TTIWWP 

iota wrote:

I posted these directions in another thread but I think they are pretty helpful:

0) buy this: http://www.radioshack.com/product/index … Id=2062272 and get a small flathead screwdriver
1) pull up on the bottom edge of the bottom trim piece (closest to the e-brake and cupholders) by putting a screwdriver under it or using your fingers in the shift boot (on a manual). there is one plastic tab that holds it here. just lift up and it will pop right out.
2) lift the entire section out -- this is the plastic piece that contains the shift boot and the ashtray etc
3) once you've exposed the back of the cig lighter, there is a plug in the back of the lighter, and then a wiring harness about 1inch up the cable from the back of the plug. just squeeze the tab on the wiring harness and pull it apart. this will disconnect the power to the cig lighter and let you lift the entire assembly up out of the car (unscrew your shift knob if needed)
4) now looking at the back of the cig lighter plug, pull the white plastic L shaped housing that connects the wire to the back of the cig lighter. this pulls straight off. you should now have a 1inch piece of wire in your hand with the click-style wiring harness to connect to car wiring on one end, and the L shaped plastic plug that mates with the cig lighter in the other. You can disconnect the little wire that powers the ashtray lightbulb if you need.
5) inspecting the inside of the L shaped plastic connector (that plugs into the two prongs on the back of the cig lighter) you will see there is a metal contact inside of each leg of the L shapled plastic plug. stick a small flathead screwdriver down in and release the tiny tab (on the inside edge of the L-shape I think) while pulling the wire and it will pop free of the plasting housing
6) you will now have a wire with a crimped on metal clip; wrap your power wire from your radio shack cig lighter kit tightly around the exposed part of the metal clip, and push it back into the L shaped plastic thing. This might take a try or two as it's a tight fit -- but it's tight enough that it won't come out under any circumstance (at least not until you use a screwdriver to push the tab which frees the metal clip from the plastic housing again), and there are no exposed wires as they are now protected under the plastic of the L shaped thing.
7) repeat for the ground wire
8) make sure both of the metal clips are secured back into the L shaped connector -- you shouldn't be able to pull them out without sticking something in to release the tab again, so push hard. this will insure that the wires will stay in there indefinately
9) plug the L shaped connector back into the back of the cig lighter, and plug the wire into the car's wiring harness that you unhooked before and re-assemble

you've now tapped the cig lighter to add an internal cig lighter with zero soldering, tape, crimping, or really any tools at all. it takes me about 90 seconds to take the lower console piece off, unplug the cig lighter, pop out the metal prongs, wrap the power wire and ground wire to the respectrive prong, and put it together again (i keep doing it as i keep switching between ipod solutions)

chuck92ex wrote:

Iota - Where and how did you mount the second outlet?

I didn't mount it anywhere, actually... it's just inside of the console behind the cig lighter, there is a big open space in there above the airbag control module. I think I might have velcroed it. My purpose was to hide the extra item that needed the cig lighter inside of the dash.

You could easily drill a hole somewhere in the dash and fit the new cig lighter there

pghgreg wrote:

I did this last weekend with the radio shack kit. I used the extra outlet for a blekin ipod power supply (the cable comes out now where the ashtray would slide in --fits my ipod mini too) The extra outlet and the belkin fit behind the console. I saw no reason to attach this combination to anything. Seems quite insulated and secure and easy to access if I need to adjust anything.

On an unrelated note, I recommend the hard wired scosche FM modulator from Crutchfield. The switch snaps into place where the retainer clip for the ashtray is. Out of site and works great. No interference and quick instal.

Something like this?
 

I did something similar when I bought my car...  Replaced the HU with a Sony that had a line in (thanks, Sony Visa!), and the ipod dock connector comes out under the side of the center console between the cupholder and passenger's seat.  There's a ton of space behind the ashtray...  All in all, it works well.

mbC

Last edited by mbc (2006-03-26 19:34:33)

JerseyJoe wrote:

I did something similar when I installed my GPS.  You could install another cigarette lighter plug on the passenger side (instead of the drivers side, like mine)

http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/1183/d … 9fq.th.jpg

Excellent job!  I have a Garmin iQue 3600 which uses the same type of adapter I would really love to do something like this!

iota wrote:

mbc wrote:

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/2821/auxpower6kj.jpg  http://img475.imageshack.us/img475/6511 … er11bx.jpg

Thats what I did. How did you hook up to the existing cig lighter wiring? My trick (in the OP) is to just pop out the metal contacts from the white plastic connector (after unplugging it from the back of the lighter's heating element), then wrap your power and ground wires around those and stick them back in the connector. No soldering, tight fit keeps the wires from popping out (ie, it's impossible to pull them out), and it's safe because thats exactly how the existing connectors work.

I used some of those splicing crimps-  they tap an existing line and allow you to add another, and I had some lying around.  Sort of like this:
  (existing wire runs through, second lies beside it).  Handy little buggers.  Also had my radar detector wired up through the back, behind the clock, but moved it to run iff the map light wiring- that way, the wire doesn't get in the way when I use my sunshade...

marc

Did this today to keep my Garmin power supply hidden and plugged in behind the dash. The wire comes out from under clock pod and plugs right into the Garmin. Much cleaner look than running the wire from the stock cig lighter over the stereo/hvac panel up to the middle of the dash. Thanks for the install directions!

Just did this today for my cell phone charger -- pulled it up through the ashtray.  Very nice! 

The link the the radioshack product is broken - could someone link me to a similar product, not sure exactly what is being used here.

Thanks, I want to try and do this, maybe this weekend.  I can't stand the un-clean-ness of my gps so i just don't use it much in the 92x.

Awesome, thanks - I think I have the exact same one, also from CT and I'm not really using it.

Is there a good way to string a wire into a vent or something or would I be looking at drilling a hole to have the GPS go straight down into the dash somewhere for minimal wiring.  I think I'll set up an FM transmitter or maybe an ipod charger while i"m at it.

Am I correct that there is no aux port on the back of our stock 6 disc changer for plugging in an ipod or something?  I really can't afford a new hu for a while...

If the device runs off 12v, there's no reason I could see that that wouldn't work, so long as you run an inline fuse, and do a good enough job on the splice. 

Personally, I added another outlet for versatility in what I could use it for.

Great mod, thanks guys.  I did this yesterday - quick and easy.  I have the wires going out the side up into the glove box where i put an fm transmitter and Ipod ($12 and works pretty darn well) and then my gps wire going up the passanger side and tucked into the dash piece at the window.  You can only see 4" of wire and I can keep my cig lighter door closed.  Love it.  Also makes me less anxious to buy a stereo I can't afford as I've sorta gotten used to the sound  quality but really wanted some ipod action.