12V Outlets, one works, two don't

[huntsman]

As the title says, one of the three 12v outlets up front works, the other two don't. I have done the full-time power mod, but i don't think that's the reason the other two don't work.



Outlets 1 and 2 don't have power. Outlet number 3 works when the car is off and when its on, so i am wondering if i just have faulty outlets and just need to replace them, or if it could be some kind of wiring issue. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

PS, this is in a '99, don't know if that really matters...

 

[4-Ripcord]

blown fuse

 

[huntsman]

My initial thinking was that the three outlets up front would share the same fuse, so I ruled that out. I have looked at the fuses that i know about, driver side and under the hood, and none of the fuses were burnt out. This thread may revile my ignorance when it comes to working on cars, but i don't think its a fuse unless there is a fuse along the wires running from the fuse box to the 12v outlets. The outlet in the cargo area still works.
I don't even need all these outlets but knowing that something isn't working only makes me want to fix it

Thanks 4-Ripcord for the response, you are probably right about the fuse but i can't find the blown fuse.

 

[TRDCal]

I would unplug the outlets and use a multimeter to see if your getting 12v. If not, you might want to double check your fuses again, it would most likely be in the fuse panel inside not the one under the hood. If your getting 12v and they still dont work then it might be faulty outlets but I doubt that because i've never seen one fail let alone two at the same time. Good luck.

 

[huntsman]

Alright here's the update. I when back and took out several fuses and replaced them with new ones. This hasn't solved the issue. Here is a little diagram with comments on it indicating what I have tried.



I am going to go to the next step and try the multi-meter to see if any of the outlets are faulty, thanks for the advice TRDcal. I will try it tomorrow as i don't own a multi-meter.

If by chance someone looking at the thread understands this electrical schematic and, no pun intended, a light comes on...and sees an obvious issue please chime in and let me know.

 

[TRDCal]

Thats really weird because outlet #1 & #2 use the same power and ground so it can't be a fuse or a bad ground (altho the cig outlet could still be a bad fuse) cuz if it was then they both wouldn't work. The cig lighter must be on a different circuit because your right it's not there. I would double check the wiring that goes from outlet #1 to #2 and closely inspect the outlet. Maybe the contacts in the outlet have just gotten lazy and are no longer making contact with whatever you plug in.

Your best friend here will be a multimeter but since you dont have a one an easy way to check if the outlet is bad would be to swap #1 with #2 and see if the problem follows the outlet or stays in the same spot. If it follows then your outlet is getting lazy if it stays then you have a wiring issue.

Again, good luck let us know how it goes!

 

[huntsman]

So here is another update. I purchased a multi-meter (figured this won’t be the only time I will ever need one). Tested both 12V outlets and cigarette lighter up front and cigarette lighter and passenger side outlet both show power coming into the actual outlets. I dismantled the front dash and checked the wires coming into each outlet. Luckily, this reviled where the issue lays, all three wires coming into the outlets were showing power. I then looked at each outlet and noticed that the driver’s side outlet has some deformation.









I placed a “universal outlet” into the driver’s side outlet but I have decided to look for an OEM one, I don’t really know how to ground that one since it’s so different (only one spade connection). The universal one does come with a sleeve that screws over the outlet that provides a second connection but it won’t fit in the same spot if I want to keep the nice looking caps that go over the outlets. It would also require me to hack off that little black sleeve that holds the outlets in place. In addition, those nice connections on the wires don’t match up with the universal outlet.

Thanks TRDcal for the advice!

I believe the issue will be resolved I once replace the one outlet that’s ‘burnt out’, now I just need to find the right one.

 

[Mudtallica]

Hey Huntsman, if or when you find a replacement that is OE or like the OE, please post where.. I have the same situation and all I can find around here is the "bracket grounded" type.. Nothing like OE.. Subscribed...

 

[Mudtallica]

Well, I found one of my problems.. It was a fuse INSIDE the adapter itself that plugs into the outlet.. Pulled apart and added new fuse and walllllaaahhhh...

 

[huntsman]

Mudtallica, I did find an OEM part. I went to a scrapyard and pulled one from a Tacoma that was the same year. It worked perfectly and when I pulled it I also grabbed that little plastic cap. I paid 3 dollars for the piece.

 

[Mudtallica]

Sweet.. That sounds cheap enough..