Cig. Lighter questions?

[ProStreet83C10]

Hey guys, so my C10 i believe never had a cig lighter in it as it has a "plug" with red paint over it where the cig lighter is next to the ash tray. Anyway, i have a Casco full lighter replacement on the way, details below.

38-5016 1 LIGHTER SOCKET & RETAINR-CASCO
38-5012 1 CIGARETTE LIGHTER-W/KNOB

Anyway, beyond install my next main question is wiring, IF my truck didnt ever have a lighter in it, will i have a wiring pigtail anywhere for a lighter?

IF not, how do i go abut wiring this up and will i need to wire it through my fuse box or just hard wire it to existing wires?

Lastly, any first hand advice on this is greatly appreciated, wiring is NOT my strong point!!!!!

[Your41Plague12]

You can just hardwire it in. It's only one or two wires, if I remember correctly. The truck is 150 miles from me or I'd look for you.

[78 Big10 454]

I've had to swap out my lighter a couple of times using a Casco unit. Odds are, if the truck didn't come from the factory with a lighter, I seriously doubt that you'd have an unused pigtail waiting for you under the dash. All you need is one wire - a hot lead from your fuse block to the back of the lighter - and you're good to go. The unit is grounded by the ashtray. Hope this helps.

[Goldfinger]

Mine only uses one wire for + at the end of the cig lighter. the rest is grounded through the dash.

[ProStreet83C10]

ok sweet that makes me feel better about it!!!

[78 Chevyrado]

IIRC correctly, my stock lighter is on the same fuse as the courtesy lights.

[ProStreet83C10]

ok....im completely at a loss now, i got my Casco lighter assembly on Sat and when i went to put it in yesterday the lighter socket diameter is larger than the diameter of the hole next to my ashtray. what the heII is going on with this and why wont it fit, its for an 81-87 GM pickup......it wont go in from the front side OR back side, wont even ATTEMPT to fit in the hole.

[Your41Plague12]

Part of it unscrews if I remember right, and you put the back piece behind the hole and the front piece on the front. Hard to explain, but that's how I did it if I remember.

[ProStreet83C10]

but it looks like one solid unit???

[J Knight]

Originally Posted by Your41Plague12

Part of it unscrews if I remember right, and you put the back piece behind the hole and the front piece on the front. Hard to explain, but that's how I did it if I remember.

Thats right, it has inner and outer pieces.

[Your41Plague12]

OP, post some pics of what you have. Maybe they gave you the wrong one. I just got a universal one and it fit just like the original did.

[ProStreet83C10]

ok i will tomorrow im goin to bed now...thanks so far guys! hows it come apart by the way, i need to know where it screws/unscrews

[Your41Plague12]

The housing itself should be two pieces, separate from the lighter. It should unscrew, and you'll see how it goes. The back part goes behind the hole in the ashtray and the front goes on the front part of the hole. Then wire the housing up and stick the lighter in. Light em' up!

[ProStreet83C10]

the only thing i see to unscrew is a stud in the back with a small nut.....other than that the housing looks completely solid and one piece....

[ProStreet83C10]

no one else??

[ProStreet83C10]

ok guys, a quick google search shows how the lighter housing and retainer comes apart, bt now, theres a male spade on the retainer and a copper threaded shaft with small nut directly in back side of housing, is that for a power and ground wire? IIRC you guys said the lighter is grounded through the ash tray, is that what the spade does, rest on the metal? also, i need to know what the copper color threaded shaft is on the direct back center of the housing.

[hatzie]

The spade on the housing is a ground lug in case you're mounting in a plastic panel.
The stud on the end is the + connection. It allows you to use a ring terminal if you don't trust the press on lighter terminal.

[J Knight]

Post a pic of what you have. Maybe it didnt come with both pieces.

[ProStreet83C10]

no it did because i can push the element in and it locks in until i pull it out, so their all there, and the outer "tin" looking piece is there, also Hatzie, what "push on" terminal are you speaking of??????

OH,. and i forgot to mention, if i tie this into an exsisting fuse on fuse block, what fuse do you guys recc. i tie into?

[79gmcc15]

if it was me, I would splice into the radio's hot wire if you have a aftermarket radio..