12V lighter outlet doesn't charge

J312 · 11-25-2008, 01:17 AM

Both of my 12V lighters power outlets will not charge my portable GPS. It works in my other car. The lighter outlet does heat up for lighting cigarettes though so I know the fuse is still good. Any ideas?

ORIGIN M. · 11-25-2008, 02:18 AM

Yeah, hard wire it instead.

1Ronnie · 11-25-2008, 10:12 AM

If there's enough amps to heat the lighter, there's enough to run a GPS. I wonder if the charger is not locking down into the socket well enough. There should be a charging display on the GPS in some form or other.Have you tried pushing the charger down hard while watching. If that works yoy may have to wedge the charger in so it stays down.

If not .. then I'm not sure.

Ettore · 11-25-2008, 12:33 PM

BMW Service told me that they are actually selling some "adapters" for this because they have had a lot of cases like this - "even an iPod can burn the fuse"!!!

J312 · 11-25-2008, 12:34 PM

I stuck it in pretty good. Even rotated it a bit to make sure I had contact. The GPS still doesn't show a charging status. I'll keep trying. Thanks.

bigmicj · 11-25-2008, 12:49 PM

You've got to fiddle with it unfortunately. If you pick up one of those plug in adapters from radio shack it will work much better.

I have the BMW flashlight in the rear lighter plug and it won't charge unless I pull it slightly out and twirl it. It's pretty lame.

11-25-2008, 01:17 AM	#1
J312 Monster of the Midway 13 Rep 112 Posts Drives: 128i Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	12V lighter outlet doesn't charge Both of my 12V lighters power outlets will not charge my portable GPS. It works in my other car. The lighter outlet does heat up for lighting cigarettes though so I know the fuse is still good. Any ideas?
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11-25-2008, 02:18 AM	#2
ORIGIN M. Banned 3160 Rep 9,134 Posts Drives: ///M Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Northern Hemisphere iTrader: (0)	Yeah, hard wire it instead.
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11-25-2008, 10:12 AM	#3
1Ronnie Ronnie 15 Rep 556 Posts Drives: '08 Sedona 128i Join Date: May 2008 Location: Vancouver, BC iTrader: (0)	If there's enough amps to heat the lighter, there's enough to run a GPS. I wonder if the charger is not locking down into the socket well enough. There should be a charging display on the GPS in some form or other.Have you tried pushing the charger down hard while watching. If that works yoy may have to wedge the charger in so it stays down. If not .. then I'm not sure. __________________ "Lucy" 128i / Sedona Red / Coral Red / Premium Package / Premium Sound
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11-25-2008, 12:33 PM	#4
Ettore New Member 0 Rep 5 Posts Drives: 2017 BMW M240i Convertible Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: West Palm Beach, FL iTrader: (0)	BMW Service told me that they are actually selling some "adapters" for this because they have had a lot of cases like this - "even an iPod can burn the fuse"!!! __________________ 2008 BMW 135i/BSM/SportPkg/PremiumPkg 2007 AUDI Q7 4.2/Premium/Phantom Black
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11-25-2008, 12:34 PM	#5
J312 Monster of the Midway 13 Rep 112 Posts Drives: 128i Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	Not charging I stuck it in pretty good. Even rotated it a bit to make sure I had contact. The GPS still doesn't show a charging status. I'll keep trying. Thanks.
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11-25-2008, 12:49 PM	#6
bigmicj Second Lieutenant 39 Rep 235 Posts Drives: 128i + M240iX Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: LaLaLand iTrader: (0)	You've got to fiddle with it unfortunately. If you pick up one of those plug in adapters from radio shack it will work much better. I have the BMW flashlight in the rear lighter plug and it won't charge unless I pull it slightly out and twirl it. It's pretty lame.
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