Hello,
I need to replace the female part of the cig lighter on the dahboard.

99 1500 5.2L.

If I remove the full plastic trim piece that surrounds the gauge cluster/rear fan/cig lighter assembly - will I be able to simply replace it from there?

I thought I could get it from underneath the dashwith the doghouse removed - but no go. the rear fan switch/ auxillary 12V power source is in the way.

 

Yes, you have to remove the plastic trim. You have to take it out completely, then you can remove the screws holding the plate the lighter socket is mounted to.I don't remember offhand if the lighter is live with the ignition off, so you might want to take care not to let it's center wire touch ground.

 

Hi Alloro,

As always thanks for the reply.

If I need to completely remove the plastic trim, how do I remove the headlight (on and off ) pull switch?
Is it possible that without removing the headlight switch, there will be enough room to get to the lighter socket plate?
.

That seems to be the only thing really in the way of complete removal

Other than that, it sounds straightforward and I'll just remove the positive batt. cable.

 

The hole in the plastic trim is large enough to go over the headlight ****.

 

Unless somone has been mucking arround, the Cig lighter is OFF when the ignition is off.

 

Yup, it wasn't hot with the key off, but.....

I wasn't able to remove the round plastic "retainer" that keeps the metal female end attached to the plastic mounting plate without breaking the small plastic tabs at the end of it.

Ultimately I had to superglue that plastic retainer to the mounting plate.

Eventually this will come loose.

Are there any secrets in removing that plastic retainer without breaking it? It was not included with the metal female part of the lighter. ( dealer part)

 

The socket should just unscrew from the plastic panel.

 

Hi alloro,
Thanks for the reply. I've been away till today.

It doesn't unscrew as I thought it would myself. The fem. part of the lighter is metal of course, but there is a plastic "retaining piece" that holds the cig lighter assembly to the small panel ( mounting plate) that is held on by the three screws.

Once I fed the new socket into that plastic piece, it wouldn't slide off either.