Is It An Earth Issue And Where.

[rekibrepus]

I have a 1.6 Xsara Picasso 2004. I am having a few niggling problems but not sure where to look for the solution. When I am using anything such as Sat Nav or phone charger in the cig lighter in the front it works well until the second I turn on the headlights, it just goes dead then. This is fine till I am using the navigator at night or bad light. And pointers will be much appreciated.

[paul.h]

Could be an earth problem. Does the socket light up with the lights on, showing a connection with the lights. I would first pull the socket out and check its connections, then if you have a meter you could check its earth - probably the outside of the socket is earthed via the wiring so use a meter on resistance between the outside of the socket and the car bodywork as a first check to see if the earth is good - you could also try a temporary earth wire here to test the socket/sat nav/lights.

[rekibrepus]

I don't think (but not sure) this illuminates with the lights on Paul. The one in the back doesn't but works fine all the time. The front one operates as normal when car running and all other electrics are on, its just when you turn on the lights it goes dead and I am not sure where to go from here to do anything about it without a big strip down job to get it out. I really need to know where to trace the wiring and then see if I can replace it.

[paul.h]

There is a wiring diagram in the Haynes manual which shows the cigarette lighter socket as having 3 wires - 1 is the earth (green/yellow) and connects to the dash central earth point, 1 is a 12 volt supply from the dash fuse box from fuse F3 (5 amp) and is live when the ignition is on (yellow), 1 is from the bsi (green). The one from the bsi is likely to be for the light. To remove the lighter, first remove the facia lower centre panel, pull out the lighter element, release the internal tangs and push out the metal insert.

 

To remove the lower centre panel, Haynes says to undo the 2 screws and remove the driver's foot rest from the base of the lower centre panel, remove the cigarette lighter element and undo the screw above the cigarette lighter aperture, withdraw the trim blank at the opposite side of the lighter and remove the hidden screw, undo the upper and lower screws from both sides of the panel, remove the stud type clip at both sides of the panel at the rear, remove the panel and undo the electrical connectors from the ashtray bulbholder and the lighter.

 

It might be a bad earth (if you do not have a meter, test with a wire pushed down into the socket at the side of your sat nav plug and the other end against metal body work) or you might need a new socket if the light part of it is faulty - or you could just disconnect the wire from the bsi and not bother with a light on the socket.

 

The accessory socket is shown as having only 2 wires, 1 is the earth (green /yellow) from the left rear earth point and the other is the 12 volt supply (beige) coming from the dash fuse box, fuse F5 10 amp and is live when the ignition is on.