Download ArticleDownload ArticleThis article was co-authored by How.com.vn staff writer, Ali Garbacz, B.A.. Ali earned her B.A. in Linguistics and Asian Languages and Cultures with a focus on East Asia from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2022. She has published articles centering around culture and history for non-profits and has also done news writing for an online news site. Ali now writes as an editor at How.com.vn with the hopes of becoming a part in helping to achieve How.com.vn’s goal of teaching everyone to do anything. She enjoys the process of researching and learning new things to share with readers and creating content that is both informative and fun.
There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources.
This article has been viewed 660,506 times.
Learn more...
Your lighter suddenly stopped working, and the nearest gas station is miles away. Or maybe this particular lighter holds a lot of sentimental value. Either way, all hope is not lost. Fixing a broken lighter is a quick and easy process. This article will list some of the common problems people have with their lighters plus walk you through how to fix the issue so you can get your lighter working again.
Things You Should Know
- If your lighter's wheel isn’t spinning, use a cotton swab or toothpick to clean out any rust or dirt that's blocking it.
- If your lighter’s flame is small or completely nonexistent, refuel it with a butane can and/or loosen the nozzle that releases fuel so more comes out.
- If there's no spark, replace your lighter’s flint with a new one.
Steps
Refuel your lighter with butane. First, purchase a butane can. Make sure you bleed all of the remaining fuel out of your lighter first. Then, turn the lighter upside down with the fill valve facing upwards. Insert the nozzle of the butane can into the opening in the valve, positioning it so that the lighter is under the can. Squeeze the can for about 5 seconds. You’ll know the lighter has been filled when you feel the metal around the filling valve turn cold from the gas.[1]- To empty the lighter of any excess fuel, use a blunt object—such as the eraser tip of a pencil or a capped pen—to press down on the valve. Hold the lighter so that the opening to the valve is facing upwards, then press your blunt object into the opening and pump it a couple times to release the fuel. You’ll hear a hissing sound that lets you know the fuel is coming out.
- As an added step, after you’ve partially filled the lighter with butane, take a blunt object and reinsert it into the valve to release just a bit of the gas. Some of the gas will have turned to liquid as you fill the lighter, so this gets rid of that liquid. After you’ve done this, fill the lighter with a bit more butane (squeezing the can for just about 1 second).
- For a Zippo lighter you'll have to buy Zippo lighter fluid specifically.
- Zippo lighter fluid can also be used on butane lighters.
Replace your flint on a butane lighter. Remove the metal surrounding the flame and the spark wheel by twisting it out of position. Once you have removed the metal, remove the flint from the spring that’s situated inside the lighter. To assemble the lighter, place the new piece of flint into the flint tube, insert the spring back in place, then place the metal pieces back on.[2]Advertisement
Replace your flint on a Zippo lighter. Pull the entire unit out of the case, then use a screwdriver or a coin to unscrew the screw that’s holding in the spring. Pull out the screw along with the spring and small piece of metal inside. Remove the old piece of flint by turning the entire unit over and gently tapping it against a hard surface. To reassemble, drop the new flint in and replace the spring. Then, tighten the screw and replace the metal unit back in the lighter casing.[3]- Be careful when pulling out the screw, since it’s in a tense coiled position and could spring out quickly and fly away.
Loosen the nozzle that releases gas to get a bigger flame. A flame that dies quickly could be an indication that not enough fuel is being released. Use tweezers, needle-nose pliers, or anything else sharp to remove the metal around the hole where the flame comes out. Then, turn the nozzle that releases the gas counter-clockwise a few times to loosen it so that it releases more fuel.[4]
Check to see if any of the pieces are shattered or cracked. Your lighter will no longer work if the plastic piece is cracked or shattered since the pressure inside the lighter is now compromised. If this is the case, simply buying a new lighter is the best option.
Look for rust, debris, or dirt on any of the metal parts. If you've left a lighter outside for a long period of time, the metal wheel on top might be rusted in place. If it won't spin, it won't light.[5]- To clean the wheel and get all the gunk off, use a cotton swab or toothpick. Apply a bit of rubbing alcohol as well if the dirt and grime are really stuck on there. When you’ve finished cleaning it, use a paper towel to wipe down the wheel and the rest of the lighter.
- Never use water to clean your lighter, since this could cause it to malfunction. Instead, use a soft, dry cloth to wipe it down and a very small amount of rubbing alcohol to get stubborn spots cleaned.
- Another option is to buy a new wheel and replace it entirely.
Check to see if the fuel tank is empty. The most common problem with these kinds of small, handheld lighters is their equally small fuel tank. When this no longer holds enough fuel or enough pressure, it needs to be refilled.[6]
Look to see if there is a spark. If there is no spark, that means that there is no flint. The flint is a small piece of stone that the wheel scrapes against to create a spark. The spark lights the fuel and gives you a flame, so the flint is extremely important.[7]- For the average user, the flint needs to be replaced every few weeks.
Check to see if the flame is small, fizzles out quickly, or isn't present at all. If the flame burns out, then it’s possible that you’re running low on fuel. However, if you just recently bought the lighter there might be an issue with the fuel reaching the spark.[8]
Expert Q&A
Video
Tips
- To fix a lighter that’s gotten wet, first wipe it off the best you can and blow air into the fuel hole and onto the spark wheel to dry them. Then, rub the sparkwheel against a hard surface until you start to see sparks. The friction will help dry it out.[9]Thanks
- The easiest way to remove the metal around the flame (or "chimney") would be to use a blade or other slender object to pry the side away from the button, just far enough to make it over the latch that holds it in place.Thanks
- Bic lighters usually have a child-proof safety band over the spark wheel. To get rid of it, just remove the metal that surrounds the flame using either your fingers or a pair of pliers and pull up on the safety band until it’s dislodged.Thanks
Warnings
- When dealing with a lighter, there’s always the risk of being injured, so handle the lighter with care and never put it near your face.Thanks
- Keep children away from lighters at all times.Thanks
References
- ↑ https://youtu.be/fZHu43jleM4?t=51
- ↑ https://youtu.be/d1w7lEl1mMI?t=11
- ↑ https://www.zippo.com/customercare/repairs.aspx
- ↑ https://householdinside.com/how-to-clean-butane-lighter/#How_to_adjust_the_flame_on_a_butane_lighter
- ↑ https://householdinside.com/how-to-clean-butane-lighter/
- ↑ https://householdinside.com/how-to-clean-butane-lighter/
- ↑ https://www.zippo.com/pages/how-to-replace-the-flint-on-your-zippo-lighter
- ↑ https://householdinside.com/how-to-clean-butane-lighter/#How_to_adjust_the_flame_on_a_butane_lighter
- ↑ https://youtu.be/d_kz1ee7m-4?t=17
About This Article
If your lighter isn’t working, check to see if the fuel tank is empty or the flint is gone, as these are simple to fix. Before you refuel your lighter, purchase a butane can, which can usually be found at a local hardware store. To refuel, turn your lighter upside down and put pressure on the fill valve with the butane can nozzle. Once the nozzle is inside, apply pressure until you feel the metal of the lighter get cold. Make sure to keep your lighter away from your face and anything flammable. If your lighter needs a new flint, twist the metal that surrounds the flame until it comes off and you can see a spring. Then, replace the flint attached to the spring and reassemble your lighter. For more advice, like how to replace the flint on a Zippo lighter, scroll down.
Did this article help you?
⚠️ Disclaimer:
Content from Wiki How English language website. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike License; additional terms may apply.
Wiki How does not encourage the violation of any laws, and cannot be responsible for any violations of such laws, should you link to this domain, or use, reproduce, or republish the information contained herein.
- - A few of these subjects are frequently censored by educational, governmental, corporate, parental and other filtering schemes.
- - Some articles may contain names, images, artworks or descriptions of events that some cultures restrict access to
- - Please note: Wiki How does not give you opinion about the law, or advice about medical. If you need specific advice (for example, medical, legal, financial or risk management), please seek a professional who is licensed or knowledgeable in that area.
- - Readers should not judge the importance of topics based on their coverage on Wiki How, nor think a topic is important just because it is the subject of a Wiki article.
