iPhone charger for '78 Spider???

[dkphotog]

HELP! I'm wondering if anyone can help me solve the problem of charging my iPhone in my car. I'm new to this whole having an old car thing. Do cigarettes lighters from 1978 have the capability of charging iPhones or other stuff? That may sound like a dumb question but guess I've been spoiled and never had to worry about that. My stereo plays iPods etc....but does not have a way to charge it at the same time!!

What are my options here!!!??? I'm sick of being in the car and having my iphone die by the end of a perfect day at the beach & then get lost because I don't have mapquest to help me home!

Yes - I remember the days when we didn't have these gadgets!!!!

[Zulu]

Check to see if your cigarette lighter is putting out twelve volts with a voltmeter if you have one. That said, most likely your problem is that older cigarette lighters are deeper than modern ones and therefore your charger doesn't reach far enough into it to contact the terminals. Replace the unit with a new one from any auto parts store. A practically identical unit with lighting will cost about $10.

To replace it, remove the screws holding the upper console in and pull it outward (best to shift into reverse first). Disconnect the ground, power, and light wires to the lighter and remove it by holding the back of the unit and unscrewing the orange ring on the front. Installation is the reverse of removal. Reconnect the wires and you should be good!

Zulu

[Exit98]

My 76 lighter socket works fine for phone and GPS.

[124JOE]

mine works fine

[vandor]

Cigarette lighters can be weird. Mine works fine for my iPhone and GPS, but does not for my friend's TomTom. Go figure.
If yours does not work, just replace it.

The other question is what the heck are you doing that your battery goes down in a day?? Close those apps that are running in the background. Turn wi-fi off. My battery will last 1.5-2 days.

[DocGraphics]

The cigarette light adapter works fine in my 78 too. I don't do the ipod thing but charges the phone great.

[MrWampus]

Yes - I remember the days when we didn't have these gadgets!!!!

Hehe, me too. Every time I get in my car it's like a time warp (since I owned one 25 years ago). I added an XM radio antenna so I can switch out my XM receiver from my other car. It's a glorious mix of old and new.

The lighter should put out the same power modern cars do. That's one thing that hasn't changed. If it doesn't work, you might have to check the connection behind the panel or possibly replace the lighter module. It's cheap and easy to fix.

BTW, Walnut Creek and points north must be a beautiful place to drive a car like that. I am jealous!

[grittracing]

here is what i have learned from Mike Bouse, the lighters in our cars are deeper set than current cars. so you need a long adapter with a long tip. the only one I have found yet is at radio shack .

[spiderverde]

I've used different adapters for 3 types of phones and GPS units with no issues on my 78

Ray

[Zulu]

here is what i have learned from Mike Bouse, the lighters in our cars are deeper set than current cars. so you need a long adapter with a long tip. the only one I have found yet is at radio shack .

Replacing the lighter with a shallower one is incredibly easy. Takes five minutes.

[RJ80]

Bring a map?

[dkphotog]

Thanks everyone! Turns out my lighter is fine it's my OLD iphone 3 - the second version isn't compatible with any of the new adaptors. Apparently apple switched from firewire to USB and I have to find an older charger or an adaptor to make mine compatible. Lame, lame, lame in my book that we always have to keep up with all the apple changes $$$.

Option 2 buy the iphone 4G!!! $$$

[whiterabbit]

Or option 3.
Get off the phone and drive!
You could tap into the trouble/work light socket under the dash with an aux power outlet?