Needed-shade tree mechanic

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Grandad plugged a light into the cigerette lighter socket of his 82 Chev. Impala and blew something out. Can't find a fuse for lighter socket, so must be a fuseable link. Horn is out too. Anybody know where the link is located? This is not really a countrysides type question, but I like to ask where I might get an answer! Thanks, Don

-- Don (dairyagri@yahoo.com), September 12, 2000

Answers

I'm not sure about the auto in question, but some of the older Chevys had a horn fuse on the firewall under the hood. Also some fuses will not appear burned, but will get so hot that the solder of the end caps will melt out thus creating a "no go" situation.

I will try to check back here before I go to work at the library today to see if the problem has been solved. If not, let me know here and I can look in an auto manual for that particular auto.

-- Notforprint (Not@thekeyboard.com), September 12, 2000.


I'd say it is most likely a fuse and not a fuseable link. It may say "accessories" or "acc" or simular rather than lighter and horn. If I am not mistaken, you probably have those little plastic fuses that plug in rather than glass fuses. Sometimes the plastic gets cloudy so burnt out filament doesnt show. You do have to pull these plastic fuses to determine if they are burnt. If no good label/manual to go by, just pull, examine, and replace all the fuses one by one so you get right size back in right slot. Replace only with same size fuse or what manual says is right size fuse if you find a burnt one.

-- Hermit John (ozarkhermit@pleasedontspamme.com), September 12, 2000.

Have a 85 manual that says the horn is protected by a link 2 sizes smaller at the relay. I didn't see the relay anywhere, but was near 100 degrees Sunday afternoon when I was bent into a funny shape trying to see under there, so may have missed something. 82's may be different. Thanks for any input, Don

-- Don (dairyagri@yahoo.com), September 12, 2000.

My guess would be a fuse. If I recall correctly many times the horn and the lighter are on the same fuse. The easist way to check a fuse is with a test light. Find your fuse-box and leave all fuses in place. Find a good ground and attach gator clip of test light, put key in the run postion (no need to start engine) touch the pointed end of the test light to each metal end of the fuse if your test light lights up on both ends of the fuse the fuse is good if only one end lights the fuse is bad if niether ends light your ground for your test light is not good or you do not have the key in the run position. On the older glass type fuses the metal end of the fuse is quite visible, on the new plastic type fuses you will see a small hole on either side (end) the fuse stick the pointed end of the test light in the hole to make contact. If unsure which fuse is the one for the lighter just check tem all. Good Luck!!!

-- Mark (deadgoatman@webtv.net), September 12, 2000.

Don Those circuits are usually fused on G.M. products,check the fuses with a test light and you should find the bad one. If a fuselink was burned out you would lose more than horn and lighter........JAY

-- JAY (jay@townsqr.com), September 12, 2000.


The Chilton's Auto Manual covering the '82 Impala states that the horn is on a fusible link located in the engine compartment.

-- Notforprint (Not@thekeyboard.com), September 12, 2000.

Hubby said the tail lights may also be out fuse boxes are either under the hood or under the dash If its not a link .

-- Patty Gamble (fodfarms@slic.com), September 12, 2000.

When the lighter blows in my '90 s10 blazer, it takes out horn, radio, rear hatch release and taillights. My shadetree told me Chevy sometimes ties them all into a 15 to 20 amp accesory fuse. This may be the case with your Impala

-- Jay Blair (jayblair678@yahoo.com), September 13, 2000.

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