The front lighter socket has failed on my Masterace and I want to replace it. Has anyone ever taken this component out and, is there a knack or short cut to removing it?
I have had a lot of the dash out but, cannot quite see how the body of the unit is fixed. Am I missing something here or, have I got to proceed and strip out the complete dashboard. Any advice would be most welcome.

- (#10436) John Davis (Leics), 26 Apr 04 10:41

Hello John,
have you removed the heating control panel to try to gain better access?

- (#10436) dave Bright (Bournemouth), 26 Apr 04 12:44

John, I went through the process of replacing mine 18 months ago. Bear in mind that when assembled, these sockets are not meant to come apart! I ended up gripping the edge of the socket with strong needle nose pliers and twisting the outer section around the pliers (like opening a corned beef tin) until the diameter was small enough for it to be pressed through the hole. The new one from an accessory shop was easily fitted and wired. PLEASE REMEMBER TO ISOLATE the power before doing this job. hth ..Ray

- (#10436) Ray Ambler, 26 Apr 04 13:07

Thanks Dave and Ray for your comments.

Dave. Yes, as I had previously removed the heater control switch for repair, I remembered that it opened up a fairly big "handhole" but, try as I might, I could get to the body of the lighter unit or, even with a mirror, work out how it was clamped in.

Ray. I am tempted to copy your procedure because the existing unit is bust anyway and, as you found, the new accessory shop unit, which I have bought, looks as if it has a big enough flange to cover the evidence of this somewhat brutal method. A small, slitting saw, held in my Dremel type drill, might be useful to cut off the outer flange. My query was posted, just in case I had overlooked something simple like, perhaps, the outer flange being threaded.

- (#10436) John Davis (Leics), 26 Apr 04 13:34