My '06 WRX cigarette lighter has decided to stop working.
Before I go at the unit with my screwdriver to prise the thing off and check the connections, can anyone recomend the best way to undertake this task.

 

Before doing even that, you HAVE checked all possible fuses, haven't you?

 

I will do, but is there a single fuse for the unit? as everything else seems to be in working order.

It is iluminated when the lights are on also

 

The illumination comes from the lighting circuit, so will be on a separate fuse. I don't have a newage car, so can't advise on fuses, do you have a manual?

Can you plug something else into it like a charger, to check if it's the unit, or the cig-lighter itself? Most likely: 1. fuse, 2. cig lighter element.

I had similar on my wife's Xantia when she got a satnav, someone had taken the 20A fuse for the lighter to power another that had obviously gone, at an earlier date. Replaced it, and away we went.

 

I have pains with mine - sometimes it charges stuff, sometimes it doesn't.
And then if it's not charging, and I turn the engine off but leave it set to ACC, it does.... I have no idea why, I'm guessing something in the wiring might be loose.

 

Have been through the fuse box, but everything seems to be in its place.

I need someone with a manual to show me how to remove the unit and check the wiring.

The unit was working previously but now

 

First off, "everything seems to be in it's place" is meaningless unless you identified the fuse controlling the lighter, removed it and checked it, preferably electrically, ie: NOT just by looking at it

Secondly, you don't say if you have TRIED anything else in the socket apart from the lighter, in order to find out if it's the socket or the lighter itself.

TBH: there's nowt much to go wrong with the socket.

 

My friend,
Without a manual it is difficult to isolate the offending fuse. I removed them all and replaced them after checking that they seemed complete.

As I'm not a smoker I have been using the unit to power my sat nav and play my Iphone.

This is why Im at the stage of wanting to remove the unit (without dismantling the dash board) to check the connections

 

also have you checked the fuse in the end of the bit your plugging into the socket, I've had a couple of them go in the past due to "wobbly" connections between the plug/socket.

Can't help with the main fuse board stuff as I rewired it direct to the battery (with new fuse) so I could use a solar charger to top up the battery.

 

Yes! have tried satnav etc in my Mrs Beetle and they work/charge fine!

 

Can't help you then. I'm really not sure if the socket prizes out, or, like the one I bought for an extra for my Scoob, has a large plastic nut on the back. I SUSPECT it prizes out.