Lighter issues.

[NV Stig]

Does anyone have issues with using 21st century electronics, like a radar detector or GPS in their older 911 Lighter? Mine produces power just fine, and the lighter works with no issues. However, the radar detector male connector doesn't fit in the lighter orifice properly. (I'm hoping that I'm not stepping into a landmine of witty comments with this one ) It loses its contact going over bumps and resets, and also does the same thing on harder accelerations to the point it falls out. Just seeing if someone had a quick fix for a similar problem.

[Neil '67 911S]

I've run a Valentine detector and an Escort before that in Ol' Blue and Ol' Beige (both '67 912) for many years with no problems.

[John Z Goriup]

My male connector being under-sized for its intended orfice has been the story of my life,...... but your observation of the difference in lighter socket size vs. the male plugs of my GPS, and my Passport Vehicle Performance Computer, which I purchased on a pure whim solely for its entertainment value, so it can display how many G's my car generates during braking, acceleration and in corners, is dead on. The male plugs of both of the above fall right out of the carefully installed and wired original lighter-socket, just as you describe.

I suspect that lighter sizes changed during the last few years, i.e. they got smaller in diameter, ever since the anti-smoking hysteria struck the land, and new cars sold in the US began shipping with plastic plugs only to replace the lighters. Seems like all the lighter socket is used for these days is for laptops, GPS, etc. and making the socket smaller positevely prevents inserting a lighter from an older / another car to keep us from smoking if we bloody well feel like smoking.

As it happens, I am on my way to EASY this morning and will check with Jim Braezeale, if there is a solution to this quandary. I will report if I learn anything worthwhile.

[Bullethead]

Some devices used to come with sleeve adapters for different sized lighter ports. I may still have a box of them from old cellphone chargers (remember the "brick"?) my first Passport G and a Magellen GPS. Will look through the junk bin at my shop, if there are any you can have them.

An alternative might be to slip an O ring or two on the plug to get a positive fit... certainly cheap enough to try.

[kenikh]

My SWB has issues with most common electronic plugs - it is a little small and requires a bit of wiggling to get it in there just right. I have toyed with the idea of wiring in an aftermarket accessory adapter jack - it is the same type, but doesn't have accomodations for the spring loaded release for the cig lighter. I was planning to mount it out of sight, under the dash, for this purpose.

[John Z Goriup]

Per Jim B., Porsche indeed utilized a non-standard lighter socket in the early 911s. He also mentioned that the plastic sleeves mentioned above will work satisfactorily. He wasn't quite sure when the change-over to a more common "standard" diameter lighter socket was made but assured me that the watercooled 4-cylinder series had "normal" lighters and sockets......makes sense, since the 924 Ur-design originated at Wolfsburg.

After trying a couple of dozen receptacles, we found one that seemed to fit the new plugs perfectly. Jim recognized it as a 914 unit........which also makes sense since it too has VW origins. It's smaller, my GPS male plug fits without excessive wobbling about, and it seems like it'll work in the dash of early 911s.

Once I get around to installing it and making it all operational I will post results, if anyone still cares by then.

JZG

[RSTarga]

If you can't find a sleeve just wrap some duct tape around the plug and cut out for the ground. I've done this on several plugs and they work fine , plus they don't rattle. Usually one wrap will do.

[NV Stig]

Awesome, thanks guys. Glad to find out that it is a non standard size lighter. Thanks John and RS. I'll try the one round of electrical tape to see if that tightens it up, go to the sleeve if that doesn't work. The little things you learn as you muddle along

[NV Stig]

BTW John, I like your Passport usage rationalization. I'll use that next time I'm pulled over. My radar deterctor is purely for entertainment value. It saved me the previous 30 times, so I was entertained

[Mr9146]

For curiousity's sake, what year is the car in question?