emergency flashers, cigarette lighter

Got a 94 Explorer. My emergency flashers stopped working. checked fuses and they are good. couldnt' get the back lenses off, was afraid I'd break them. then, just last week, seems like my cigarette lighter has a short. I use my Explorer to deliver mail 1 day a week and when I went to plug in the yellow flashing light, it didn't work. Fuse was blown. Replaced it, plugged the light in again, and the fuse blew again. What up?

Any help on either problem would be much appreciated.

Bill G.

Can you give us the cavity number and amp rating for the fuse that blows? My information shows a circuit breaker for the cig-liter, if there is a problem from the breaker to the liter, it should just trip the breaker? The b+ going to the breaker may supply several systems, a problem with one of the other systems might cause problems with everything on that circuit.

Checking the fuses is good. Did you check for voltage where the fuse plugs in? Some systems are hot all the time, some go hot when you turn on the key.

The plug on your yellow light that goes into cigarette light is causing the short. The plastic around the center is large and when you insert into lighter it goes in at an angle and will short and blow fuse. 2 solutions, 1) after you plug it and it'll probably blow fuse, replace fuse and don't remove plug or 2) sand down the plastic around center pin to a smaller diameter. I had similar problem on a 92 and it blew the main fuse under hood. I opted for option 2.

Thanks for the responses. I see I wasn't clear on my explanation. The fuse within the plug itself blows, not the the fuse in the fuse box of the car.

Also, still can't figure out why my emergency flashers/hazards aren't working. The fuses and bulbs are all good. Turn signals work but not the hazards lights so I wouldn't think it's the flasher component but I guess I should change it anyway.

Thanks again for your help.

Bill G.

I'm not sure if your '94 has the electronic flasher module, or if it has a discrete flasher. Back when discrete mechanical flashers were used, often the hazard lights were on a separate flasher from the turn signals.

Also, you could have a problem with the multifunction switch causing the hazards to not work.

You can probably find the wiring diagram for the hazard lights in the Repair Information section on Autozone's website.

As for the fuse in the plug for your light going open circuit, that would be due to a problem in the light rather than a problem with the cigarette lighter or circuit. What size fuse is in the plug, and are you sure it's the correct size for the light? If you are sure it's the correct fuse rating, then you might have a problem with the motor for the rotation being shorted or rotating mechanism being jammed and overloading the circuit.

-Rod