Car cigarette lighter fuse, where to find it, which symbol is it, how to replace it and which fuse size (rating) to use?

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Why is the cigarette lighter fuse the one to check most often?

The cigarette lighter socket has so many uses, and we all do plug in it all kinds of chargers and power supplies for electronic gadgets like DVD readers, dashcams, even 12V coffee makers and fridges!
No doubt then its fuse could be the one to be blown up most often, or even the only one ever to be blown, since it doesn't protect a built-in car equipment, rather external devices.
This is how you can find the cigarette lighter fuse and replace it safely without any risk to your car wires and vehicle.
DISCLAIMER:
Our pictorials are of informative nature and do illustrate works carried out by ourselves at our own premises for our own use and satisfaction.
Readers who envisage to carry out similar works inspired by the below method shall do this at their own risks and liability.
The dashcam added to this vehicle can only be fed from the cigarette lighter socket:

Location and symbol of the cigarette lighter fuse 

The cigarette lighter fuse is found within the fuse box of your car and the latter's location depends on each vehicle, but it is for sure inside your car and not in the engine compartment.
Fuse boxes are always somewhere underneath or within the dashboard and can be accessed by removing a plastic panel.
On this Renault Trafic 2 van (also Opel Vivaro), the coffee cup holder has to be pulled out of the dashboard for reaching the fuses:
This access trap built in the car dashboard of the Dacia vehicles, allows to access the fuses:
On Peugeot vehicles, you need to pulll out the entire panel underneath the steering wheel:
Fuse box on Renault / Opel vans:
Fuse box on Dacia vehicles:
Fuse box on Peugeot vehicles, found deep underneath the dashboard, behind the wire harnesses:

How to identify the cigarette lighter fuse symbol?

The fuse diagram of the vehicle can be found in any of:
  • The back side of the fuse cover (Renault, Dacia)
  • The user manual of your vehicle (Peugeot, Citroën, DS)
For the latter, just go to the index, search for "fuses" and find the page.

If symbols are used in the fuse diagram, then look for the one showing a cigarette with smoke (first from up / left corner in the below Renault diagram, similar on all cars using pictograms):
Example of a Renault fuse diagram using symbols for fuse identification
Dacia fuse diagram using symbols for fuse identification:

How to check the cigarette lighter fuse?

Proceed as follows:​
  1. Pull it out with the specific tool found attached to the fuse box cover panel
  2. Inspect it if blown: simply look at the internal U shaped metal conductor inside, and check if interrupted (blown) or continuous (normal).

Replacing the cigarette lighter fuse

You need to use a fuse:
  • Of the same size, because there are two different sizes, large and small
  • Of the same rating meaning replace a 10A fuse with a 10A fuse, etc.​

Cigarette lighter fuses are usually 15A or more, but never exceed the existing fuse, this endangers the wiring of your car. Never fit wires or any metallic object instead of the fuse, you could start an uncontrollable fire!

See our other car electrical tips:

Buy your fuses and fuse puller or tester here:

And our comprehensive tutorials for car maintenance: