IPOD in Cigarette Lighter Blows Alternator ?

[Blockhead223]

I have a 1993 Nissan Altima, I purchased an IPOD holder to plug into the Cigarette Lighter, Plays through FM signal to Stereo. It worked for three minutes, then all the lights went out in the car and the stereo. I made it to work, but then car wouldnt start. Jumped it, got homed died again. Battery Light on, Brake light on when Battery charged. It looks like the unit blew my voltage regulator/Alternator. Now here is the deal, is it the unit or a short in the Cigarette Lighter....I didnt blow any fuses. I think the current draw of this additonal device blew my voltage regulator. Anyone ever experience this? Also how do you get the lighter element out of the dash (console) on a 1993 Nissan Altima. I saw one guys comment that these things burn out constatntly and older cars cant handle these new adapters excessive loads. Any thought on that.?

[180fan]

forget those fm broadcasters for your ipod. those things are pieces of crap.

I paid I think about 200 for a panasonic deck with an ipod adapter at my local Circuit City and that thing kicks arse. Much better integration with the ipod into the panasonic deck than my alpine I had or my eclipse system which was about 1k after taxes and the ipod adapter. A much better solution than getting that heap of crap fm broadcaster gizmo that doesn't seem to work that well in the first place.

a stock alternator should be outputting about 80 amps, that should be more than enough to power an ipod and that broadcaster. I suspect you've got something else loading the system.

[garthog]

dude, another good option is the harman-kardon drive+play. i have that and it's also bad azz!!!!