Subject: Replacing cigarette lighter
Question: Hi,
I have 1996 Mitsubishi Galant 'S' Auto transmission model.Recently I tried to use external dashboard mounted heater/fan using the cigarette light adaptor.
It worked fine for few hours and then stopped.I took it to Auto electrical shop and he checked the wiring and said it looks fine and I may have to replace cigarette light receptacle.
Can you give some guidance how to replace it on my own and what precautions you suggest me to take.
Thanking you in advance.
Balaji
Answer: Balaji,
There is a good chance you burned out your cigarette lighter. Those external heaters use a lot of wattage and may have burned out your socket. Replacing your cigarette lighter can be done by yourself fairly easily, if you have the following items:

1. A decent set of tool ranging from a couple of screwdrivers to a ratchet set.
2. A service repair manual for reference of all the little nuts, bolts and screws you will have to remove. Most likely, you'll have to remove a good section of you dashboard in order to replace your ligher. I haven't been in a '96 Galant for a long time, so forgive me. I'm not exactly sure where the lighter is in that car.
3. A lot of patience. Removing sections of the dashboard facing can be a time consuming ordeal the first time you do it. And be sure to label all the little screws and the holes the go in.

A service manual for your car can typically be found at a local auto parts shop, or I have even seen were you can order one from websites like Amazon.com. They go for about $15.

The biggest precaution to take is to disconnect your battery when working with anything electrical on your car and wait at least 10-15 minutes. There is always a chance of your air bag deploying when working with your electrical components if your battery is connect.

Good luck!