The lid safety switch failed, in the on position!
I had to disassemble the whole thing, without touching its touch sensitive activator thing or the electrodes, to desolder the negative battery wire.
Yes the thing was live the whole time, I got damn lucky I didn’t electrocute and burn the shit out of myself in the process!
I’ll be keeping the metal case and screws and pins in a separate bag and keep everything put up in a box for a rainy day repair, when/if ever I find a proper replacement button.
My mom had bought this for me as a 2023 Christmas present. I’ve already had to do maintenance, cleaning and repairs on it over 20 times since I got it, and they highly recommend you don’t ever open them up, exactly because of the risk of electrocution.
Generally it is actually safe to disassemble, as long as you don’t open the lid while servicing. But this was different, the lid safety switch got stuck on…
Sigh, it’s been a good run, it’s lasted me about 21 months, but I guess I’ll be going back to good old fashioned Bic lighters. ☹️
Luckily I do know enough to understand where not to pry. Thank you for the link. It looks like something I will enjoy.
You don’t pry on my lighter, it originally has a single screw on the bottom (not pictured) that holds it together. Plus a couple press fit pins, another screw holding the circuit board in, and a bent piece of sheet brass metal that serves as the touch button thing. I removed most of that and installed a section of a zip tie.
Its not meant to pry on, I rigged it up that way myself. Now it’s held together with an internal section of a zip tie, which by happy accident also holds internal clip pressure, where it holds itself together, but I can easily and quickly snap it apart with an upward slide of my thumb.
Sorry I don’t have proper video of my mods, but seriously, don’t try this at home.