Loose cigarette lighter socket

[CTHuskyinMA]

Because I haven't installed an aux port yet, I picked up an FM wireless Bluetooth thing that has an lcd display on it. It plugs into the cigarette lighter. When I pull anything out of said cigarette lighter, the fit is so tight that it pulls the damn lighter receptacle out of the tray. Is there a way to lock this thing in place? I took the tray out to look at the back of the lighter socket and I think I have identified the problem. It looks like there used to be two plastics tab that would have retained the socket, but they may have sheared off cleanly. I tried pushing these in, but they wouldn't move.

Also, on the box of the wireless adapter, it says the power draw is 45ma working current and 25ma standby current. Would it be ok to leave it plugged in all the time? There is no power button and the lcd display stays on all the time. I can go two weeks without starting the car (that won't be the case now that the weather has turned, but it'll be days anyway.)

[MinneapolisJeff]

almost positive I've searched on this problem before, with similar posts asking for the same thing- a way to lock in the receptacle... I don't know if anyone has come up with a good solution

I'm interested in this as well since I have an XM Snap radio sitting in my receptacle and have the same issue pulling it out

[CTHuskyinMA]

Yeah, I've searched the three most common forums and haven't found an answer. I'm nearly sure it is the two tabs I'm pointing to in the photos. I'm thinking about taking it out again and trying to melt them inward to get them to lock into the metal slots. Not sure if a heat gun or soldering iron is the way to go. Every plug I put into the lighter socket is extremely tight and pulls it right out.

[StickMon]

Put a cable tie around it?
Maybe with some JB Weld.

[Eau_Rouge111]

Originally Posted by CTHuskyinMA

Because I haven't installed an aux port yet, I picked up an FM wireless Bluetooth thing that has an lcd display on it. It plugs into the cigarette lighter. When I pull anything out of said cigarette lighter, the fit is so tight that it pulls the damn lighter receptacle out of the tray. Is there a way to lock this thing in place? I took the tray out to look at the back of the lighter socket and I think I have identified the problem. It looks like there used to be two plastics tab that would have retained the socket, but they may have sheared off cleanly. I tried pushing these in, but they wouldn't move.

Also, on the box of the wireless adapter, it says the power draw is 45ma working current and 25ma standby current. Would it be ok to leave it plugged in all the time? There is no power button and the lcd display stays on all the time. I can go two weeks without starting the car (that won't be the case now that the weather has turned, but it'll be days anyway.)

You managed to find a brand that did not produce static noise? I tried 3 of them before giving up and just getting the aux port installed. Works like a charm now

[SaltyNC]

I'm with Stickmon on the JB Weld. You can mix up some JB, sand a little on the metal sleeve to roughen the surface, then place two little humps of JB just below the plastic sleeve. That should prevent it from coming out. Increase bump as needed.

Salty

[CTHuskyinMA]

Originally Posted by Eau_Rouge111

You managed to find a brand that did not produce static noise? I tried 3 of them before giving up and just getting the aux port installed. Works like a charm now

Yeah, actually not bad at all. I got one for me and one for my daughter's Jeep. She uses hers every day and loves it. I'm not using mine yet because the weather has been lousy again for the last week in MA, plus, I am hesitant to keep it plugged in with constant power and the display being on all the time. Did you get a Bluetooth adaptor to go in the aux port? I don't care about music as much as hands free for the phone.

I've never used JB Weld, but it sounds worth a try. I am skeptical because the wall thickness if the metal sleeve is like a knife. I feel it will shear a blob of epoxy off. I'm leaning toward the melting inward of the plastic into those slots.

[Eau_Rouge111]

Originally Posted by CTHuskyinMA

Yeah, actually not bad at all. I got one for me and one for my daughter's Jeep. She uses hers every day and loves it. I'm not using mine yet because the weather has been lousy again for the last week in MA, plus, I am hesitant to keep it plugged in with constant power and the display being on all the time. Did you get a Bluetooth adaptor to go in the aux port? I don't care about music as much as hands free for the phone.

I've never used JB Weld, but it sounds worth a try. I am skeptical because the wall thickness if the metal sleeve is like a knife. I feel it will shear a blob of epoxy off. I'm leaning toward the melting inward of the plastic into those slots.

No...this aux adapter per the pic...works great!

[StickMon]

Originally Posted by CTHuskyinMA

... I've never used JB Weld, but it sounds worth a try. I am skeptical because the wall thickness if the metal sleeve is like a knife. I feel it will shear a blob of epoxy off. I'm leaning toward the melting inward of the plastic into those slots.

J-B Weld is wicked. You can't shear it off, it's doped with iron dust. Hard as iron.
Like Salty said, rough up the surface a little bit so it gets a good bite.
It's a 12 hour cure, so it'll try and flow for quite a while. You may have to do one side at a time.
J-B Kwik may be a good alternative. Still pretty strong, but a 4 hour cure.
But my first try would be to just cinch a hefty cable tie around it, and add epoxy if the cable tie slips.