Just installed a cigarette lighter into my car (12v socket). I've been a bit of a bodge and spliced a wire from the headunit power wires but its the only way i could access any wires easily.

Just to check, this will be safe right? or am i going to have overheating problems with the 12v socket, because it was 4 pounds of ebay and not fused!

Anyways the installs really easy and looks like it's always been there, its a wonder why these were such a rare extra in mk3's? :S and for 4 quid i'd recommend getting one to every mk3 owner

also, while I'm here, does anyone have one of those cigarette lighter elements kicking around? you know the bit you plug into the socket to light your fags? I'd really appreciate it if you had no use for it and gave it to charity (Me, Reg Charity No: 69) because i'm going retro and it'd complete my centre console nicely.

Cheers

Should be okay, your head unit will be fused too. The worst that will happen is that it blows a fuse and your headunit will go off too.

You might have to put a bigger fuse in or something.

The wiring to the radio will not be of sufficient gauge to take the current of the lighter you are risking melting the insulation on the wire and the susequent fire

surely the power going to the radio is the same and therefore should be fine though? what other options do i have?

surely the power going to the radio is the same and therefore should be fine though? what other options do i have?

Get a proper one! I would imagine that MK2 ones are the same and they were standard fit on everything aobve Fox trim.

they were a cl spec luxury and not in many mk2f's (mk3s), fairly hard to find now

they were a cl spec luxury and not in many mk2f's (mk3s), fairly hard to find now

Yeah that's why I said get a MK2 one, they are more common (I think), look in the cars breaking for sale section and ask someone how much they would want for it and the wiring.

oh i see what you were saying, yeah probably for the best dont want to set alight my whole dash while I'm driving

surely the power going to the radio is the same and therefore should be fine though? what other options do i have?

The wiring going to a ciggy lighter is typically 2.5mm csa the radio wiring is at best 1.5mm csa so you are putting nearly twice the current through the radio power wiring, it is going to get hot and overheat, run the ciggy wiring direct to the battery with an inline fuse of 15 amps