Posted on 08/07/2004 7:37:40 PM PDT by Robert A Cook PE
Rented a late-model Ford Focus in New Jersey a week ago, and got a VERY unpleasant - and very dangerous ! - surprise.
When I pressed in the cigarette lighter, it pushed in (exactly as it should have done), energized, and began to heat up.
BUT - As soon as it got red hot, the lighter "popped" completely out of the holder, flew away from the dashboard 6 inches, and bounced off my trouser leg (handle end first fortunately!) and (still glowing red-hot) landed on the floor .... where it began melting the carpet.
Before I write a safety complaint to the NTSB, I would like to know if any other users (of Ford cars, of the Focus in particular) have had any "cigarette lighter" burns, or any near-burns, from their lighters.
Obviously, this could be a single, unrelated problem, and perhaps I'm worried about nothing.
But then again, I don't like red-hot branding irons to go spinning through the car at expressway speeds.....
But do it when your leg isn't near the (potential) trajectory.
wow, a hot cigarette lighter - maybe John Edwards will take the case.
HEY!!! I have a Ford Focus and mine does that too!! I thought it was a freak thing with mine, but I have learned to hold the lighter when I push it in to catch it.
Wow.
And if you crash and die, John Edward will talk to you!
I promise that by November all of you will be very tired of this joke
Recall headed your way.
LOL
yeah, thats it, recall the car due to a faulty lighter.....
Hot cigarette lighter?
That would be OK.
Flying cigarette lighter?
Not so hot!
Owned a Focus for 3 years- no problems here.
Weellllllllllllllll .... No.
If it were a minor, unrepeated incident ... No.
But, would I NOT recall a car because somebody driving at 75 mph could catch a branding iron in their lap?
Not a chance. Remember--cigarette smokers deserve everything bad thing that comes their way.
My dad used to have a Chrysler that did that, quite the adventure
Oh, wait! Edwards does not have to really believe in what he is arguing! The smoker was C sectioned, causing the this poor unfortunate to be addicted to pushing the cigarette lighter, thus causing the fatal accident. He knows because he channeled the poor addict.
Net result:
Big Tobacco and Big Auto defendents.
He could get Billions!
DK
Hey...I rented the same model car...and it did the same thing. It freaked me out. I was trying to light a cigar (while driving), but my lighter was out of fluid. So, I pushed this little lighter in and BOINK! That sucker shot right out.
I don't know what state you live in, but in my state 70mph is the fastest we can drive legally......LOL, ok, ok, recall the car, you have my blessings....
Three years, no problem, eh?
Hmmmn. Older models might be OK then?
So, you have discovered ANOTHER reason why smoking is dangerous to your health. Hmmmmmmmm? '''''' ' ' > ~~~ \ / \_/
This is not a case of blaming the lighter for a burn from other causes is it?
No burns on me .... fortunately.
The worse series of burns on the floor and carpeting were when the rental car agents tested the same "flying cigarette lighter" several times themselves.
Seems like each person had to show the next higher manager the same thing ... several times.
So the cigarette lighter went flying numerous times at check-in.
Light your cigarette off the carpet...problem solved. Next.
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