Cigarette lighter glow ring

I only use my '94 Accord's cigarette lighter for powering the Belkin
FM/MP3 adapter and the glowing ring around the lighter's hole comes
handy at night. However, it does not always glow when the other
instrument lights do. I could not figure out exactly the pattern of its
working, but I suspect it might be controlled by some sensor or timer I
don't know about. Anybody could perhaps clue me in on it? I already
thought about a loose contact, BTW.

Thanks,
Rudy

 

it is supposed to come on with dash lights

 

That's what I thought, too. Interestingly, after I posted that message
and drove out, the ring did glow continuously while the lights were on.
I'll be watching for it again tonight.

Rudy

 

OK, last night I watched that light closer and I noticed that quite
often it would come on only as I was trying to push in that Belkin
adapter plug, about the time the plug touched the outer perimeter of
that lighter hole. Strange! As if some kind of proximity detector
(condenser effect?) was in there that would turn on the glow ring.

Rudy

 

Jesus... haven't you opened that lighter by now and see if there are loose
connections in there?

John

 

Jesus, John, you know how much work it is to get to the other side of
that cigarette lighter? I would not do that just for that issue alone.
I'll wait when something else also comes up, like with the radio, that
makes it worth my while to do that. That glow ring alone is not enough
for it. Especially when I don't even know how it is supposed to work.

Rudy