mcharity

I love the site. I'm a newbie here and I've a '98 GS400 that rocks! It turns me everytime I drive it. Now, if only the gas mileage was better. Oh well.

No real issues with the ride except that the cigarette lighters and A/C outlets don't work. I checked the fuse and they are good. Perhaps the previous owner "un-did" them? Is there somehting I can do/check to get them working again? :

Also, my remote works but man, I can't be more than 10 feet from the car to do so. Changed the battery in the remote with no improvment. Is this a common issue?

Thanks in advance,
Mike in Maryland

'98 GS400/dark green/113k mi/

Saiji

First off, welcome to CL!
Yeah change the battery on your remote and it will get SOME more distance. Out keys suck. Put it on your chin and you'll get even more distance.

As for your cig lighter. I have the same problem, but when I put my charger or cig lighter in half way, it works. So try holding your cig lighter half way for like 20 seconds and see if it works. If it does, then when you plug in whatever you are plugging in, half way, and it should work. If it doesn't work........maybe someone can chime in. Good luck

isdjmark

You should check if any power is going into it? Maybe its a wire that is cut off? Or possible that your cigarette lighter console is broken. And i dont thinks its that much to replace it.

VipDout

iTrader: (4)

easy to pull out the tray in front of the shifter ...

turn car to acces ..

hold brake ...

move out of way like d 2

push in the tray let it fold down and wiggle loose until creeps out

then see if it is connected ... if it is ... then get out a multimeter

best of luck

salimshah

Reviving an old thread ... just in case others run into the same problem.

It has been almost 10years, and we have never had a need to use the cigarette lighter. Added a portable GPS and there was no juice. Tried the outlet in the armrest and that worked.

Based on the advice here, turn the ignition key to ON (releases the lock on gear shifter), engaged the parking brake, moved the shifter to N and pulled out the ash-tray assembly. Disconnected the wires.

Ohm meter showed open on the middle (+12v tip) to the wire in the back. Undid the 7mm nut. Reassembled the 2 layer back end [check from the plug side to make sure the center piece is aligned properly ... the wings should have a gap from the outer shell. Secured the 7mm nut. Check for middle pin connectivity with the wire.

reconnect the connector and slide in the ash-tray assembly.

Time taken < 20 minutes. No additional parts are required.

[Based on the search it seems like a common early model production problem in GS .. there is a TSB but I could not read it].

Salim

GS3loco

This is good info from Salim as I have the same problem with my 99 GS300.

augdogg

yo my lighter suks too. It works but only once a day (for the lighter) pops out immaturely.

GS3loco

I'm still having this problem with my cig lighter (need for GPS) and thinking I have the same issue as Salim. Does anyone have any additional advice on this?

I'm not sure what my plug should look like when it's reassembled properly.

Thanks.

Debonair

Do you have a number on that TSB?

e-man

I am having this exact same problem. The power source in the ashtray does not work (but the power source at the bottom of the center counsel does work). Salim, if you're still around, could you provide a little more detail on what you did to fix the problem? I've read your solution a few times and I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do. Thanks for any help.

e

GS3loco

Ditto for me too.

Iocca

iTrader: (2)

im having the complete opposite problem, i am not getting power in the center console, but it works in the ashtray.

writeingie

Hello,

Did you by any chance figure out why the cig lighter works but not the one under the armrest? I'm having the same issue...

Thx.