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OEM Cigar Lighter Install in '73 Bronco Ranger Dash

I wanted to add an OEM cigar lighter to my '73 Bronco Ranger dash. I reviewed the dash set-up with a factory cigar lighter to determine where to place it on the dash. Drilled a 7/8" hole & inserted it with no issues. In order to keep it on continuously I Connected a 14 gauge wire w/a built in fuse & spliced it to the "red" wire going to the lights since it is hot all the time. Now, everything's dead. No lights, hazard, wipers, & won't turn over! Is there something that I could've tripped somewhere? I didn't check the fuse for the lights since nothing's working I would think it's something in the engine bay but need some assistance in trying to run it down. Thanks
 
Thanks. I will check out. First off, everything obviously went dead simultaneously upon splicing the wire so, I think it was immediately. After the splice connection I pushed the lighter in & nothing. Then turned on the dome light (nothing), then wipers (nothing) then tried to start (nothing). I checked the fuses in fuse panel & all were good. Then put my charging box to the battery & it lite up green so, batteries fine. What about what appears to be a relay type box on passenger rear of engine bay which is on the firewall directly in front of the fuse panel (could I have tripped something in there or the solenoid oblong piece attached to the outside driver's side bottom right of the box? Here's a link to the pictures of the two items http://www.supermotors.net/registry/27354/85037
 

DNFXDLI

The Token Canadian
Staff member
I'm not sure what could have happened.

That picture is your voltage regulator for the alternator.

Here is a wiring diagram to the 1971 Bronco, I suspect the wiring will be the same for your 1973.

You mentioned a red wire, which on the lighting page looks like the brakelamp switch wire.

http://www.fordtruckfanatics.com/forum/showthread.php?t=37131
 
I'm not sure what could have happened.

That picture is your voltage regulator for the alternator.

Here is a wiring diagram to the 1971 Bronco, I suspect the wiring will be the same for your 1973.

You mentioned a red wire, which on the lighting page looks like the brakelamp switch wire.

http://www.fordtruckfanatics.com/forum/showthread.php?t=37131

The "red" wire could have been to the brake lights. All I know is that it had power to it without the key in the ignition which let me know that by connecting to it I would have constant power to the lighter.... Thanks for the wiring diagram. I will check it out but in the past, even the '72 diagrams are different from the '73. To the best of my knowledge, '73 was a change year.
 
Thanks to both of you. I found a wire going to the positive connector of the starter solenoid that had been spliced several times & appeared to be frayed. I discarded the old splice & an inch or so of wiring on each side of it http://www.supermotors.net/registry/27354/85051-2 . I then put a new wire connector on it & EVERYTHING works now! I don't understand what could have happened since I didn't touch that wire at all when installing the cigar lighter. The only thing I can figure is that it must have sent an overload through the wire & it fried the wires at the old splice (?). Any way it works now! Thanks for all assistance! Regards, Dean
 
Thanks to both of you. I found a wire going to the positive connector of the starter solenoid that had been spliced several times & appeared to be frayed. I discarded the old splice & an inch or so of wiring on each side of it http://www.supermotors.net/registry/27354/85051-2 . I then put a new wire connector on it & EVERYTHING works now! I don't understand what could have happened since I didn't touch that wire at all when installing the cigar lighter. The only thing I can figure is that it must have sent an overload through the wire & it fried the wires at the old splice (?). Any way it works now! Thanks for all assistance! Regards, Dean

Well,maybe it was best that it happened now while you was working
on the lighter.Better it happen now instead being off an stranded!

So,I think it was a good timing!....:)
 

DNFXDLI

The Token Canadian
Staff member
Cool that you got it fixed, glad we were able to help!
 

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