Brian Leduc

I recently purchased a '90 C2 Coupe. As this is my first Porsche (and my first post to the 964 forum), I will likely have a few questions, but here's the first:

The cigarette lighter socket is too large for use with the cigarette lighter plug on my Valentine One as well as me cell phone cord (Sprint PCS). The plugs will not stay in securely, and make intermittent contact.

One can't take to the highways these days without radar protection, so I really want to find a solution.

I assume that the lighter in the car is stock, but as the 3rd owner, I can't be 100% sure.

I asked my dealer who owns an older 911, and he said he does not have that problem with his car.

Is this anything anyone else has noticed and/or resolved?

I did a search of the 964 forum for "cigarette lighter" and only find the post relating to the lighter itself not staying in when pushed.

Years ago, I recall having a small plastic device that would allow plugs to stay secure in largish sockets, but that is long gone. I find no mention of any adapters in the Radio Shack catalogs.

Thanks in advance.

Brian Leduc

horst

That cigarette lighter socket is correct. You will need the thin plastic shell adapter for your plug. The V-1 comes with another cord, made to hard wire into the car. Why not do that, instead? Makes for a much tider installation, and you don't have that stupid coiled cord in your way when you mess with the radio...Take out the little plastic cover for the defroster vent at the foot of the widscreen, and run the wire under that.

Brian Leduc

Thanks Horst.

I do plan to eventually go the hard-wired route, but that was left in my previous car, which I sold for the C2. I need to order a new one from Valentine.

That still leaves the problem of the cell phone cord. I guess I will try to search a bit harder for a source for the adapter device.

Best Regards,

Brian

horst

I wish I had a digital Cam, but In my car, I have a three plug receptical that I got at Radio Shack, that fits perfectly between the ashtray and the center console. I have hard-wired this in to the electrical system, and it will support any series of gizmoes you want. Then turn some plugs out of something like Delerin, and boil them in Black Rit Dye for a while, and you have very nice blanking plugs for the three recepticals, when not in use.

MikeF

You can hardwire directly from the interior light located between the visors. I just soldered the two leads from a 12" piece of telephone cord and hang my V1 right next to the rear-view mirror. The only downside is that it is not a Switched receptacle so you have to remember to turn off the V1 when exiting the car. It's nearly invisible from outside of the car and there's no curly cable hanging down. Just a thought.

horst

Mike, Brian has a coupe. There is no light between the visors. He is better off finding a switched power source under the dash like I did. No muss, no fuss, and the thing goes off when you shut her down.

horst

Almost forgot: putting the thing up high serves almost no advantage. When the suction cups give up the thing falls down and smashes whatever is beneath it. If it is mounted low, peeking between the windhield wipers, there is no measurable loss of range, and when it does fall, it only falls an inch or two.

Brian Leduc

Thanks for all the replies thus far.

I made a bit or progress yesterday. Although it was not listed in my 2000 Radio Shack catalog, my local store has a US/European 12Vdc cigarette lighter adapter that has the magic plastic ring to allow use in the larger cigarette lighters, as in the C2.

And, the ring is removeable. I was able to use the adapter ring with my cell phone cord. I think it was less than $5. A lot of money for a plastic ring, but it does work perfectly with the cell phone and a couple other things I tried.

Unfortunately, it does NOT fit on the V1 plug, which appears to be just slightly too big. I bit the bullet and ordered up a new V1 direct power jack, and will go that route.

And lastly, I found the following page while doing a google search:
http://www.batteryholders.com/auto.shtml

I now have a source for the larger euro plugs, should the need arrise.

Best Regards,

Brian Leduc

richard glickel

Brian,

$5? This should have been included with your Valentine, I know that it came with teh Escort a few years ago. Call Valentine and maybe they'll send it to you for free.

Anyway, the plastic sleeve thingy does work.

Happy Holidays.

Richard
'87 Carrera 3.6L

brs8v

Glad I found this thread. I have a '97 993 and have the same issue with my Garmin adapter - fits perfectly in my other car, an '04 BMW E46. Will try to find the adapter with the plastic ring.

993forjj

I was unable to find any type of sleeve, but bought a product called Plasti Dip. I dipped a charger male end into this product to build up a durable coating of plastic and it now fits snug into the cigarette lighter socket. I covered the metal contacts on the tip and sides with tape while dipping. Then cut the plastic around the tape to remove it once the plastic was dry. I bought Plasti Dip at Lowes or Home Depot, forget which. I also used it to put a plastic sleeve on an old pair of plyers. Neat stuff.
I also read about heat shrink tube, but had a tough time finding 1 inch tube.

Zingari

Another option is to tape a match to the plug. That will hold it in no problem and allow you to still use it in other cars with the smaller sockets

HalV

I found this or this. No affiliation and I have not tried either one.

Hal