to remove the cigarette lighter socket without taking out the center console? I read somewhere that it just pries out, but I can't find the reference and don't want to go gouging, scrapping something or otherwise screwing it up. So, I thought I'd ask...
I highly doubt it. Having just had the center console torn apart to replace the shifter assembly, it is kinda snapped in there pretty good. Honestly, it only takes about 15 minutes to lift the center console enough to remove the socket, so..... why not just go about it the safe way and eliminate the hazard of breaking things?
Disconnect the wiring to it, fill it with Bondo [or similar], sand it down and paint it whatever color floats your boat. No one will ever know it disappeared...except ME [your ever-faithful, Dragon-slayer, Cigar Salon guy]!:ihih:
Any time I try to take out my phone charger it comes out. I have to hold it down to keep it from coming out
You can pry it up carefully, but you'll risk damaging the edge of the console plastic, and it may become like MCS02's where it won't stay in place. Mine had also ended up that way from the wear and tear of inserting and pulling out USB charger plugs. For reference, you can see the securing tabs at the top and bottom of #2. Kinda hard to access those tabs from above to release them.
Actually, I'm trying to fix the cigar lighter. Much easier than trying to light a cigar with the top down. My lighter will not stay down and the lighter takes much longer to heat up when held down manually. Otherwise, the lighter socket works for plug in accessories. Is it possible to bend the existing restraints? BTW, I am extremely paranoid about electrical fires...caused by defective cigarette lighters. BTDT...a couple of times (not in a MINI). It's not fun. I can't imagine how much havoc it would cause in a MINI computer system....
Maybe you need to replace the lighter itself (item #3 in the diagram). Do you mean the whole lighter wants to pop out, or just the button doesn't catch?
It doesn't catch. It is the original lighter and is unused. I just want it to pop-up by itself, without holding it down.
I'm not a smoker and never used the lighter, but I'd say that yours is faulty. The Owner's Manual says, "Press the cigarette lighter in. Remove as soon as the lighter jumps back out.". A bit vague, but I interpret that to mean you press it once, and it will stay in and pop back out by itself.
Maybe it's time to get a cool butane torch style lighter..... Some things are just not worth trying to fix...heck...it might never have worked right... One idea for you... If it works OK for plug in stuff... I guessing the socket might be filthy from ash... Try cleaning it up...and maybe trying a different lighter thinggy...you should just press it in...and a clicks and pops out when hot...
P.S. My wife's dad died if lung Cancer..smoked cigars...so don't think you are safe cause you use cigars..have to say this cause he always only cigarette smokers died of lung cancer... Know folks tell you everyday to quit, so not gonna say it...but it put out family through hell cause a "choice" he made to light up...
Pff, my lighter socket literally fell out one day when I pulled the cigarette lighter out. Haven't used it more than a couple of times. Also, +1 to the butane lighter, easier to light when driving... I'm a fairly heavy smoker (just not around my son ), and I can tell anyone here who says smoking's bad for you, it's a heck of a lot harder to quit than it is to start smoking... I've tried quitting cold-turkey 6 times, from a 2-pack a day smoker. It's hard... very very hard. But hey, at least I'm down to 3/4th of a pack a day. It's worth trying! Cigars aren't great either haha. ---------- [I hadn't noticed this thread was over a month old.. sorry about that]
Thanks for all the replies. I used my extreme mechanical ability and put my finger in the socket, pressed the side, and it slid right out. Disconnected the fitting, connected the fitting to the new socket and slid it right back in. It was really a 2 minute job...