Does the 2002 century have a 12 volt outlet? My lighter will not take a plug in for a gps nor a phone charger!

Most 12 volt outlets/plugs like one would plug a GPS into or a cigarette lighter, are 'hot' all the time. This means that they are hooked direct to positive side of the electrical system. If your cigarette lighter is not working check the wire from it to the hot side of the fuse block.
patrick

the lighter socket will be straight 12 volts and the GPS may require less (5.5 volts) and the different size is to prevent the over voltage and damaging the GPS unit. There may be an adaptor that will do the job and it may have a built- in transformer for the purpose.

If the lighter outlet works with a cig lighter, the plug for your GPS may not be making contact with the center point in the outlet.
may have dirt and debris in the bottom of the outlet
You may also have a blown fuse.

Probably a 15 to 20 amps..If you use the cigarette lighter does it also blow the fuse ,you may have a short in the circuit..It should be able to handle the GPS..Dont increase the fuse size,you can cause bigger problems

You should have 2 wires with clips = one red that you clip on the Positive [ + ] post of the battery, this may be marked red on the cable. The other black clips to the Negitive [ - ] post of the battery.
Don't plug in the charger untill you clip the wires to the battery, make sure the charger is set to 12 volts. If your cherger has a cigar lighter wire just plug it in to the dash port.

Hi! Cigarette lighter wirings is a good idea. Just tap it and follow the diagram of the GPS. About the not charging issue, the alternator carbon will need replacement for the charging is weak. You'll be good after this. Hope this helps and take care.

it could be the fuse , but also the wire could be off the back or lighter is defective. Take the lighter out and check the voltage coming in. If you have power there then the lighter itself needs replacing. The fuse for you lighter will be under the dash inside. It's safe to pull the fuses out one by one to see if any are burned. If so, replace with same amp fuse. This is a way to check for fuses when no manual is available. t the most, you will have to reset your clock and radio stations.

You mean there seems to be no power to the vehicle's lighter unit outlet.

This lighter unit outlet is normally wired through its own fuse so check the fuse panel in the car for a blown fuse. If blown it must be replaced with a fuse of the correct amperage. The owner's manual will show you where the fuse is located.

Before you check the fuse just check the cigarette lighter outlet with another plug-in device if you have one such as a portable 12 volt tire compressor or a 12 volt plug-in auxiliary light. It could be that if you are using a charger from the outlet, the charger plug or wiring may be faulty rather than the car's power outlet itself. (These outlets don't usually give trouble unless the wiring has been messed with or the outlet itself has been damaged or abused).

If no device works from the lighter power outlet check the fuse as it may be blown.

Sean
Voluntary contributor.

Even thought the plug in is 12 volt. It's ouput is different. Most electronics have different ranges from 3-9 volts.
Does the 12 volt charger put out 12 volts? If so, it would burn up the electronics' capacitors on their power supplies.
How is the car's electronics doing? Are they too failing? If so, that would be a faulty voltage regulator, if not, I would hook up anything you use to the radio wires.
You cannot plug in anything directly to battery no matter what the person told you. Batteries charge, than release charge, a contiuous cycle. The power output is speratic and anything hooked straight up to the battery will need a fuse.

the easiest solution is to purchase a 12 volt converter ( available at auto parts/Radio Shack stores ) that plugs into the cigarette lighter and has one or two outlets to plug your devices into