[themattcole]

my 12V .... thing... crapped out. Suby dealership said it was the metal piece (terminology is TOTALLY slipping my mind tonight) and that didnt fix it. i talked to a mechanic that works at my fiancee's garage with me and he said to trace the wires back.

but...

what am i looking for and how do i go about tracing it back? sounds like a bitch...

 

[ztajjioui]

hmmm i'll ask some people i know and get back to you

 

[themattcole]

hmmm i'll ask some people i know and get back to you

thanks alot bro. wiring is not something i do... i prefer to work either under the hood or cosmetical junk.

 

[01rs25]

Have you checked the fuse, or if its plugged in?



Why not start simple?

 

[860rally]

^^exactly....99% of the time, it IS that simple

 

[themattcole]

it WAS blown. the mirrors werent working either (same fuse)

changed it. mirrors now work fine, lighter doesnt.

 

[01rs25]

So if it was blown, something caused that to happen...

I would pull the dash apart and make sure everything is in order.

From there I would continue down the wire to make sure there isn't a short.

 

[kainam00]

I *just* fixed the same thing on my car. There is a little wire (made out of very soft metal, almost like sawder) in the 12V unit itself that is designed to melt if there is excessive heat.

You need to take the piece apart (undo two screws in the arm-rest to take the e-brake surround out, then take the shifter surround out, and you will be able to pop the plastic piece with the 12v - it goes around the radio and HVAC as well - right out). Once you have it, get rid of the old wire and either put a piece of wire there or a piece of sawder. I recommend the latter so it preserves at least some of the original design/intent.