12V "cigarette lighter" outlet problem

[PriusRos]

The front 12V outlet on my 2010 had problems from the start. When I picked up my new car from the dealer and plugged in my Garmin, it didn't come on. I told the salesman I needed to get it fixed. I then tried the plug to my cell phone charger and it seemed to work. When I plugged the Garmin back in, it worked. We figured that the Garmin plug is very tight and wasn't seated properly.

Anyway, a couple of weeks ago the outlet went out completely while I was using an air compressor to fill the tires. I took it to the dealer (not the one where I bought it) and they said it was a fuse and replaced it.

Has anybody else been having problems with the 12V outlet? In particular, is seems that the Garmin and some other plugs fit very tightly and they're especially hard to pull out. I'm thinking that some damage can be caused just by the action of pushing and pulling the plugs in and out. Is there some way of mitigating this friction?

[Bobsprius]

Originally Posted by PriusRos

The front 12V outlet on my 2010 had problems from the start. When I picked up my new car from the dealer and plugged in my Garmin, it didn't come on. I told the salesman I needed to get it fixed. I then tried the plug to my cell phone charger and it seemed to work. When I plugged the Garmin back in, it worked. We figured that the Garmin plug is very tight and wasn't seated properly.

Anyway, a couple of weeks ago the outlet went out completely while I was using an air compressor to fill the tires. I took it to the dealer (not the one where I bought it) and they said it was a fuse and replaced it.

Has anybody else been having problems with the 12V outlet? In particular, is seems that the Garmin and some other plugs fit very tightly and they're especially hard to pull out. I'm thinking that some damage can be caused just by the action of pushing and pulling the plugs in and out. Is there some way of mitigating this friction?

PriusRos,

I have not used them often. But what I did in my last Hybrid was because of a similar issue in the Civic, was to get a spare power cord and leave it in place. I found that to be the easier solution than to keep plugging and unplugging the power cord. It seemed in the Civic that it would keep blowing the fuse most of the time. That got old.

As for your compressor it could be rated higher than the circuit or right at max, thus causing the fuse to blow in that case.

Bob

[JimN]

I plugged a Master Flow compressor in once. I got one or two tires topped off before the fuse blew. Compressor went to a friend with a Neon & Buick.

[KK6PD]

Just goes to show you can't pull 16 amps out of a 15 amp circuit!!!!

[PriusRos]

Originally Posted by Bobsprius

PriusRos,

I have not used them often. But what I did in my last Hybrid was because of a similar issue in the Civic, was to get a spare power cord and leave it in place. I found that to be the easier solution than to keep plugging and unplugging the power cord. It seemed in the Civic that it would keep blowing the fuse most of the time. That got old.

As for your compressor it could be rated higher than the circuit or right at max, thus causing the fuse to blow in that case.

Bob

The Toyota service department also said that the compressor might be rated higher than the outlet. But why would 12V outlets in cars be built to different standards and not all be designed to accommodate devices that are meant to be plugged into these outlets? I used the same compressor on my 2006 many times without incident.

[fuzzy1]

Originally Posted by PriusRos

... But why would 12V outlets in cars be built to different standards and not all be designed to accommodate devices that are meant to be plugged into these outlets? ...

I would re-word this as --
Q: Why do some products deliberately exceed the design standards for these outlets?
A: Because they can, without penalty.

[garygid]

What is the 2010 Prius 12v outlet's fuse rating?
Is that one fuse for both outlets, or two fuses, one for each outlet?

Also, what is the horn circuit fused for?
I have not found the fuse specified as serving the horn.
Thanks

[PriusRos]

Originally Posted by garygid

What is the 2010 Prius 12v outlet's fuse rating?
Is that one fuse for both outlets, or two fuses, one for each outlet?

Also, what is the horn circuit fused for?
I have not found the fuse specified as serving the horn.
Thanks

It must be a separate fuse for each outlet since the one in the center console was still working when the front one went out.

[RodJo]

Originally Posted by garygid

What is the 2010 Prius 12v outlet's fuse rating?
Is that one fuse for both outlets, or two fuses, one for each outlet?

Also, what is the horn circuit fused for?
I have not found the fuse specified as serving the horn.
Thanks

All the fuses are all listed in your manual. Just go to the index and look up "fuses" and it will direct you to page 462.

Once you take the time to turn to the fuse section, you should see that the 12V outlets are separately fused at 15A each (fuses 1 and 3 in the instrument panel) and the horn is listed on fuse 19 in the engine compartment, which is a 40A circuit.

[PriusRos]

Originally Posted by Bobsprius

PriusRos,

I have not used them often. But what I did in my last Hybrid was because of a similar issue in the Civic, was to get a spare power cord and leave it in place. I found that to be the easier solution than to keep plugging and unplugging the power cord. It seemed in the Civic that it would keep blowing the fuse most of the time. That got old.

As for your compressor it could be rated higher than the circuit or right at max, thus causing the fuse to blow in that case.

Bob

Today I looked at the cardboard box that the compressor came in, the user guide, and the device itself -- and unable to find anything about a rating. All it says is that it is 12V. This is a name brand - Sears Craftsman, so I would imagine it would meet standards. But what do I know?