Disassembling dash/console for cell phone power cord

[jasonbar]

Howdy-

I'm interested in wiring a USB cable into my dashboard & snaking it out through the air vent to the left of the LCD screen. This will supply power to my wireless phone charger/mount on that same air vent, with no external wiring showing.

I've done similar work on past cars. I'd like to to wire the cable in parallel with the cigarette lighter's ground & 12V wires, but I don't see an easy way to get access to that part of the dash/console.

I did, however, find a very nice multi-part YouTube video showing installation of a navigation system installation in a sedan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSwghhaKFNU&list=WL&index=3

It looks pretty straightforward to get access to the wiring harness that powers the navigation system, so I should be able to get my ground & 12V from that cable, & it's conveniently close to the air vent in question. Also, if my memory serves me, there actually appear to be 2 fuses(!?) listed in the manual that power the DIN: a 10A & a 15A.

Thanks,
-Jason

PS--my memory also tells me that, although the car has just the cigarette lighter & armrest auxiliary power jacks, I recall reading that there's a fuse for a rear power jack. Am I overlooking another secret hidden one in the trunk or back seat, or does this refer to the armrest one?

 

[jasonbar]

Resurrecting my old post. I did this work ages ago but just got around to documenting it today... *blush*

I built a cell phone mount/charger out of LEGO Technic elements. I use my navigator almost constantly. I get lost a lot.

My first mount designs anchored in the ashtray, the CD slot, & the teeny storage cubby above the ashtray, but those were too low & too wobbly.

I resorted to a vent mount, which I was trying to avoid so that I didn't block air flow, but it turned out to be the best overall choice.

1 - I opened up the dash, found 12V on the dashboard screen wiring harness, & tapped into it & ground for a cell phone micro USB car charger. I routed the cord through the gap between 2 panels. No holes drilled, cord not too pinched, tidy, no adhesive.

2 - I built up a base that will accept a wireless charger & the phone (Nexus 5 w/ very thin-walled, smooth plastic case). I tried to make it as open as possible for air flow, while keeping it solid enough to not rattle or jeopardize my phone.

...

 

[jasonbar]

...

3 - The mount has 4 arms that protrude into the vent, with nubs to snap in & grab the back sides of the vent blades with just a little preload to not rattle, while not abusing the vent.

4 - The wireless induction charger slips down securely from above & plugs in. No rattle. Yes, there goes most of my vent airflow...but the mount biases the charger & phone up as high as possible so that I don't have to look down to see my phone, but it's placed just right to not block the infotainment screen or be higher than the hood & fenders from my vantage point.

...

 

[jasonbar]

5 - Likewise, my phone slips down from above held just right by 4 pins that just capture the frame, don't block any of the screen, & don't let the phone rattle.

6 - A couple of shots of the mount/charger/phone not installed.


Thanks,
-Jason

 

[Tailwalker]

Very nice!

 

[NSXNEXT]

Nice. My son loves LEGOs. Might have to steal your idea on running the cable. I have an iPhone ribbon cable that I pulled out of one of those retractable charging cable doodads that would work nicely.