bypass cig lighter?

[Martian]

Is there a way to either bypass or rewire the cig lighter so that it's "always on"?

[blue3]

why would u want it always on ?

[Martian]

The main reason because my cell phone died, and I couldn't charge it without leaving the keys in the ignition and my car unattended (was visiting family). My old Jetta use to have this feature.

[Wild Weasel]

My Sunfire works like this as well. Not sure why all cars aren't set up like this.

To set it up, you'll just need to find an "always hot" wire under the dash somewhere and route it to the lighter. Easy as pie, so long as you're comfortable doing wiring.

[Martian]

To set it up, you'll just need to find an "always hot" wire under the dash somewhere and route it to the lighter. Easy as pie, so long as you're comfortable doing wiring.

Any idea which wire would be good to use, and won't overload the circuit? I'd still like the lighter to be connected to fuse.

[McGuyver_3]

just use a positive always wire and hook up a fuse to it. That way you wont run in to problems

[Wild Weasel]

Any idea which wire would be good to use, and won't overload the circuit? I'd still like the lighter to be connected to fuse.

Sorry... I haven't got a service manual for these cars yet so I don't have a wiring diagram. I'll bet Skarbro could come up with one for you though. He's just been playing under the dash recently.

There's not too much to worry about when it comes to the load. Cig lighters aren't generally high amperage circuits so things designed to plug into them don't usually draw all that much. You can always put a fuse in-line on whatever wire you choose to use though.

Also... you could leave the one alone in the dash and just hook up an always-hot wire to the one in the arm rest. Then you can plug in your cell and leave it hidden away in the armrest where nobody can see it.

[Skarbro]

Sorry... I haven't got a service manual for these cars yet so I don't have a wiring diagram. I'll bet Skarbro could come up with one for you though. He's just been playing under the dash recently.

There's not too much to worry about when it comes to the load. Cig lighters aren't generally high amperage circuits so things designed to plug into them don't usually draw all that much. You can always put a fuse in-line on whatever wire you choose to use though.

Also... you could leave the one alone in the dash and just hook up an always-hot wire to the one in the arm rest. Then you can plug in your cell and leave it hidden away in the armrest where nobody can see it.
I can check the wiring manual.

BTW, only the 2007's have the auxilary one in the arm rest. Lower years have only the cigarette lighter.

[Wild Weasel]

BTW, only the 2007's have the auxilary one in the arm rest. Lower years have only the cigarette lighter.

Ah. Scam! :chuckle

[Martian]

BTW, only the 2007's have the auxilary one in the arm rest. Lower years have only the cigarette lighter.

Yeah, no arm rest for me :-(