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How to Replace a 12-Volt Power Outlet A 12-volt power outlet has been commonly used to power a cigarette lighter, usually mounted in the dash panel of your vehicle. Now, traditional 12-volt power outlets have given way to outlets designed to charge your mobile phones or power your MP3 players. They are the same 12-volt power outlets used in older cars, only the manufacturer opts not to give you the cigarette lighter with them now. Replacing the 12-volt power outlet is the same on new cars as it is on older cars. Things You'll Need Socket set Screwdrivers Pliers or adjustable wrench Instructions Remove the dash panel to which your 12-volt outlet secures. In general, you need a Phillip's screwdriver and/or a socket set to remove the plastic panels on the dashboard. Every make and model uses a slightly different process for installing the dash panels. If necessary, refer to the vehicle repair manual for your vehicle make and model if the bolt locations for the dash p...

How to Wire an Extra 12 Volt Outlet in a Car Adding an extra 12 volt outlet really comes in handy when you want to plug in that charger and the other outlet is being used. Wiring the outlet is simply a matter of connecting a positive and negative wire from the battery to the back of the outlet. Add an inline fuse in the positive wire and attach the negative wire to ground for safety. Test the outlet and you are finished. Things You'll Need Wire Wire cutters Wire crimpers Wire connectors Wire fasteners Inline fuse with holder Electric tape Drill Pliers Instructions Investigate the area behind the panel where you plan to install the outlet. Make sure there is enough room for the outlet to fit and be mounted. Outlets have different mechanisms used for mounting. It may have a ring behind it that must be screwed or a spring clamp that must be compressed to hold it in place. Some outlets are held in place with screws located in front at each side of...

How to Fix the Accessory Power Outlet in a Car Current technology has transformed a car’s accessory outlet from a mere cigarette lighter to a vital piece of the commuting puzzle. Paper maps have gone the way of cassette players with the advance of global positioning satellite navigation units and mapping applications on cellular phones. These 12-volt sources now power devices that provide navigation, traffic updates, weather conditions and emergency communication capabilities making car travel safer and more comfortable. Determine If the Outlet Is Bad Try a different accessory with the outlet. If the second accessory does power on, the problem is the original accessory and not the outlet. If both accessories fail to turn on in the outlet, the outlet is probably the culprit. If this is the case, proceed with further troubleshooting steps to determine the root cause of the outlet failure. Check the Fuse Accessory power outlets are protected by a fuse in a fuse block. It is ther...

How to Check Leaks for Power Brake Boosters The automobile's brake booster's main function is to give the vehicle maximum braking power with minimal pressure applied to the brake pedal. The brake booster primarily functions on the vacuum system of the vehicle. If the vacuum system is working properly, the booster pushes into the master cylinder when pressure is applied to the brake pedal, allowing the car to come to a stop. If there is an issue with the vacuum system, the car will still have brakes, but it will take a much greater effort on the pedal to stop the vehicle. Instructions Get into the car and start the engine. Without applying any pressure to the brake pedal, allow the car to idle for 60 seconds. Turn the engine off after the one-minute idling time has passed, and allow the car to rest with the engine off for an additional minute. Push on the brake pedal and release several times. If the vehicle's vacuum system is working properly, each push of the br...

How to Tell If the Brake Booster on a Ford F150 Is Bad? Your Ford F-150 comes equipped with a power brake system, which includes a booster, vacuum hose and fittings. This system greatly increases the pressure you can apply to the brake pedal when slowing or stopping your pickup. After years of service, though, the vacuum hose connecting the engine to the booster may harden, crack or swell, and finally leak. Also, the booster internal diaphragm may rupture or some other component may wear out and render the unit inoperative. Know the condition of the brake booster in your F-150 now by performing two simple tests at home, without the need to use any tools. Instructions Apply the parking brake in your F-150, but do not touch the brake pedal. Start and idle the engine in your F-150 without touching the brake pedal. Let the engine idle for one minute, turn off the ignition and wait for another minute before proceeding on to the next step. Depress and release the brake...

Symptoms of a Bad Brake Booster Because of the prevalence of disc brakes, power-boosted braking systems now come standard on nearly all new automobiles and recent-model used vehicles. Disc brakes are not self-energizing like drum brakes, so they require a power brake booster to keep pedal effort reasonable for all drivers. But like any human-made device, power brake boosters can go bad. Booster Failure The primary symptom of power brake booster failure is a high, hard pedal that requires greater than normal pedal pressure to stop the car. You may also notice that it takes a much longer distance than normal to stop your car The high, hard pedal and longer stopping distance mean you are not getting power boost. Proper Function A properly functioning power brake system should provide power assist on first application of the brakes every time, with normal pedal travel, pedal pressure and stopping distance. However, if your brake pedal is low, spongy, requires pumping or fails un...

How to Remove a Brake Booster From the Brake Pedal in a Tahoe The Chevrolet Tahoe has been popular among soccer moms and big families for years. Over that time, they've become fairly advanced, including features like electronic throttle control and a tighter turning radius. The brake pedal of the car connects to the brake booster at the top of the pedal assembly, and although it's not a difficult process to remove the linkage, getting to it can be a bit complicated. In this case, the project vehicle is a 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe. Things You'll Need Flashlight Flat head screwdriver Instructions Open the door and look underneath the dash with the flashlight, following the brake pedal up from the floor to the linkage at the top of the mount. There is a round bar that comes off of the top of the pedal, with a wired switch and the booster linkage bolted to it. Reach an arm up there with the flat head screwdriver to access the metal clip at the end of the bar. Place th...