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RJL's avatar
RJL
Explorer
Oct 29, 2017

lost both power outlets

On our way from NJ to Fla our dog bumped into the brake buddy transponder plugged into the power outlet near the passenger seat. That caused the outlet to fall out of the dash somewhat, being held on by the wires. I went over to where the RV is stored while we're on vacation and as I took the outlet out to see what was going on it sparked with the backing portion, that was still behind the dash and barely holding onto the outlet. I proceeded to get the outlet and backing unscrewed and loosened up the bottom portion of the dash so I can get my fat hands back there. I was able to connect everything back together, the wires to the outlet and the power outlet to the backing cylinder that sits behind the dash that screws into the power outlet. Check to see if it has power with my cell phone charger, no power. Checked the other power outlet near the driver seat, no power. Now I'm assuming I blew a fuse but after checking for fuse locations in the owners manual there is no such section. Now I have four fuse boxes, one on the floor of the driver seat, two in the bedroom and one in the engine compartment. Of course there's no legend on any of the fuse box lids. Does anyone know where the fuse for the power outlets would be located. Should I feel confident it's a fuse? I assume there would be one fuse for both but I've been wrong before.

Sorry for the book

Bob
  • the fuse for the lighter/outlets will be in a Factory ford fuse box
  • Ivylog's avatar
    Ivylog
    Explorer III
    Take a 12V test light and start checking the Ford fuses as it's often hard to see if one is blown.
  • I have two fuse locations on my F-53 one under the hood in the center of the fire wall in a big black box. Another in the plastic arm rest thing on the drivers side wall next to the drives seat.
  • RJL wrote:
    On our way from NJ to Fla our dog bumped into the brake buddy transponder plugged into the power outlet near the passenger seat. That caused the outlet to fall out of the dash somewhat, being held on by the wires. I went over to where the RV is stored while we're on vacation and as I took the outlet out to see what was going on it sparked with the backing portion, that was still behind the dash and barely holding onto the outlet. I proceeded to get the outlet and backing unscrewed and loosened up the bottom portion of the dash so I can get my fat hands back there. I was able to connect everything back together, the wires to the outlet and the power outlet to the backing cylinder that sits behind the dash that screws into the power outlet. Check to see if it has power with my cell phone charger, no power. Checked the other power outlet near the driver seat, no power. Now I'm assuming I blew a fuse but after checking for fuse locations in the owners manual there is no such section. Now I have four fuse boxes, one on the floor of the driver seat, two in the bedroom and one in the engine compartment. Of course there's no legend on any of the fuse box lids. Does anyone know where the fuse for the power outlets would be located. Should I feel confident it's a fuse? I assume there would be one fuse for both but I've been wrong before.

    Sorry for the book

    Bob

    From what you've been saying, it's most likely a fuse.
    Many times, the ones on the dash are fed from the chassis panel and the others from the house panel.
    When all else fails, pull every fuse you can find and visually check it.
  • OK. I got one working today and one still not working. So I have an additional question. I got the driver side one working again by changing the large 20A fuse in the power control center in the engine compartment but the original one on the passenger side is not working. When I disconnected the passenger side power outlet there were two wires, a yellow and white. I plugged the white wire into the back of the power outlet and the yellow wire into the holder I guess you can call it of the power outlet. The power outlet sits outside of the dash and screws into the holder. I'm thinking maybe they're backwards. Is one a supply and the other a ground? I thought maybe one was supply and the other supplied power to the other power outlet, but now that the other is working I see it's not a lead. Could there be two seperate fuses? I pulled them all out of the P.D. box today and all were good. If it's the fuse box under the driver seat it's nearly impossible for me to fit in there. I'm just a bit hesitant to change them around in fear of blowing something else.

    Thanks

    Bob
  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    Use a volt meter.. I wish I could find my outlet tester but I can "Design" it for you

    IT is a simple 12 volt accessory pulg (MOre on this in a bit) with a 500 Ohm Resistor connected to the positive pin (Center pin) and a tri-color 2-lead LED between the resistor and ground.

    Using a known properly wired outlet hook it up so the LED glows GREEN

    Solder and close up.. Now plug it in

    NO light = No power
    Green - Good
    Red - Reversed
    Yellow - AC
    Made this thign back in the 70's when they started making cars with backwards sockets.
  • RJL wrote:
    OK. I got one working today and one still not working. So I have an additional question. I got the driver side one working again by changing the large 20A fuse in the power control center in the engine compartment but the original one on the passenger side is not working. When I disconnected the passenger side power outlet there were two wires, a yellow and white. I plugged the white wire into the back of the power outlet and the yellow wire into the holder I guess you can call it of the power outlet. The power outlet sits outside of the dash and screws into the holder. I'm thinking maybe they're backwards. Is one a supply and the other a ground? I thought maybe one was supply and the other supplied power to the other power outlet, but now that the other is working I see it's not a lead. Could there be two seperate fuses? I pulled them all out of the P.D. box today and all were good. If it's the fuse box under the driver seat it's nearly impossible for me to fit in there. I'm just a bit hesitant to change them around in fear of blowing something else.

    Thanks

    Bob

    Chassis fuses will most likely be under the seat.
    Try turning the seat 90 degrees to the right and then slip in behind it. If not, find a kid somewhere....lol
  • Just wanted to circle back and tell you all thank you for the help and suggestions. Turns out I had the wires on backwards. The white wire, which is a ground goes on the barrel of the cigar lighter/power outlet, which sits inside of the dash. The yellow wire is the hot wire and goes on the back of the power outlet.

    Thanks again

    Bob