plots the route;
• a video recorder that records the current traffic situation;
• an electric compressor that inflates tires;
• fan;
• additional batteries or chargers for a mobile phone, laptop or tablet.

Failure of the device is fraught with additional problems and inconveniences. Information on how to remove the cigarette lighter and repair it with your own hands on the VAZ 2109 model will help car owners.

Device and purpose

The operating principle of the device is simple. Inside the metal cartridge there is a thin spiral. When the cigarette lighter is pressed into the working position, current begins to flow through the contacts, exposing the coil to thermal effects. After reaching the maximum value, the thermal relay is activated and the device returns to its original position.

Three wires come to the VAZ 2109 cigarette lighter itself. The connection diagram is implemented as follows.

1. Red cable. The positive wire goes directly to the cigarette lighter battery. Responsible for heating the element. This section of the circuit is protected by a 20 ampere fuse.
2. Yellow cable. A constant plus that goes to the lamp. Responsible for lighting the cigarette lighter.
3. Black cable. Minus. One end is powered to the cigarette lighter body, and the other ends to the car body.

When operating the device on a VAZ, it is important to adhere to several basic rules. It must be remembered that the total power of connected devices is calculated using the formula P=I*A (power=voltage*current). In this case, A = 20 amperes, and the voltage in the car circuit is 12 volts. The maximum power rating should not exceed 240 watts. The cigarette lighter fuse may blow, and the insulating part of the wires may melt.

Operating rules

If at some point the cigarette lighter stops working, what will happen? All your additional equipment will no longer receive power. As a result, you will be left without a media center, navigator, will not be able to charge your phone, and so on.

There are several important rules that are recommended to be followed when operating your VAZ 2109 equipped with a cigarette lighter.

1. It is not recommended to connect compressors directly through the cigarette lighter, which many people use today to pump up their tires on the road. It is better to connect it directly through the battery. Such devices consume a lot of energy and create an impressive load on the vehicle's electrical wiring. At some point it may melt or a fuse may blow.
2. Do not try to insert devices whose connectors are larger than the size of the cigarette lighter into the cigarette lighter socket.
3. Do not connect metal objects. Also, when connecting the device, do not use equipment that has metal rings on the body. They often fly out, resulting in a short circuit. At best, your battery will quickly run out.

Causes of failure

Common reasons why the cigarette lighter does not work on a VAZ 2109.

1. Broken wiring. If the car is old or due to illiterate manipulations with the electrical system, the wires may shorten and burn out, or a break may occur in the circuit itself. The fuse trips. This failure should be diagnosed using a multitester. The wires coming to the cigarette lighter are tested for resistance. If there is no power to the device, then one of the wires is broken.
2. The cigarette lighter fuse is broken. If one or more high-power devices are driven into the socket, the circuit current may exceed the critical value of 20 amps, causing the fuse to blow. Additionally, the electric heated rear window will stop working, and in some cases, the car radio will stop working. Repairing the cigarette lighter is simple - you need to remove the front panel to get to the mounting block, where you can change the blown fuse.
3. Bad connection. Over time, the contacts oxidize, causing the device to stop working. The reason for the appearance may also be the connection of a fuse with a high resistance, for example, a 25-amp one. If the cigarette lighter does not work, you must first remove the metal cartridge and check its contacts for the presence of oxides. It is recommended to clean them. Before carrying out the procedure, it is recommended to remove the negative terminal from the battery. This will eliminate the possibility of a short circuit and tripping the fuse on the VAZ 2109.
4. Burnt out filament element. Inside the cartridge there is a nichrome spiral, which can burn out due to age. Restoration is impractical - such a malfunction is treated by replacing the cigarette lighter and installing a new element.
5. Backlight lamp failure. There is additional lighting around the cigarette lighter to help you find the device in the dark. Over time, the light bulb may also stop lighting. You will need to remove the burnt element and then replace it with a working one.

Why it breaks and what to do

Experts say that there are only 2 reasons leading to cigarette lighter failure:

• fuse blown;
• loss of any contact.

In the first case, you will need to replace the melted protective device with a working one. It is located directly in the mounting block. So, if you have:

• low instrument panel (that is, an older car), then this is F4 or F10;
• high panel – 11.

It is worth noting that in this situation the following will also stop working:

• rear window heating element;
• socket for extension cord.

In early cars the fuse rating was 20 amperes, in new ones it was only 16.

By the way, the stove is powered through F7 in old models, 4 in new ones.

The blown fuse is removed with the battery disconnected and replaced with a new one. It is important to monitor his condition for some time. If it burns out again, then you should look for the cause in a short circuit.

If contact is lost, you must:

• inspect the cigarette lighter socket;
• make sure that all wires are holding well;
• use a tester to check the voltage (black and red wires - should be 12 volts).

If everything is in order, then you should look for the problem in the socket. If there is no electricity, inspect the wiring for integrity.

Repairing the cigarette lighter and its socket

Before you remove the device on a VAZ 2109 with a high panel and replace it with a working one, you need to stock up on suitable tools. You will need:

• gloves for protection;
• screwdriver with a standard blade.

To restore and repair the cigarette lighter or fuse on a VAZ, the following will be useful:

• insulating or shrink tape;
• blowtorch, tin, rosin;
• serviceable wires (if you need to change cables);
• multitester;
• spare parts.

You can buy different car cigarette lighters on the market. The standard long version has disadvantages. Most electrical appliances are designed for a short cartridge. Therefore, many drivers prefer to replace the device with European standard samples.

The cost of the device ranges between 400 – 1100 rubles. The low price of the device indicates that low-quality materials were used in the production process. Such a device will not work for long. It is better to choose parts from the original manufacturer with a quality hologram and certificates of conformity.

Repair

If cigarette lighter failure cannot be avoided, you need to take troubleshooting steps. To do this, use the following algorithm of actions.

1. Check the condition of the fuse, as well as the fuses adjacent to F4 or F10. In some cases, the melting of one provokes deformation of other fusible elements.
2. If replacing the fuse does not give the desired result, you will have to disassemble the socket.
3. Remove the cigarette lighter completely. Connect a test light to the socket located on the back of the unit and turn on the ignition. If the lamp lights up, this indicates the presence of electricity in the circuit. This means that the problem is in the cigarette lighter itself.
4. Unscrew the fastening nut from the back of the cigarette lighter. But first sketch or photograph the position of the contacts before disassembling the assembly. This way you won't have any problems during the reassembly process.
5. Unscrew the nut, bend the metal component away from the plastic element, and disconnect the metal components.
6. Now you have a mica plate in front of you, which acts as a semiconductor. It needs to be dismantled.
7. Next, we assemble the assembly in the reverse order, only without the plate. To install the cigarette lighter, you will have to work a little with a file, removing some of the metal for a comfortable fit of the element.
8. A destroyed semiconductor is the most rare problem with cigarette lighters on the VAZ 2109.
9. A more common problem is oxidation of contacts or a loose connector.
10. Therefore, remove the cigarette lighter and visually inspect the condition of the contacts and connectors. If you suspect a malfunction, disconnect all contacts, clean and reinstall everything. This also applies to terminals.
11. Or another option: violation of the integrity of the electrical wiring. This is not the rarest case that will require you to ring every wire going to a faulty car unit. After this, you can verify whether there are breaks or short circuits in the circuit. Damaged wires are replaced with new ones.

Removal instructions

Armed with the tools, you can begin the repair. Before removing the cigarette lighter of the VAZ 2109, you must open the hood and remove the negative terminal from the battery. This will eliminate the possibility of a short circuit during removal.

1. Unscrew the two fastening screws on each side of the decorative panel.
2. Disconnect the wires of the control buttons.
3. We remember where the plus of the contact chip is and take it out.
4. We remove the cigarette lighter from its seat for subsequent repair or replacement.

The device should be connected in the reverse order to that described. If you don’t have a backlight bulb, you can add one to the design. Before starting, you should check the battery voltage with the ignition off. Then turn it on and try it again. If there is a drawdown of more than 0.5 Volts, then there is a short circuit.

Fuse burned out

One of the most common causes of car cigarette lighter failure is failure of the protective element. The current strength of this section of the circuit should not exceed 20 amperes. Due to the connection of powerful devices, a short circuit or moisture ingress, this value may exceed the maximum permissible. To protect against fire, the fuse blows.

A hint that the protective element has failed is the failure of electrical equipment. This fuse is also responsible for the rear window heating relay, and on later models, the car radio circuit. If these devices fail, then it is worth replacing with a working element.

The mounting block is located under the hood of the car, on the left side of the car, behind the engine. Its location is common to the VAZ 2108, 2109, 21099 models. On the back cover there is a diagram explaining the purpose of each fuse. The part with index F4, rated at 20 amperes, must be replaced. It is important to install a fuse rated for these values. Installing a more powerful element is fraught with overheating of the wiring, melting of thermal insulation, and a potential fire.

It is better to arm yourself with tweezers to make it easier to pull out the part. After replacement, you need to check the functionality of the device. If the protective element lights up frequently, then there is a high probability of a short circuit. Then you should arm yourself with a multitester and carry out repairs. Information on how to remove the cigarette lighter on a VAZ 2109 model with a high panel is located below.

Why is a cigarette lighter used in a car?

Nowadays, its nest is increasingly being used for other purposes than its intended purpose. Almost forty years ago, when AvtoVAZ designers conceived the first cars of the Samara family, which included the VAZ 2109, they could not imagine how else this unit would be used.

DVRs had not yet been invented, and the question of where to turn on the recorder was not raised in principle. In the same way, there was no task to connect satellite navigation equipment to the on-board network - there was no such equipment at all. And there was no need to even charge cell phones due to the lack of such in nature. Now it’s all there and is powered by the cigarette lighter.

Such abnormal operation leads to an increase in the load on its nest. This may lead to its failure. Particularly dangerous in this sense is a portable electric compressor, which has become widely used by motorists today. On long and even short trips, drivers often have with them such a compressor, which allows them to drive for quite a long time on a punctured tubeless tire, periodically pumping it up and leaving the issue of repairing the wheel until the tire shop. Care should be taken when making such swaps.

Remember that the cigarette lighter is only designed to light a cigarette, but not to pump up a completely flat tire over and over again. At the very least, for such a swap you should connect the crocodile clips to the battery terminals, and not to the cigarette lighter socket.

Video “replacing the cigarette lighter of a VAZ 2109 high panel”

In this case, the device will be removed in the same way. True, there is a quick dismantling method practiced by experienced owners. In order to remove the cigarette lighter of a VAZ 2109 equipped with a high panel, it is enough.

1. Pull out the metal part of the device.
2. Bend the antennae located inside the cigarette lighter connector.
3. Remove the socket through the panel hole.
4. Disconnect the wire block.
5. Remove the backlit filter.

The following video will help you understand how to repair the cigarette lighter for a VAZ 2109 with a high panel.