The terminal on the back of my cigarette lighter broke off, so it doesn't work. I use it for plugging things into when we're on the road.

Does the sleeve just unscrew from the back?

Does anyone sell replacements? I don't see them listed in OPGI, Year One (73 up) or Fusick. Did Olds use Casco and Rochester like Pontiac, or only one type? Does anyopne have a used one for sale?

 

You should be able to find one at about any parts store and not have to fool with the specialty vendors. Odds are you'd get the same part the parts store has and pay three times as much for it. Ebay is also an option, but you may pay out the wazoo for one there depending on how it's advertised (GTO! SS396! 442! Stage I! Keep your GM muscle car all GM! are all guaranteed to bring out the stupid money from people who don't know about the supplier relationships GM had).

Just about all GM Divisions used both CasCo and Rochester elements, and I've never seen any rhyme or reason as to what car got what. Most Chevy A-bodies got Rochester, the big cars got CasCo. Likewise Olds used both interchangeably. Most 67-later Pontiacs I've seen used Rochester across the board except some GrandVilles with rear seat lighters had CasCo in that location.

You may possibly be able to find a right-angle terminal to replace your broken one and keep your original lighter well. Otherwise, the complete well assembly can be replaced. Again, some snap in from the front, others screw into the outer sleeve. Simple job at any rate.

Go ahead and get a new element while you're into it. Element screws out of the lighter **** and is a simple replacement. I guess you can still find them, since new cars rarely have lighters any more. A cigarette lighter used to be one of them options that made a car a little more "deLuxe".

 

My element works, although I don't smoke and no one smokes ever in my car, so that is not an issue. I just need the housing. The terminal on the back is just a round stud and the orange wire has a round end to fit over the stud. Are you saying that stud on the back is replaceable?

I have been looking on Ebay for a while and haven't seen one yet, and none of the aftermarket companies I have catalogs for list them for 68-72. If the housing is the same for other GM A bodies, I'll try there.

 

Many aftermarket ones have a 1/4" flat quick connect terminal, so watch out for what you get...

 

Which lighter do you have? Rochester or CasCo?

Odd to hear of the threaded stud breaking off. Most I've seen with the stud also have a right angle flat male terminal that attaches to the stud with a nut and then the female connector slides onto that.

Your best bet is a new well.

Whether you smoke or not, a fresh, unused lighter element is one of them things that's just nice to have. I generally replace elements and wells early in ownership of a car for two reasons- one is cosmetic/aesthetic (you get rid of any residual charred odor) and two is lighters have been known to set cars afire. Ya get one gummed up or corroded from use and the element gets pushed in, if it heats up and then can't pop out because it's stuck, you may have a mess.

Plus it has come in handy when someone tries to light up. Tell 'em it's an expensive NOS piece and ask if they want to buy you another new one, because once it's used, it's not new and unused anymore.

 

mine broke off too , also the lighter and socket that it goes in the dash fell out one day.... is there some kind of retaining ring that holds the socket in place?

 

I have not pulled mine out of the car yet, so I'm not sure what brand. My element looks like it was rarely used, or maybe it was replaced. I only want it for accessory plug ins. It used to work until the round stud broke off the back. I don't know if it also has a flat terminal, but I'll have to remove it to see. I just haven't seen any new or used for sale, but I haven't checked Pontiac, Buick or Chevy Ebay.

 

Easy way to tell- CasCo lighters push in thru their outer ring to expose and connect the element to 12v. They're "spring loaded" for lack of a better term.

Rochesters have a bright metal sleeve that covers the element. Element does not move in and out of the lighter. The whole assembly moves in the lighter well.

Rochesters also seem to be more prone to getting stuck in the well and not popping out.

 

I've got several of the original sockets. You guys that need them, give me your address & I'll get a nice socket on the way to you. When you get them, send me some money if you want. Check, cash, money order or paypal to scottawinn@sbcglobal.net
Scott Winn
2428 Tulip Drive South
Indianapolis, In. 46227
c. 317-727-7041

 

so what holds the socket onto the dash ? like I said mine fell out , and I never figured out what held it in... some kind of snap-ring ? the element on the end of the wire either broke or melted also.

 

Here is a link to pictures of an exploded view of a lighter socket. Very simple once you see it. The outer bezel slips over some tabs in the socket & that(bezel) is what you see when the dash is installed. The sleeve then screws onto the socket & that is what holds it in the dash.
Then you plug in the orange wire & you are done.
http://s856.photobucket.com/albums/a...ile%20Uploads/

 

cool , thx .... I beleive there is something missing on mine according to your link , ill have to search through my bag of misfit car parts and see if I can find anything.

 

Hey scott, you have 39 pages of "Mobile Uploads" (I know this is an old post).

Any chance you remember where in the pack the exploded view of a lighter socket is?
Thx

 

Here are some updated ones.

 

Thank you!
Very helpful - now I can dig in there and figure out why it isn't working....

 

"Hyundai is killing off the stubbornly persistent cigarette lighter socket"

http://qz.com/130872/hyundai-is-kill...ighter-socket/

 

Hope some one sees this lol.
So, i want a working lighter in my car...i like fire what can i say...but i took the stereo out, removed the ashtray try, removed to screws to nothing it looks like, reached up behind the lighter, twisted, pulled...and nothing. I cant get the damn thing out. Its 90 degrees in my garage so im done for now. But anybody know how to get it out? And what color is the orginal wire leading to the lighter...hope its orange, cause there is a random orange wire not connected to anything right behind it.
Any help would be appreciated.
Also, i love this site.
Danny

 

Danny,
You'll need to hold the inside of the lighter socket still while turning the back of the socket in the regular lefty loosey fashion. Sometimes they are a bit corroded & are stubborn to start turning or the inside of the socket will spin with the nut. Kind of hard to describe but once you get it out & see it, it makes perfect sense. And yes, the orange wire is the one you want. It had an insulated female end on it from the factory & slips over the male tab on the back of the lighter.

 

Thanks. Ill give it another try tomorrow. Lol i guess i could take the new one out of the package and see what you're talking about eh?