Cigar Lighter Power Key Off

[bevhoward]

I really need the two Cigar Lighter sockets to remain powered on in my wife's new 2008 Civic Hybrid.

I found this excellent thread

Center Console removal for Aux input install

on gaining access to the guts of the center console, but before I tear into it would like to know if anyone has thoughts on this job...

...such as;

Is there any other way to achieve this goal such as a mod near the fuse box.

Is there 12v Key Off power under or near the console?

Thanks in advance,
Beverly Howard

[bevhoward]

Took a while, and found that there are apparently no easy ways to get to "always on" 12vdc inside the Civic (2008 hybrid) cabin.

To help others that may have the same need;

Searched under the dash, in the center console and under the radio for something traceable that had power with the key off with zero results.

The engine compartment front left fuse box sent me down an empty rabbit hole when I noticed that there were two unused fuse blocks, but after dismounting the fusebox and running a tone trace, determined that they didn't go to any of the fusebox connectors leading out of the box.



There's another fuse holder next to the battery with a couple of empty fuse sockets, but, these sockets don't even have the metal contacts.



That lead me to where I should have started from, the small terminal on the battery positive post.

The article at Center Console removal for Aux input install
was indispensable for getting into the center console, and, once off, it was _relatively_ easy to install a three socket cigar lighter unit next to the existing socket in the center console storage box... used jacketed wire to run from there to the firewall, which provided the next blockade.



Note!!! With the sockets mounted as shown, it's easy for somthing metallic to fall into any socket which doesn't have a cover, so, if your's don't have covers, strongly suggest a capplug or dummy plug to keep the holes closed.

In addition, since the plugs contain electronics, they generate heat... don't stuff your dirty socks in the compartment! ;-)

The cover under the steering wheel is easy to remove, but it took a while to find a place where I felt it was safe to penetrate the firewall... between the accelerator control and the large wire bundle near the centerline.

Drilling a hole was also not easy because of accessibility and angle, which was finally solved by using a long center punch to dimple the firewall enough to keep a long drill bit in place.



Used a good inline fuse holder a few inches from the battery and life is back to normal... my wife can leave her cell phone in the car rather than forgetting it on the house charger... and, a couple of other devices can be kept charged when traveling.

Reflecting on a project that consumed an inordinate number of hours plus a gallon or so of sweat, I remember reading a business news article in the 1960's where general motors's bean counters had determined if they could save 25 cents per car, the return to GM would be huge... and I knew that corners were going to be cut from then on.

In this case, it would have been pretty simple for honda to modify the fuse holder supplying the standard cigar sockets so that the socket would function as a jumper pin... put the fuse on one side and the sockets would be "key on" ...put the fuse on the other side and the sockets would be "always on" ...probably cost honda about a quarter a vehicle... and make a significant number of owners very happy... oh... forgot about those bean counters ;-)

Hope this helps,
Beverly Howard