powered cigarette lighter even with the car off?

Hi there, I have a base model 2005 Toyota Matrix. I noticed that the
cigarette lighter is not active unless the key is in at least in the
accessories position. The problem is that I want to charge my devices
while I am away from the car for several hours but can get no power
through the cigarette lighter (or whatever they are call it these days
since there is no ashtray or lighter for that matter in the car). Does
anyone know a hack or a way to get the dc active with the car off and
the keys out? Thanks.

"Cakes" <evans.matt@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1119299179.622904.188280@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
> Hi there, I have a base model 2005 Toyota Matrix. I noticed that the
> cigarette lighter is not active unless the key is in at least in the
> accessories position. The problem is that I want to charge my devices
> while I am away from the car for several hours but can get no power
> through the cigarette lighter (or whatever they are call it these days
> since there is no ashtray or lighter for that matter in the car). Does
> anyone know a hack or a way to get the dc active with the car off and
> the keys out? Thanks.
>[/color]

Hack? The Matrix is a very modern vehicle but power to the accessory outlet
is not controlled by a computer or chip.

You will need a wiring diagram, knowledge on how to read the diagram, and
tools to back individual pins out of the wiring harness that powers the
accessory outlet to make it hot all the time.

As an alternative, purchase an 12-volt extension cord, snip off the end that
would plug into the cigarette outlet, attach female spade crimp connectors
to the wires and then attach to accessory blades that slide in next to
fuses.

Another is to unplug the power from the back of the power outlet and supply
always hot power to the connection.

--
Ray O
correct the return address punctuation to reply

"Ray O" <rokig...@tristarassociatesDOT.com>; - Find messages by this
author
Date: Mon, 20 Jun 2005 15:39:51 -0500
Local: Mon,Jun 20 2005 4:39 pm
Subject: Re: powered cigarette lighter even with the car off?As an
alternative, purchase an 12-volt extension cord, snip off the end that
would plug into the cigarette outlet, attach female spade crimp
connectors
to the wires and then attach to accessory blades that slide in next to
fuses. ...
_________________

HA,HA, reminds me of my teenage days. Clipping off some 12 gauge wire
and running directly from the fuse box to my cassette tape player,
which I then wired into the car speakers. Worked great except for the
times I went around curves too fast and the cassette player rolled and
the wires would pop off....

<timbirr@mailcity.com> wrote in message
news:1119300390.723025.114600@g47g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
> "Ray O" <rokig...@tristarassociatesDOT.com>; - Find messages by this
> author
> Date: Mon, 20 Jun 2005 15:39:51 -0500
> Local: Mon,Jun 20 2005 4:39 pm
> Subject: Re: powered cigarette lighter even with the car off?As an
> alternative, purchase an 12-volt extension cord, snip off the end that
> would plug into the cigarette outlet, attach female spade crimp
> connectors
> to the wires and then attach to accessory blades that slide in next to
> fuses. ...
> _________________
>
> HA,HA, reminds me of my teenage days. Clipping off some 12 gauge wire
> and running directly from the fuse box to my cassette tape player,
> which I then wired into the car speakers. Worked great except for the
> times I went around curves too fast and the cassette player rolled and
> the wires would pop off....
>[/color]

Fool! Your girlfriend/date is supposed to hold the tape player for you so
it doesn't get damaged during SOB and COD turns. It also gave you an
incentive to treat her nicely - otherwise, she'd throw it out the window!
--
Ray O
correct the return address punctuation to reply

Ray O wrote:[color=blue]
> "Cakes" <evans.matt@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1119299179.622904.188280@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com...[color=green]
>> Hi there, I have a base model 2005 Toyota Matrix. I noticed that the
>> cigarette lighter is not active unless the key is in at least in the
>> accessories position. The problem is that I want to charge my devices
>> while I am away from the car for several hours but can get no power
>> through the cigarette lighter (or whatever they are call it these days
>> since there is no ashtray or lighter for that matter in the car). Does
>> anyone know a hack or a way to get the dc active with the car off and
>> the keys out? Thanks.
>>[/color]
>
> Hack? The Matrix is a very modern vehicle but power to the accessory outlet
> is not controlled by a computer or chip.
>
> You will need a wiring diagram, knowledge on how to read the diagram, and
> tools to back individual pins out of the wiring harness that powers the
> accessory outlet to make it hot all the time.
>
> As an alternative, purchase an 12-volt extension cord, snip off the end that
> would plug into the cigarette outlet, attach female spade crimp connectors
> to the wires and then attach to accessory blades that slide in next to
> fuses.
>
> Another is to unplug the power from the back of the power outlet and supply
> always hot power to the connection.[/color]

If you re-wire the cig lighter socket... make sure you pay attention to the
gauge and length of the wire you use and WHERE you end up attaching to the 12V
supply. Cigarette lighters draw a lot of current and even though you may not use
it for that purpose someone else may at some point.

On Mon, 20 Jun 2005 13:46:30 -0700, timbirr wrote:
[color=blue]
> "Ray O" <rokig...@tristarassociatesDOT.com>; - Find messages by this
> author
> Date: Mon, 20 Jun 2005 15:39:51 -0500
> Local: Mon,Jun 20 2005 4:39 pm
> Subject: Re: powered cigarette lighter even with the car off?As an
> alternative, purchase an 12-volt extension cord, snip off the end that
> would plug into the cigarette outlet, attach female spade crimp
> connectors
> to the wires and then attach to accessory blades that slide in next to
> fuses. ...
> _________________
>
> HA,HA, reminds me of my teenage days. Clipping off some 12 gauge wire
> and running directly from the fuse box to my cassette tape player,
> which I then wired into the car speakers. Worked great except for the
> times I went around curves too fast and the cassette player rolled and
> the wires would pop off....[/color]


LOL! Oh Yeah!

On Mon, 20 Jun 2005 13:26:19 -0700, Cakes wrote:
[color=blue]
> Hi there, I have a base model 2005 Toyota Matrix. I noticed that the
> cigarette lighter is not active unless the key is in at least in the
> accessories position. The problem is that I want to charge my devices
> while I am away from the car for several hours but can get no power
> through the cigarette lighter (or whatever they are call it these days
> since there is no ashtray or lighter for that matter in the car). Does
> anyone know a hack or a way to get the dc active with the car off and
> the keys out? Thanks.[/color]

Look inside the console...there should be an outlet there that is powered
all the time.

DanR wrote:
[color=blue]
> Ray O wrote:
>[color=green]
>>"Cakes" <evans.matt@gmail.com> wrote in message
>>news:1119299179.622904.188280@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com...
>>[color=darkred]
>>>Hi there, I have a base model 2005 Toyota Matrix. I noticed that the
>>>cigarette lighter is not active unless the key is in at least in the
>>>accessories position. The problem is that I want to charge my devices
>>>while I am away from the car for several hours but can get no power
>>>through the cigarette lighter (or whatever they are call it these days
>>>since there is no ashtray or lighter for that matter in the car). Does
>>>anyone know a hack or a way to get the dc active with the car off and
>>>the keys out? Thanks.
>>>
>>>[/color]
>>Hack? The Matrix is a very modern vehicle but power to the accessory outlet
>>is not controlled by a computer or chip.
>>
>> You will need a wiring diagram, knowledge on how to read the diagram, and
>>tools to back individual pins out of the wiring harness that powers the
>>accessory outlet to make it hot all the time.
>>
>>As an alternative, purchase an 12-volt extension cord, snip off the end that
>>would plug into the cigarette outlet, attach female spade crimp connectors
>>to the wires and then attach to accessory blades that slide in next to
>>fuses.
>>
>>Another is to unplug the power from the back of the power outlet and supply
>>always hot power to the connection.
>>[/color]
>
> If you re-wire the cig lighter socket... make sure you pay attention to the
> gauge and length of the wire you use and WHERE you end up attaching to the 12V
> supply. Cigarette lighters draw a lot of current and even though you may not use
> it for that purpose someone else may at some point.
>
>
>[/color]

Make sure you carry a set of jumper cables. Some thing as small as an
interior light can drain a battery overnight if the battery is old enough.

On Mon, 20 Jun 2005 19:17:57 -0400, ma_twain <ma_twain@yahoo.com>
wrote:
[color=blue]
>DanR wrote:
>[color=green]
>> Ray O wrote:
>>[color=darkred]
>>>"Cakes" <evans.matt@gmail.com> wrote in message
>>>news:1119299179.622904.188280@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com...
>>>
>>>>Hi there, I have a base model 2005 Toyota Matrix. I noticed that the
>>>>cigarette lighter is not active unless the key is in at least in the
>>>>accessories position. The problem is that I want to charge my devices
>>>>while I am away from the car for several hours but can get no power
>>>>through the cigarette lighter (or whatever they are call it these days
>>>>since there is no ashtray or lighter for that matter in the car). Does
>>>>anyone know a hack or a way to get the dc active with the car off and
>>>>the keys out? Thanks.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>Hack? The Matrix is a very modern vehicle but power to the accessory outlet
>>>is not controlled by a computer or chip.
>>>
>>> You will need a wiring diagram, knowledge on how to read the diagram, and
>>>tools to back individual pins out of the wiring harness that powers the
>>>accessory outlet to make it hot all the time.
>>>
>>>As an alternative, purchase an 12-volt extension cord, snip off the end that
>>>would plug into the cigarette outlet, attach female spade crimp connectors
>>>to the wires and then attach to accessory blades that slide in next to
>>>fuses.
>>>
>>>Another is to unplug the power from the back of the power outlet and supply
>>>always hot power to the connection.
>>>[/color]
>>
>> If you re-wire the cig lighter socket... make sure you pay attention to the
>> gauge and length of the wire you use and WHERE you end up attaching to the 12V
>> supply. Cigarette lighters draw a lot of current and even though you may not use
>> it for that purpose someone else may at some point.
>>
>>
>>[/color]
>
>Make sure you carry a set of jumper cables. Some thing as small as an
>interior light can drain a battery overnight if the battery is old enough.[/color]

....or own of those little battery boost jobbies...that I have to carry
in my '92 Corolla....cause there is no 'nanny' buzzer if I leave the
headlights on.

....sometimes there is a fox around to give me a jump....sometimes
there are only ugly guys...

ugly guy...bring out the little battery boost jobbie...


--

Scott in Florida

hachiroku wrote:[color=blue]
> Look inside the console...there should be an outlet there
> that is powered all the time.[/color]

Not true in my case. 2004 Highlander and 2004 RAV4.
_None_ of the three outlets (the "cigarette lighter",
the center console outlet, or the outlet in the back)
work unless the key is on.

This is a huge design error on Toyota's part. These days
people have so many different types of devices that need
charging. And the number and types of things will only
increase in the future.

On Tue, 21 Jun 2005 11:45:02 -0700, ll
<lkslittle@REMOVEcomcastTHIS.net> wrote:
[color=blue]
>hachiroku wrote:[color=green]
>> Look inside the console...there should be an outlet there
>> that is powered all the time.[/color]
>
>Not true in my case. 2004 Highlander and 2004 RAV4.
>_None_ of the three outlets (the "cigarette lighter",
>the center console outlet, or the outlet in the back)
>work unless the key is on.
>
>This is a huge design error on Toyota's part. These days
>people have so many different types of devices that need
>charging. And the number and types of things will only
>increase in the future.[/color]

I can just hear the bitching.....

Damned Toyota let me run down my battery while I was watching my DVD
player with the key turned off....

Yours truly would appreciate a 'nanny' buzzer to help my feeble old
mind remember to turn off the headlights when I get out of my 92
Corolla....but I solved the problem by getting a battery jumper thingy
that makes up for my mess ups.


--

Scott in Florida

Scott in Florida wrote:[color=blue]
> On Tue, 21 Jun 2005 11:45:02 -0700, ll
>
> Yours truly would appreciate a 'nanny' buzzer to help my feeble old
> mind remember to turn off the headlights when I get out of my 92
> Corolla....
>[/color]

My brother, you're gonna need a lot more than a 'nanny' buzzer for that
feeble old mind of yours.
[color=blue]
>
> but I solved the problem by getting a battery jumper thingy
> that makes up for my mess ups.
>[/color]

I leave the lights on at all times in my 1995 Toyota Corolla. They
turn off automatically when I take the key out and open the door. I
find its safer to drive with the lights on at all times.

On Tue, 21 Jun 2005 12:48:58 -0700, Learning Richard wrote:
[color=blue]
>
>
> Scott in Florida wrote:[color=green]
>> On Tue, 21 Jun 2005 11:45:02 -0700, ll
>>
>> Yours truly would appreciate a 'nanny' buzzer to help my feeble old
>> mind remember to turn off the headlights when I get out of my 92
>> Corolla....
>>[/color]
>
> My brother, you're gonna need a lot more than a 'nanny' buzzer for that
> feeble old mind of yours.
>[color=green]
>>
>> but I solved the problem by getting a battery jumper thingy
>> that makes up for my mess ups.
>>[/color]
>
> I leave the lights on at all times in my 1995 Toyota Corolla. They
> turn off automatically when I take the key out and open the door.[/color]

As does my '85 Corolla GTS, my '85 Celica GTS and my Mom's '86 Camry. But,
my '95 Tercel didn't.

On Tue, 21 Jun 2005 11:45:02 -0700, ll
<lkslittle@REMOVEcomcastTHIS.net> wrote:
[color=blue]
>This is a huge design error on Toyota's part. These days
>people have so many different types of devices that need
>charging. And the number and types of things will only
>increase in the future.[/color]


I for one won't be leaving my nice iPOD/PDA/cell plugged in the car
waiting to be destroyed by the hot sun, or giving an excuse for punts
to break into my coche.

On Tue, 21 Jun 2005 11:45:02 -0700, ll
<lkslittle@REMOVEcomcastTHIS.net> wrote:
[color=blue]
>hachiroku wrote:[color=green]
>> Look inside the console...there should be an outlet there
>> that is powered all the time.[/color]
>
>Not true in my case. 2004 Highlander and 2004 RAV4.
>_None_ of the three outlets (the "cigarette lighter",
>the center console outlet, or the outlet in the back)
>work unless the key is on.
>
>This is a huge design error on Toyota's part. These days
>people have so many different types of devices that need
>charging. And the number and types of things will only
>increase in the future.[/color]

No, it is a strategic decision by Toyota to avoid product liability
trouble. For people who leave their cellphone chargers and GPS units
running all night (or all weekend), run their batteries down overnight
constantly (very hard on the battery), and then require three new
batteries under warranty - and never figure out why.

Or people who leave kids in the car, they keep pushing in the
cigarette lighter till they catch the dash on fire, and make a loss
and/or injury claim. Or worse, wrongful death...

Or they use some sort of a heating appliance like a 12V saucepan
(they exist, I have one) or coffeepot, leave it unattended, and they
manage to light the car on fire with the appliance.

If you want these accessory outlets to stay on with the key off, you
either need to install your own aftermarket outlet fused and cabled
directly from the battery, or modify the relay that turns off the
accessory power with the key so it doesn't. That can be as simple as
pulling the relay from the fuse block, and making a jumper wire with
two male tab crimp connectors the right size and about two inches of
heavy wire.

Don't modify the relay, you might want to put it back to factory
when you sell the car.

--<< Bruce >>--

--
Bruce L. Bergman, Woodland Hills (Los Angeles) CA - Desktop
Electrician for Westend Electric - CA726700
5737 Kanan Rd. #359, Agoura CA 91301 (818) 889-9545
Spamtrapped address: Remove the python and the invalid, and use a net.