12v Power Socket

[fatboydel]

I have a 2004 W209 270CDI and am having trouble with the accessory socket, it is the optional 12V one, not the cigarette lighter.

Nothing I plug in to it seems to get any power, yet if I put the meter across it there is 12V present in the socket. Are these sockets different and don't work with cigarette lighter type plugs? I have tried 3 different bits of kit and they don't get power, no amount of twisting and turning makes any difference.

Ideally I would like to add another socket out of site under the dash somewhere, has anyone done this before? I don't like wires trailing all over the dash for the TomTom.

 

[SilverSaloon]

why not cut the tomtom cable (or buy an additional cable to do this) and hard wire it to 12v ignition/live and then have it popping out from the windscreen ready to plug the TT into.

the 12v socket should work with usual cigar lighter plugs though..... are you checking the negative feed in the socket with your meter (ie ensuring the earth in the socket itself is earthed)......

 

[nigel cross]

Is It an after market fitting?
If you are getting 12v across the terminals, could they be reversed?

 

[fatboydel]

It is the standard Mercedes fit and I have put the meter inside the socket, touching the end and the internal side for contacts.

 

[Geezer255]

have you checked the ends of the plugs?, are all the center pins acually sticking out?, I thought the socket was faulty a few months back till one of my employees pointed out that the centre often gets stuck in

 

[fatboydel]

Yes, the plugs all seem fine and work in my other cars without a problem, this was the first time I have come to use this one and can't get it to work. Might have to change it out if I can't get it working.

 

[SilverSaloon]

sounds to me as if the tip (+) isnt touching the inner of the socket or the side (-) bits are not touching the side.

try some carefully placed temp wires to confirm.

 

[fatboydel]

Just been having a go at this again and still cannot make it work, there is power in there but nothing seems to connect, have tried several devices now. Think I will tear it out and replace it, is this a replacement part from MB?

 

[flango]

why not cut the tomtom cable (or buy an additional cable to do this) and hard wire it to 12v ignition/live and then have it popping out from the windscreen ready to plug the TT into.
.....

Be careful when doing this as some TT units do not operate at 12v and if you do it this way you could possibly fry it, I think on some a voltage dropper is incorporated into the cig plug, so best to check.

 

[fatboydel]

I have found out what the issue is, the connection point at the end seems to have power but it is in a recessed part of the connection, so I ground down the point of a twin socket adaptor and it now gets power. No other plugs connect which is a pain.

I would like ot modify it to work with any plug, does anyone know how to get the ashtray section out, do I need to strip half the dashboard to get it out?

 

[fatboydel]

Is there anywhere in the car I can connect to to get 12V so I can wire the twin socket out of site somewhere under the dash, then I can plug things in without the unsightly wires draped all over the dash. I took a look at the fuse box by the drivers door but couldn't see anything. Other than that it will need me to run a cable from the battery through the bulkhead, are there any holes in a convenient place?

 

[Baron_Samedi]

Piece of Cake del,

Lift off your gear shift gaiter

Grasp the surround lifting the front gently and drawing up, it will dislodge and you can turn it 90 degrees.

This exposes the catches for the "ashtray" lever them gently and the tray can be drawn out

Simples

Pics and better instruction are on Mercedes Electronics upgrades, installation and retrofits

 

[fatboydel]

Nice one Baron, just need to buy a new socket now. Or could I wire the extension twin socket in to the back of the current socket and route it out under the dash?

 

[Baron_Samedi]

Hi Del,

That's what I would do

Make sure you insulate well, as there are a few bits and pieces under there that won't like being shorted...

And I would fit an inline fuse, just to protect your wiring.

 

[fatboydel]

Have got it out now and the problem was with the socket, it is kind of rivetted at the base, which had broken, so something sharp went through the broken rivet and made contact. All fell apart when I took it out!!!

Ordered a new socket from MB but can't work out how to the old casing out of the console, another brilliant piece of engineering.

Will still wire the extra socket in while I have it apart.

 

[Baron_Samedi]

Grrrrr

When is yer socket due?

If its 2moro or the weekend I'll haul mine out and have a look!

 

[rf065]

why not cut the tomtom cable (or buy an additional cable to do this) and hard wire it to 12v ignition/live and then have it popping out from the windscreen ready to plug the TT into.

I've got 3 TomToms at the moment, all work off 5V

Russ

 

[Baron_Samedi]

Good point Russ!

But why three TT's... you aren't piloting one of NASA's finest are you?

Del might need a converter....

 

[rf065]

Good point Russ!

But why three TT's... you aren't piloting one of NASA's finest are you?

Del might need a converter....

One for the MB, one bought by my work for in my works car, and one just bought this year with Florida maps on for holidays.

The bit of the power lead that plugs into the cigarette lighter socket for all three states, "input 12V - output 5V 2A"

Russ

 

[SilverSaloon]

I've got 3 TomToms at the moment, all work off 5V

Russ

i mean to basically cut the wire where it plugs into the cig lighter and tap it directly into 12v (ideally to the BACK of the cig lighter if its ignition 12v, routing the wire up to the windscreen descreetly.

that way, the wiring is identical but leaves the cig free for other devices. if you are worried about stuff inside the plug converting it, which it sounds like it does, dismantle it and see or just tap some wires directly to the existing plug. Buy one of those cig lighter extension things and plug it into that, tape it all up in insulation tape, hide it in the dash and then cut the new extension plug and wire that in.

i am doing this job myself this weekend, in the Alfa for our TomTom. I intend to do the above

see this thread:

http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=91691