Why Did My Cigar Lighter Stop Working Shortly After I Bought It? - Cigar 101

Here’s a great question about torch flame lighters that has plagued cigars lovers for years: Tony C. wants to know, “Why do the brand new lighters I buy always seem to stop working not long after I purchase them… either they won’t light or the flame sputters.” Well, I’ve got the answer on how to fix that problem for good, so give this one a quick watch, now.
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[@joshroberts8881]

This guy just saved me from curb stomping my torch lighter and spending more money on another. Thanks!

[@CigarAdvisorMagazine]

That's what we're here for. Thanks for watching.

[@luvlycan]

You just saved me from buying one more expensive lighter. I bought an expensive lighter few months ago, and it stopped working suddenly. I was about to order one from Amazon. I'm glad I watched your video first. Your trick worked like a charm.

[@petewerner4597]

Thanks Tony. Had my Vertigo lighter for 3+ years and it had stopped working. Spark but no flame. Was Googling for a new lighter and came across your video. Bled my lighter and now I don't need a new one. Big thank you from a fellow Jersey guy.

[@CigarArtistry]

Great info, I thought I just had back luck with lighters.

[@kenhood9388]

I am like you was. Desk full of lighters. Need a week off to fix em all. Maybe just a day for the bleeders.

[@jollymartini8557]

Wow, I've had a cool lighter sitting in my drawer for over a year... now it works again! Thanks!

[@CigarAdvisorMagazine]

Glad we could help. Thanks for watching.

[@jadennathansplanet4617]

Thank you so much . I just bought a gas lighter today, it was working just fine in the shop until I got home. I save me a trip back to the store .🙏

[@NotSure109]

This has turned out to be a great way to expel all my fuel, and did nothing to make my new lighter work.

[@CigarAdvisorMagazine]

Sorry to hear that. We've had great results as well as a lot of people that commented.

[@adamshlet4695]

Yeah it worked for mine

[@NotSure109]

@@adamshlet4695 It PLUS something unstated worked for you.

[@garycaouette4778]

Didn’t work, my 2 cents. Something else wrong I guess.

[@finished6267]

@@NotSure109 your lighter is likely plugged. My Porsche design lighter did the same thing. The POS was leaking out of the bottom. Almost set my damn house on fire. I threw it out the damned window. Bleeding did nothing. I officially consider Porsche design lighters to be absolute garbage.

[@alexbal69]

I've always had that problem, thanks to your video i fixed my ligthers!

[@michaelyoung24]

short, sweet and straight to the point. Thanks for the video!

[@martinhunter29]

Thank You, I Guess You Do Learn Something New Every Day!

[@GoldtopDude]

Watched this again, thanks Tommy Z !

[@michaelgrande4623]

My lighter hasn’t worked for years and I tried everything. This worked for me first try. THANK YOU!

[@CigarAdvisorMagazine]

We're glad we could help. Thanks for watching and leaving a comment.

[@85Robusto]

Used this great hack to bring my lighter back to life. Thanks Tony C!

[@CigarAdvisorMagazine]

Thanks for watching, glad we could help.

[@cyborg_trader]

Thank you, my favorite lighter stopped working! Happy Holidays!!

[@mikestone9129]

Cigar Advisor is one of the reasons that Famous Smoke is the best cigar shop on the net. This and FS's customer service.

[@CigarAdvisorMagazine]

Thank you, we appreciate the kind words. Thanks for watching.

[@IslandTimeTravel]

Great Video! Fixed my lighter perfectly! Thanks!

[@rubendiodonet5249]

Thank u for this ! Huge help!

[@trimuscletherapy]

Thank you this really helped

[@petermastrogiacomo9444]

Thanks Tommy.....was about to order a new one from Amazon, like a dope!

[@georgiahoosier]

Thanks to this I just fixed a lighter I'd written off as dead a year ago. Also love those Camacho sticks, been smoking the Triple Maduro since I couldn't find the CAO MX3 anymore and haven't looked back

[@davidkunkle7593]

Thanks for all of the advice

[@MardoCigars]

Very good and love the topic.

[@joseeduard]

Thanks for the tip!

[@mikefagelman3472]

Great advice. Thank you.

[@CigarAdvisorMagazine]

Thanks for watching.

[@lmcphail06]

Thanks for this!!!

[@andrewhernandez6981]

Really did help 🎉🎉🎉

[@damonowens7880]

Thank you so much. I was able to bring my Vertigo butane lighter back from the grave HELLZ YEAH!!!!!!

[@CigarAdvisorMagazine]

Thanks for watching. We're glad we could revive your lighter.

[@EmmeryCheung]

Thanks man helped me bring my lighter back to life! :)

[@CigarAdvisorMagazine]

That's what we're here for. thanks for watching.

[@ccwnoob4393]

Thanks for the helpful informative tip. I never knew I had to do that! I could've saved myself over twenty bucks if I'd tuned into your channel earlier and avoided buying two replacement torch lighters. Oh well. Live and learn. BTW, is that a Chillin Moose you're smoking?

[@user-es8kr8zl1p]

Thank you this is very useful 👍

[@CigarAdvisorMagazine]

Thanks for watching.

[@TheParkman69]

Thanks brother.

[@epipht]

Awesomeness!

[@donanderson47]

Thanks. Works like a champ.

[@CigarAdvisorMagazine]

Glad we could help.

[@edwardfontes3862]

Thanks ! Bleeding lighter. Never dawned on me 👍✍👌

[@CigarAdvisorMagazine]

Thanks for watching.

[@RAGINxxXxxCAJUN]

Worked!! Thanks

[@CigarAdvisorMagazine]

Glad to hear that. Thanks for watching.

[@whozgod2005]

Thank you

[@arnoldkanarek3585]

Thanks Tommy. I did the bleed and it worked.

[@CigarAdvisorMagazine]

We're glad it worked. Thanks for watching.

[@lafete6863]

You're a legend bro .

[@CigarAdvisorMagazine]

Thanks for watching.

[@adamlewis1961]

I literally discovered the concept of "bleeding" a lighter about a month ago...around 2005 I bought 2 really nice Jukebox style lighters (with flip top and flashy lights when the top was open) and once they died they didn't properly work once I refilled them - so I kept them for awhile but eventually threw them away...pretty pissed off at myself now 'cos you can't find them anymore. They weren't REALLY expensive, but still - to someone who normally buys 4-10 at a time from the pound shop, to spend £3.50-4.00 on a single nice lighter is a lot (esp. for a student at the time). Grr...wish I hadn't chucked them out a few years ago, kicking myself now!

[@johnhoog8279]

Been wondering what happened to all the lighters with the fancy LEDs? Did some kind of Federal regulation kill them?

[@000GodRealm000]

Thank you sire, my torch lighter almost ended up in the garbage bag. But I'll try this first. Thanks.

[@CigarAdvisorMagazine]

Thanks for watching. We hope you can save your lighter.

[@kierk2543]

Oh man Tommy!!! Thank you thank you

[@thomaszarzecki2162]

Welcome welcome...

[@originalsupermommy]

My lighter stopped working on my 5th cigar. Gonna try this!

[@bluelinemajor1499]

I have a brand new Fankai lighter that my son gave me for Christmas. After initially using it a few times the tank is empty. I have Clipper butane refill but when I try to refill it the butane goes everywhere but in the tank. I have tried bleeding it several times but still the same results. All I get is butane all over my hand and the floor. Any ideas what could be happening? Seems like the end of the Clipper refill should be plastic and a little bigger but idk.

[@Ijustwantedafrosti]

Really helpful

[@CigarAdvisorMagazine]

Thank you.

[@georgeeleftheriou1553]

I have tried bleeding it until there is no hissing sound. I even cleaned the nozzles by pressing butane into them and nothing works. Its a new colibri triple nozzle lighter that I just purchased. Any ideas of what could be worng please?

[@lazur2012]

Hey, I had the same issue, but my solution was different. I had to crank the flame to be slightly bigger. It looked like there was not enough gas flowing to run the flame.

[@jjwrld2228]

Thank you sir

[@CigarAdvisorMagazine]

Thank you.

[@robertpowell7073]

Do lighters come prefilled? Just got a brand new one and doesn’t work.

[@vadimazarov6604]

Hello what kind of butane fuel did you use? With a short or long nasal? Because I’m using (peaks comforts) butane fuel universal gas lighter refill. Ultra refined for maximum care and performance. And I can refill the (Cobber Torch Lighter,Quad 4 Jet Red Flame Refillble Butane Lighter) I’m using the long nasal type for refill. When I press down all the way it sprays out rather then refill and I don’t get what I’m doing wrong. I heard you need to put it all the way down to - then press on the part where you refill to release extra pressure(but mine is new and it has no pressure and still I can refill it… I even tried to replace it thought it was defective but after I got my replacement it still has the same problem…

[@CigarAdvisorMagazine]

We recommend using these butanes - www.famous-smoke.com/search?kw=butane

[@fredveefrqc4072]

omg man i use to think they were just crap and i used bic lighter but i threw my gf's lighter then i saw this so i dug it up tried and it fucking worked xD we learn some everyday ^^ thanks

[@CigarAdvisorMagazine]

Thanks for watching.

[@DAC9344]

Current situation. Thx.

[@christianburk7842]

thanks mate

[@CigarAdvisorMagazine]

Thanks for watching.

[@OneOddDuck]

I have a quad burner torch lighter from special blue, I purchased it a few days ago and it worked fine until I refilled it. Now only 3 burners work and the fuel adjuster does little to nothin plus it takes several tries to light it, I did bleed/purge it then refill with almost no change in performance. What the hell did I do wrong?

[@AB-xh4vr]

My Calibri lighter when I try to put butane it does not go in at all just sprays on my hand.

[@xFliox]

Bro for everyone here trying to fix your lighter, if what you have is cheap, then what you gotta do is remove the screws and open it just a little so you can pull the gas lever up when at maximum to turn it all the way to minimum so then it comes to life beautifully

[@sheilaredsteer4994]

Holy shit! I just did it. THANK U.

[@jonm2522]

I've bled my lighter 3 X still not lighting up, I've turned the jet adjustment to low and back to med-high, still no good.i font have a gauge, so when do I know it's full

[@glennchia1960]

Thank you so much... for sharing. I bought 6 lighters, 4 of them gave me this problem. Thanks again... God Bless you as always.

[@CigarAdvisorMagazine]

Thanks for watching and we're glad we could help.

[@smking100]

Just fixed my Firebird lighter that never worked right. Followed Tommy's advice and the lighter works perfectly now. Thanks!

[@CigarAdvisorMagazine]

We're glad we could help. Thanks for watching.

[@MapleBaconDelight20]

Damn, should’ve been obvious, covered my entire hand with butane lmao 😂 good thing I’m not stupid enough to light up a smoke afterward

[@trenzu2]

I bleed my lighters before every refill. They work like a charm. Before I knew about bleeding, I would struggle with them and replace them often, but not anymore!

[@CigarAdvisorMagazine]

Thanks for watching and leaving a comment. Glad your lighter issues are solved.

[@hectoraponte8005]

Life saver almost tossed a 100$ torch

[@CigarAdvisorMagazine]

Thanks for watching.

[@zakk-ggmoonyham4436]

Tha bud this helped.. however the flame is not strong any more like it was in the beginning:.

[@CigarAdvisorMagazine]

Thanks for leaving a comment. Maybe try using compressed air to blow out the jets or try bleeding it again and refilling.

[@danwhite5339]

Sometimes the wick is set too high and you have to bend it downward with a flathead screwdriver where it attaches to the side of the lighter.

[@ronmarvicsin7709]

I have had two Jobon lighters. Both now the safety switch has jammed. It’s a great lighter but it won’t work for more that a week or so. The little switch that acts like a safety jams to the left and won’t allow you to light. Anyone else had this problem?

[@therepresentative1619]

I hope this works.This lighter was so expensive and I love it/hate it right now🤬

[@bullfrogger1208]

You should hold it the same way to bleed it as you do to fill it , up and down , hole facing up . Mine look full but after they are bled they look half empty. I use a toothpick so I don't damage the fill hole with metal .

[@CigarAdvisorMagazine]

Thank you. We appreciate your comment and great advise.

[@babylonreviews9827]

I have a minijet dupond and ignites always with the second press...any suggestions?

[@CigarAdvisorMagazine]

Could the jet be clogged? Sometimes you can use the air cleaner (usually for computers, to blow it out. Here's a link - kzbin.info/www/bejne/bGKkhJKVnJqSlaM

[@lilbigblock3534]

I don't know how Many lighters I've thrown away not knowing this.👍 And that's The point I believe as the manufacturer doesn't tell you this.

[@_TONY_Az]

My question. Is where do get the parts the fill valve. If like that info please

[@CigarAdvisorMagazine]

Thanks for watching. Check with your local cigar store, they should carry them.

[@estermacedo]

Thank you so much for the tip! I saved my beautiful lighter 😊

[@CigarAdvisorMagazine]

Glad we could help. Thanks for watching.

[@christianstorm8854]

Great! Lol what about a new calibri lighter where it won’t spark to light the fuel?

[@CigarAdvisorMagazine]

That might be a manufacture issue. We would recommend contacting the company you purchased it from and see if you can either get it replaced or repaired by Colibri.

[@twoweeledsoto6072]

My band new Moretti, just never lit. LOL sparks, but just never lit from day one.

[@CigarAdvisorMagazine]

Sorry to hear that. See if you can exchange it from the company you purchased it from.

[@ChicksOnTheBeat]

I’m not getting the “clicking” sound on my zico lighter. I’m guessing that’s why it’s not igniting? Can anything be done?

[@CigarAdvisorMagazine]

Most likely. Without seeing it it's tough to diagnose. But if you aren't hearing the click, there is no ignition/spark to light the lighter. Hope that helps, thank for watching.

[@devihydro5402]

Yea mine does the same thing and i just got it

[@CigarAdvisorMagazine]

@@devihydro5402 Thanks for watching. We hope this video helps.

[@ronjankowitz6379]

@@CigarAdvisorMagazine Can a lighter with no ignition / spark be fixed??

[@CigarAdvisorMagazine]

@@ronjankowitz6379 It all depends, if it's just corroded with char or something is blocking the spark it can be cleaned. But if the ignition is broken, most likely not.

[@dawndeatonquartana3113]

Ok... here's my problem...."pressure"... I drained it as instructed to ... filled it, waited momentarily, tried it, and it did light. However, it doesn't stay lit. I don't think there's enough pressure? I have it all the way for it to blast pressure out, but doesn't stay lit. I can hear the gas coming out (when its not lit) I'm baffled.. why isn't it staying lit? I even tried draining it again to try a different kind of butane, same thing.. ?????? P.s.... I've tried all different levels of pressure, to no avail

[@CigarAdvisorMagazine]

Thanks for watching and leaving a comment. Maybe you should contact the manufacturer if nothing is working to get it lit.

[@vinnycrim4993]

I have my lighter bleed it out three times and still didn't work and it was just working. please let me know what can I do

[@CigarAdvisorMagazine]

There could be air trapped in the lighter, make sure when you bleed it all the butane comes out and then the any air will come out. Hope this helps.

[@reggiemaggard9866]

CigarAdvisorMagazine so bleed until you can’t see liquid and then add butane?

[@carlkessler303]

I have two that worked for a week and died. Both are from Vertigo, this is not the issue. If you hold a match in front, they light just fine. The issue has something to do with the igniter, but I can't figure it out. It is sparking, but the butane doesn't light. I've gone through a can of top quality butane and used it maybe five times. Bled it several times. At this point, the old Zippo works every time. I have $30 of butane lighters that are apparently disposable. Frustrated.

[@CigarAdvisorMagazine]

Sorry to hear that. Can you send them back for an exchange? Or can you contact Veritgo, I am sure they can help you out. Let us know.

[@Brian424]

The problem with my Vertigo turned out to be the flame control. I tried bleeding (several times), different fuel, a fine wire down into the burner jets and into the vents, and nothing worked. It dawned on me to try adjusting the flame size, which I hadn't touched since I've had the lighter. I turned it all the way down so no hiss came out when pressing the button, then turned it all the way up, then back down to a normal flame size. I don't know why, but that fixed it. The lighter has been working perfectly since.

[@JJ-vf1ix]

I try to refill my torch and nothing happens.. just a little air coming out from my whip it butane and then its just silence not doing anything while having it pressed in

[@CigarAdvisorMagazine]

Thanks for watching. Silly question, but did you bleed the lighter a few times? Sounds like there could be an air pocket in there.

[@sokodad]

I have purged mine multiple times and try to refill it and it’ll light good for a couple times and then nothing. And after I get through filling it I wait a few minutes for it to come to room temperature and then it lights perfect and then the next day I go to use it and nothing. Using xikar fuel too. It’s a Bugatti lighter. I am at about wits end with this thing.

[@CigarAdvisorMagazine]

Sounds like it could just be a defective lighter. I had a similar issue with a Corona Old Boy (soft flame pipe lighter) and it turned out the valve had a leak, it would light great then the next day it wouldn't light at all. Hope that helps.

[@mrb7931]

When I bleed LPG gas from my lighter , what to do now

[@sketch6995]

How about those free lighters you get with Samplers like Aroma de Cuba? You know the ones that never light no matter what? Lol I bought three of those Samplers because I like the cigars so much, and I have one lighter that came with each sampler none of which have ever lit once. I bled them then filled it them and even with a Bic lighter they don't light. Garbage.

[@samkinison2375]

Cuba is communist their quality is shit

[@mikebarker9187]

Beware the ink pen method for the pointy object however. Big ink mess. 😀🙂🤓

[@diegovillasenor2741]

I have already empty it 4 times and it won’t work, what can I do next?

[@CigarAdvisorMagazine]

Sorry to hear that. You might have to return it or bring it to a local store and see if they can help. The lighter could be defective if it doesn't light after bleeding and refilling four times.

[@DocLarsen44]

If this doesn't work, that catalyst on the nozzle is probably contaminated. The catalyst allows the jet flame to burn properly. Use CLEAN compressed air to blow all the parts of the nozzle area. While your at it, make sure the air ports are clear of pocket lint and other junk with the compressed air. Wait a minute or two and try again. This will work almost always. If you've had it quite a while the catalyst may just be gone as it is a very thin coat on the nozzle parts (atoms thick) and does wear out.

[@CigarAdvisorMagazine]

Thank you for the helpful information.

[@mikepwnsu28]

Two lighters I have are not even emitting the butane I fill them with and they are pretty new....I'm lost and need help lol

[@CigarAdvisorMagazine]

Try using compressed air to blow out the igniter. Maybe something is blocking the butane.

[@mikepwnsu28]

@@CigarAdvisorMagazine I'll try that, thanks !

[@nyjeterss]

Saved me

[@thomaszarzecki2162]

AWESOME buddy!

[@shanardsmith147]

Didn't work...im not going through 20 bucks of butane to fix a 20 dollar lighter

[@deeptruthfordeepwounds3706]

I go through this procedure and the lighter will light once or twice and then quit working again.

[@CigarAdvisorMagazine]

Thanks for watching. Maybe the jets are clogged? Or there is air stuck in the lighter. Sometimes when it appears empty, click the lighter and hold it down until you don't hear anything coming out. Then bleed it again and refill. Hope that helps.

[@lindseysutton2761]

Mine wont bleed. I press down gently or hard. Nothing. No bleeding.

[@CigarAdvisorMagazine]

Sorry to hear that. What kind of lighter is it? Can you send it back to the manufacturer.

[@anthonyviola9400]

It didn’t work for my torch.

[@CigarAdvisorMagazine]

Sorry to hear that. You may want to take it to your local store that sells that brand and see if it can be sent to the manufacturer.

[@MRiPhone302]

I feel dumb now about a lighter for 25 bucks and end up throwing it away because I bled a couple times refilled it and it didn’t work. Need to work on my patients

[@Mahalarbknives]

me too!

[@butter7734]

Didn't work for mine.

[@CigarAdvisorMagazine]

Sorry it did not work for you.

[@jkvv2006]

thanks alot the "try again - drain again" tip works great...your advice echoes all the other videos but draining and refilling AGAIN is the trick if it still is failing to light. Also the good branded butane is something I should look up too. Ronson is good but maybe yours is better.

[@garrenkoehler5609]

Ronson.. is not good. Try for quad filtered or more when choosing a can.

[@thechiclets56]

The best is a Zippo, and if you have one, you're classy. Now gently put it in cotton batting and lock it away securely. And buy a multipack of Bics. Seriously, If it don't work put it away and stop spending too much on expensive lighters. Get a pack of Bics, when they quit, pitch 'em.

[@silkroad1201]

My pos Lotus didnt work to begin with, brand new. Fucking pissed

[@dcdad556]

"Hobby"? It's a culture.

[@ravKenclaw]

thank you for helping me get high

[@wwlittlejOfficial]

This does not work for me. I have about 9 lighters, from cheap Chinese to quality build, and nothing. All I'm doing is wasting fuel, I guess. I can get a .0001 millisecond flame and then nothing but hiss as fuel escapes. I bleed the lighter again until I can't hear anything, and then a lil more, to be sure, refill a bit, wait a few minutes, same thing. I see a spark, but the fuel refuses to stay ignited, no matter which lighter I'm using. The one thing that seemed to work is letting a bit of fuel run before snapping the ignition, then I can get a nice torch from at least one of my lighters (weirdly, this trick does not work for its twin.) I wish I knew more about lighter anatomy, It's now a principal thing. There's no reason these lighters don't work!

[@charmainekelly8336]

I filled mine up but it wouldn't ignight

[@CigarAdvisorMagazine]

Did you try bleeding it a few times?

[@carystarke8000]

Well I guess I have 2 now. An old AVO UVEZIAN give away Torch , I thought 💭 was now a Paper Weight. So ordered the COLIBRI RALLY ( came today ) in Rose Gold. With the blue fuel viewer. After blowing Butane all over hand and wood table I decided to look at Directions. I mean who needs to read to do that right ? Well as you just informed me , But also colibri says to turn the flame 🔥 down to full -Minus , evidently that opens the valve or something, and Bleed 🩸 the tank, which with Stupid method I was only able to get maybe 50% in there. Bleed and it’s 100%. Then adjust your flame 🔥. I guess i have to have foreplay with my Torch now ?!?! You know you just want to poke it on in there , Fill it , and not check the fuel viewer to see if it is satisfied or not. 🧠🍆🧠

[@CigarAdvisorMagazine]

Thanks for leaving a comment and good luck with your new lighter. We've had good luck with Colibri lighters.

[@jamesburton2363]

Vertigo Saber Double Torch Lighter with V Cutter, DOES NOT WORK, TRIED BLEEDING ABOUT 5 TIMES, $30 DOWN THE DRAIN, should have stuck to a simple disposable