I'm probably in competition here for the most picayune problem, but here goes...

I just bought a '92 400E. The cigarette lighter was missing. More specifically, the plug-in part of the lighter was missing. The socket itself seemed/seems fine.

I bought a cigarette lighter, MB part # 000-825-09-51, from thebenzbin.com, because I couldn't find a lighter for a 400E at FastLane or PartsShop.

I now wonder if I got the right part. The lighter fits, but but when I press it in to the deeper position to begin heating up, the unit does not stay inserted, instead popping right back to the default position. If I hold it in manually for few minutes, it does not get hot. Also, a ring of bare, silver-colored metal is visible around the lighter when it is inserted, which doesn't seem up to par for MB fit and finish.

Can anyone tell me whether I ordered the right part?


Thanks,

Ross

And you're sure you have power to the cigarette lighter? Did you check the fuses? Does the light in the ashtray work?

Good questions, David.

I didn't know there was a light in the ashtray.

After more fiddling, I believe I am getting power to the lighter. The lighter does seem to get hot when I turn the key to position 1 and manually hold the lighter at the deeper, "heating" position.

Still, however, the lighter will not stay in and heat on its own. I'm left thinking either that I got the wrong part or that the lighter socket is broken, perhaps through prolonged use of lighter-powered cell phone by a previous owner.

If anyone can confirm the proper part number, I'd appreciate it.

Thanks,

Ross

Ok, so you know the lighter gets power when you hold down the cig lighter.

So the problem is the holding mechanism that holds it in until it is hot.
I guess that narrows it down to either the cig lighter is faulty or the female part is faulty.

Do you have access to another MB cig lighter (friend or something?) that you could test to see which is the problem. That would help to determine if you need a new 'female' part.