My USB power supply shorted out the cigarette lighter again, and just as the last time replacing the fuse doesn't help ( there's a permanent short somewhere, even though the socket is clean, no debris, nothing bent ). Last time the dealer had a look, said this was a known weakness because I inserted something else then an actual cig lighter. According to him things had melted inside and I got charged an arm and a leg to fix it.

This time round I want to fix it myself and replace the whole socket by a fixed USB port, but before I go and break all my trim pieces - What's the best way to remove the front cig lighter socket and access the cabling in that area ? Does someone have pictures/instructions ? 

I am sure there is a thread showing how to remove it but if I recall correctly it was to do with adding extra switches to the blanks around the gear selector.

Have a good search and some good luck

Very interested in doing the same. There must be a market for USB socket replacements for cigarette lighter sockets!

Halfway ...

I remove the trim, starting with the shift lever gaiter, then the buttons + frame around the lever. Then you get to 2 screws and you can remove the ashtray ( removed most of the trim using old credit cards ). Removed the ashray and removed the lighter socket ( not that easy, but it slides apart and I didn't care if it's damaged. )

I did have to cut away a tiny standoff in the socket hole to fit the USB socket, but it fitted nicely.

The lighter connector  has, 3 cables, (neg, pos, and light for the ring ). I don't want to cut off the connector so I'm gonna get 2 female clip sockets that plug in the existing conenctor and connect the USB socket that way. 

More pic's when it's finished.

 

Btw - alixpress is full of usb lighter socket replacements like the one I linked to in my original post.

 

Done ...

 

Awesome, I'm buying two of these and converting the front and back seat 'ports'. Thanks.

 

Did you buy the USB port without the wiring loom/fuse, and if so did it just plug straight into the existing wiring? 

Edited 28 September, 20178 yr by williamshatnerspants