Hi all:

Replacing the center dash trim piece on my 79 SC. I have the fog and defrost switches, radio and vent controls out. All that is left is to remove the lighter.

Can anyone help me with this last piece of the puzzle, perhaps with some photos to help with the process?

Thanks much!!!

Steve

 

in the old days the lighter had a "barrel" over the entire back that unscrewed.. not sure on the SC - do you have the manual?

I can check and see what it says of my 86' OH wait I dont have a lighter in the dash - hmmmm

manual doesnt say>?

 

I'd think it is a good chance there is a screw=on nut on the backside, but then again, look at how the gauges go in. Can you get your dental mirror up behind thru the radio hole to see?

 

I had to redo my lighter when i got my 78 as i needed a socket for my cell phone charger .. it indeed fastens from behind and requires the fresh air box to come out the front .. at least that is how i did it . took the oportunity to clean up adjust and lubricate the air box controls and bowden cables.

 

Once you remove the trunk side cardboard, you can reach in around the fresh air assy if you are really talented. Have somebody hold the inside portion still- I use expanding snap ring pliers to do it - while you screw the back off.
There should be one ground connector and one single pole hot wire attached to it.
Been a while but you may also be able to pull the speedo and reach in through the hole to get to it.
As always, disconnect the battery before anything.

 

And by the way, don't lose the lighter. Stupid thing cost me maybe $50 to replace it!!

 

Thanks to all for your helpful input and comments!! Steve

 

Thanks to all for your helpful input and comments!! Steve

 

+1

 

yeah this is how I started .. fixing my lighter .. and what i ended up with ..

 

Clive, that's what my mess looks like. Thanks for your help and photos. The hard part now is getting the new center dash trim piece on OVER the heater/vent control panel which we were able to loosen by removing the 10 mm under the controls. However the panel does not come all the way out from the dash. Any ideas on how to get the new dash piece on OVER the vent panel?

Steve G

 

Might I recommend you update it to an auxiliary power one that has the little plastic cover to conceal it like are in the backs of SUVs? Never know when a phone/camera/GPS/or whatever could use a charge. Just my $.02.

 

not sure specifically what you are talking about but mine went back together with a bit of fidling. Maybe a pic would help ?

 

I guess I'm late to the party! Yes, much tear out required to get to something simple like that. Consider putting in a new two stage fog light switch while things are torn apart. (Adds a rear fog capability). For the air boxes consider replacing the sealing foam because it's probably rotten by now.

 

I added a second ciggy socket to the bottom of the center console boot. I use that one primarily to run the cell phone charger, and the main socket is now my backup. The radar detector is hard wired, and I have an aux 12v connection under the dash. I don't like clutter, so I rarely use the factory cig socket.