Modify the Cigarette lighter port?

Ok, so I have a problem...I bought a car charger for my phone, only to find out it can't snuggly fit into the cigarette lighter. It is hitting the piece which makes contact with the lighter itself. Making it so the port and no firmly fit, so it is wobbly. I've tried googling around, but couldn't find a similar thread or solution, perhaps I was just searching incorrect terms?

Any insight would be much appreciated. Thanks!

They all do that. Not sure why but I have the same issue. Always wobbly no matter which charger I use.

Well, new cig lighters are "power ports"...i believe they just have a small plastic spacer on the bottom, so you couldn't use a cigarette lighter in them if you wanted too, where as this one has the large metal piece to make contact. That piece is the reason they wobble...was wondering if there might be an easy way to fix it...with out tearing everything a part to put in a power port.

Not really sure what you're getting at here. The "lighter itself", as I see it, is the actual heating element which you remove when plugging things into the socket. Is your phone adapter too big or too small for the socket? Regardless, I'd probably get a different phone charger rather than messing with your cigarette lighter socket. If it doesn't fit snugly into the socket, you can very slightly raise the metal contact tab a little bit so it has more "spring action". Just be sure to either use something plastic to bend it, or disconnect the battery while doing it. I suppose you could use a screwdriver, but just don't touch anything but the plastic handle.

You miss what I'm getting at, if you look inside the cig port, there is a large metal piece which makes contact with the actual lighter. Power ports do not have this piece. If this charger does not fit, I don't believe any of them will...the new ones at least. Since they are a universal design. The one in question is actually a compact design. The BMW port simply isn't deep enough for full insertion due to the metal contact piece in the bottom.

Hmmm... Interesting. The charger for my Garmin navigation fits fine.

I've had that issue with some Verizon chargers, but I actually think it's due to the cheap quality and manufacturing. Every other device I've ever plugged in works fine in those cars and they run the gamut of inverters to expansions to detectors and more, from old to new.

The problem isn't the bottom of the port, it's that the charger is too narrow. Open it and bend the side prongs to bow out more.

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You can see, the width appears to be the same, i'll double check to be sure; but it's the depth that is different. It hits the metal in the bottom. I'll have to see if other compact ones fit, as anything taller would likely get in the way of shifting.

That's not the issue though. Your charger is taller than the lighter piece, which means the bottom is making contact. The side contacts are low on the charger, so were they the right width they would be making secure contact with the walls and you'd have a complete circuit.

It's not too tall - It could be 8" tall and as long as it had the contact on the bottom and contact on the sides it would fit and work. The issue is yours is too narrow so the sides don't make sufficient contact to get a good circuit and stay in place.

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True, but I was hoping to kill two birds with one stone. As this is designed for a flush fit. I'll check the width later. and bend em out if needed. But sitll, would like to be able to fit a flush mount in.

there is no way to do what your describing.

yes i understand what you want. but there is not a economical way to do it

Oh bother, guess I'll have to rip it out and put in a better port then, or just put in a usb one altogether. thanks though.

Wouldn't it be easier to just get a better charger?

Yes, or even just to open it and bend the side contacts.

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You're assuming another flush mount charger would fit; and I haven't seen a shorter one than this. So ideally yes, I could just throw a different charger in there, but I'd have to find one that is much shorter.

Originally Posted by E36 Phantom

Yes, or even just to open it and bend the side contacts.

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That is a temp fix I will be doing (assuming that is what it needs, which I think you're right it does), but it doesn't not make it sit flush.

Though I may just go an alternative route and put in a powered female usb into the console, unless I can find a radio that puts out ample power (2+ amps) to the usb port.

Alright.... what your trying to say that you are not getting across is that he wants the hole for the cigarette lighter to be deeper.


Say from the top of the hole to the bottom is 1.5 inches. his flushmount thingie is 1 3/4 inches tall. so he wants to deepen the port so it would again sit flush.

If he's so infatuated with having a hellaxflush charger, I think his other idea is best. Leave the port alone so its available if you need it for something non-usb and just install a USB port somewhere subtle like in the row of blanks next to the lighter. In fact, I love that idea. But the port would be best left alone

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Originally Posted by E36 Phantom

If he's so infatuated with having a hellaxflush charger, I think his other idea is best. Leave the port alone so its available if you need it for something non-usb and just install a USB port somewhere subtle like in the row of blanks next to the lighter. In fact, I love that idea. But the port would be best left alone

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I demand perfection haha. And a charger sticking out 1/4" (or more as seen in the pic) drives me nuts. Eventually I need to build a proper dock (cords don't belong in cars...ever.) but until then, I'm trying to make the best I can.

Thanks for the replies guys.

Edit: Oh, I checked. Bending the prongs would do nothing for my problem, as it makes contact perfectly fine. But w/o sitting flush, it can wiggle about.

Oh, and I am away I need to clean the interior, that is also on my list of to dos lol.

If you seek perfection, why not just go the distance and hardwire the USB setup?

Originally Posted by ZeGerman

If you seek perfection, why not just go the distance and hardwire the USB setup?

Even that is flawed, seeing as it would have a cord. I was hoping there would be a simpler fix but it seems that won't be the case. Just another project to put on the list lol.

run the cord to the glovebox an go from there.

you shouldnt need your phone while your driving anyways right...?

Originally Posted by Eight Thirty

run the cord to the glovebox an go from there.

you shouldnt need your phone while your driving anyways right...?

Incorrect. I use my phone as a media replacement. Aka GPS, Pandora, etc all through the phone. (unlimited data w/ AT&T). My current head unit actually has a dock, but it's for my old iPhone, and I just switched to a note 2, and afaik you can't adapt one to the other plug wise.

Ideally, I'll get rid of the head unit altogether and just have my phone in its location. Though that is way on the back burner.

Ideally you would convert the sunglass holder to a wireless charging dock and stream everything to your head unit via Bluetooth.

Originally Posted by ZeGerman

Ideally you would convert the sunglass holder to a wireless charging dock and stream everything to your head unit via Bluetooth.

Yup. That's the one lone thing I enjoyed about my 2013 Altima rental a couple months ago. I expected fidelity to really suffer streaming over BT to the stock audio system and it didn't. Now, it was only Pandora, and high bit rate local file probably would suffer badly, but at least it was clear with no static or interference. A wireless charging pad in the cubby under the obc would be a perfect set up.

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