Howdy everyone,

For Christmas I received a air freshener that plugs into the cigarette lighter for power, and until trying to install it I had never really tested its functionality. As I understand it, I'm supposed to push on the black button and it'll stick down and then pop up when it is hot enough, and that's how I remove it for access to plug in electrical adapters?

The button only depresses a very little and doesn't stay down and I don't think it's heating up at all. The lighter is the type in the flip down ash tray, W123 78 280E. Any help at cracking the case so I can use electric accessories would be very appreciated. Thanks

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Simon
78 280E "Sally" 130k

Hi DJ , you can remove the ashtray from the car and try getting a pair of pliers on the lighter to try pulling it out , it should come out whether it's working or not . The euro lighter in our cars is alittle bigger in diameter than NA cars and some plugs won't operate properly . I went to Radioshack and bought a 3 outlet power source and hooked it to an always-hot lead under the dash , I use it to power my cell charger and my radar detector . That way you don't have a cord in the way of the radio or shifter .

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Democracy dies in darkness, you have to kick at the darkness till it bleeds daylight

I've been doing a little more research, so I thought I'd add to my story.

Out of curiosity of what replacement parts could be ordered to try and fix the problem, I looked on FastLane. From some of the photos there, I have now decided that the lighter is stuck in the down position, and is never warming up so that it pops up.

What this means is that I am unable to pull it out with pliers. I'm not sure if this means that there's something wrong with the lighter assembly or whatever it's making contact with in the car. I'm also not sure how to "open up" the lighter assembly to examine it, it looks like the casing isn't easily removed.

Any information or suggestions that anyone can add would be great, thanks again

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Simon
78 280E "Sally" 130k