I put a new cigarette lighter in my 99 sl1 and got it working for the first time since I've owned it. The fuse, however, melts after I've had something plugged in for a while. Its actually melting the plastic covering one of the prongs on the end you handle. I touched the fuse and the fuse itself is getting extremely hot. The fuse is not popping but after the plastic melts the power to the cigarette lighter is very weak and cuts in and out. It's barely enought juice to run an led light. Nothing else in the car is effected and all the wiring and connections I can see are good. Any ideas on how to fix it or how to diagnose it?

 

did you use a saturn replacement lighter or a generic one?

 

I used a generic one.... I didn't think that would make a difference. Should I switch it to a Saturn? could i just use a higher rated fuse?

 

what kinda stuff are you plugging in? what's the current draw of those devices? Usually it is indicated what the power requirements are on the device.

I don't think the lighter make would matter -- but it definitely sounds like you're running a pretty high static current -- enough to melt the plastic on the fuse but not enough to burn it out.....