cigarette lighter not working, heater sucks!!

[cory2081]

I've only had this car a few months. Just noticed today that my cigarette lighter isn't working. Everything else works. I also noticed that my anti-theft system fuse has been pulled. I think I know why though, the previous owner had the car painted, new hood, fenders, and bumper put on. The hood is missing the part that pushes down the switch that's is on the passenger side when you close the hood (I'm assuming that switch is for the security system) Anyway, I can't find that part in the parts view on Everything Nissan's site. Does that fuse power the cig lighter?? My heat sucks!! When it's below 30 here, my heat is barely warm. My temp gage is normal, stays right in the middle, but the heat just isn't that warm at all. Any suggestions??

[gophrsplatter]

i have the exact same problem!! i had stock hood and everything but my anti- theft fuse was pulled also and i have no heat what-so-ever even when i have i on full blast....i was told it was the blower motor though. is your car se?? a 96 240sx se??

[cory2081]

Yeah, a '96 240SX SE fully loaded. I think I found why my heat sucks. I have been using the "Bi-level" (vent&floor) so, tonight I tried it on just the upper vent setting. It's alot warmer, so, I guess I'll just keep it on that setting for heat. I just want my Cig lighter to work b/c I have an Oreck car vac that plugs into the cig lighter. I'd like to be able to use it....lol. I gotta find that part for the hood too so my alarm will work properly.

[themadscientist]

1. stop smoking:)2. pull up the carpet, raw steel floor=radiant heater!

[crzycav86]

My cigarette lighter wasn't working either when I wanted to try out my g-tech.

I looked inside and saw that it was a little corroded down there, so I got some sandpaper and sanded it down so that some clean metal was showing. After that, the g-tech turned on. ..give that a try.

[cory2081]

I don't smoke, just wanted to use it for a car vac that I have and to charge my phone. In fact, it just has a plastic plug in it that says 12V, no actual lighter, just the socket. This car has never been smoked in, as none of my cars were either. The socket looks clean. I dunno why it doesn't work.

[cory2081]

1. stop smoking:)2. pull up the carpet, raw steel floor=radiant heater!

1. I don't smoke, nor does ANYONE smoke in my car.2. The car is much too nice to do that to. I found that the heater works just fine if I put it on the upper vents only.

[book-ends]

If your heater stops working in the future, you should try this:

Purchase a dryer hose from Home Depot and then connect it to the side of the block. Don't drill a hole or anything, just have it touching the block. Snake the other end into your car. Boom. Heat.

That was a lot funnier the other night when I was drunk and yelling in the garage that I lost my keys. Still not sure how losing my keys and attaching a fire hazard to my car go together.......

[themadscientist]

well it's simple, check the fuse first of course but if it's good break out your multimeter, start at the lighter and follow it along until you find where the juice went.As far as the heater goes there could be a couple of things causing that.1. wore out fan, mine blasts loudly and yours should to, if not it might be going out on you.2. the core could be clogged internally, if your coolant is nasty the core will be too also if anyone ever let the coolant get nasty same thing, people often forget to turn on the heater when flushing the coolant system3. the core is clogged on the air inlet side. I've never looked at the 240s but some HVAC syaytems will allow junk from outside to get sucked into the inlet. Highly unlikely, I would check that last.

[cory2081]

fuse is good, havnt got around to checking the wiring. fan blows just fine. for some reason, it's not very warm on bi-level, but, works great when just the upper vents are on.

Jeansguy, don't be a girl, only girls lose keys. Thanks for tip, I'll keep some dryer hose handy.....better yet, maybe I'll just hook up a hair dryer in my car.

[book-ends]

Hair dryer mounted in such a fashion that it utilizes the clip-to-the-vent cup holder? Or a crappy method?

[cory2081]

Gotta make it look good man. Cant use crappy methods, not on my car.