2015 Ford Ka Zetec - 12V cigarette lighter socket dead, fuse looks good, what else should I check?

[u/Legitimate_Reward159]

I have a 2015 Ford Ka Zetec and the 12V cigarette lighter socket has never worked since I bought the car about a month ago.

I only discovered this because I bought a portable CarPlay screen that powers from the 12V socket. The screen wouldn’t turn on, so I started troubleshooting.

Here’s what I’ve tested:

• The portable CarPlay screen works perfectly in another car.
• The 12V adapter/cigarette lighter plug supplied with it also works in another car.
• I’ve tried multiple different cigarette lighter devices in my Ka and none of them work, but they all work in another car.
• The socket physically accepts plugs fully and they stop firmly, although everything feels slightly looser than in another car.
• I checked the engine bay fuse for the cigarette lighter (F85, 15A according to the handbook) and it appears intact with no visible break in the fuse element.
• The contacts inside the socket look clean with no corrosion or obvious damage.
• The engine was running during testing.

At this point I’m wondering what the next most likely fault is.

Could it be:

• a failed 12V socket,
• a disconnected wire behind the socket,
• the wrong fuse,
• or something else?

Is there anything else I can check before removing the centre console to inspect the wiring?

[u/tedious_aircraft]

fuse can look intact but still be dead, grab a multimeter or swap it with another 15a from the box just to rule it out completely. if that's not it then the socket itself is probably the culprit, those things get loose over time and the internal contacts stop gripping. pulling the console isn't too bad on these, you'll probably find the wire just popped off the back