Club 80-90 Forums

hi just bought our first vw t25 an the cigarette lighter does not work, so had look behind dash an its not wired up not a wire in sight can anyone help us how could i wire it up, wot would be the best solution

wire positive - bottom bit - to fuse and side part to an earth crown behind fuse box - no idea of your fuse box as I dont know what one you have

andyb wrote:wire positive - bottom bit - to fuse and side part to an earth crown behind fuse box - no idea of your fuse box as I dont know what one you have

hi andy thanks for reply the fuse box has bullet type fuses i would like install 3 sockets an usb unit could u help

Run an earth wire - brown - from earth crown behind fuse box(to left on chasis)
Run a feed from top - if you unscrew the two screws and fuse box drops down a bit - will look like bottom then - you should see a bigger thicker red cable coming in - thats from battery - you want other side of fuse from that - should be fuse 8 from left as you look at it. Caution though as this should only have an 8 amp fuse as standard - these new lighter sockets rated 10amps
Alternatively take feed from live side of fuse - off a free spade adjacent to bigger red cable from battery and install an inline 10amp fuse - that would probably be better.


Connections are all standard female terminals you need.

earth goes to side wall of socket
feed goes to bottom of socket

depending on what your fitting is up to you where you put it/mount it - wiring is easiest bit

a big thank u to andyb you been a great help just out of curiosity whilst routing about behind dash ive found wires with socket on end just doing nothing think its coming from ignition theres red an brown there shal i try a feed off that or just leave it bee. sorry for sounding abit green only had herbie 5 days so its all new an exiting for me

That sounds like the original stereo wiring.

Does sound like a stereo cable that from the ignition live - I personally wouldnt use that for a 12v socket - but its a handy source for other things get a voltmeter on it and see if its ignition on live only.

It's permanent live on early vans, don't know if it changed for later ones.

Hi, just found the same problem with my new van, found the correct wires loose under dash.
My question is should they be powered all the time: even when ignition is off? Because mine are!
Thanks Dave.


1989 t25 1.9 petrol dg

I believe mine is classed as a later van '87.

The cigarette lighter is always live on mine

Thanks, will have to get a different add on usb port,without a light!!

on the earlier fuse board, number 8 is the cigarette lighter/internal lights fuse and is only live when ignition is on (my usb charge light only comes on when ignition on)