DeeVeeEight
Fast Pedalphile
I took the Buick out for a cruise last night. Earlier in the day I had pulled the dash out to repair the shift indicator, the tachometer, the heater controls and to replace some light bulbs. While driving I pushed the lighter in to see if it was still properly connected, all worked as it should, so I put it back in the dash. About 20 minutes later I am driving behind another car when I start smelling what I think is brake pads or a clutch burning so I figure the guy must be driving with his parking brake on. Well the guy hangs a left turn and now no one is in front of me and I can still smell the burning odor and I think to myself, well if he turned off and no one else is around, it must be me! At that moment I see a wisp of smoke coming out of the dash vents and realize that the lighter must be stuck in the receptacle so I pull it out - but it's too hot to hold, the fucker is glowing cherry red and the handle is way too hot. I think about dropping it on the floor but then think that it will either melt the carpet or start another fire. My next thought is to throw it out the window but it's a 40 year old lighter and hard to find so I end up playing hot potato with it as I am still driving down the road. I finally get home, now holding the lighter between my thumb and forefinger trying to let it cool off and drop it on top of the enamel covered steel cabinet in the garage.
WHEW! :twitch:
It seems that the lighter is not on a fused circuit and that it just draws enough amps to keep on heating up, and heating up and heating up until....
I posted this on the V8Buick forum and it seems that quite a few of the members have had the same problem. It might be advisable to unplug the cigarette lighter in our 'Vette's to avoid a similar problem.
WHEW! :twitch:
It seems that the lighter is not on a fused circuit and that it just draws enough amps to keep on heating up, and heating up and heating up until....
I posted this on the V8Buick forum and it seems that quite a few of the members have had the same problem. It might be advisable to unplug the cigarette lighter in our 'Vette's to avoid a similar problem.