I've owned my '05 for about a year (29,500 miles and has been well cared for). Everything works like new, except the in-cabin 12V accessory outlet on the rear of the console. The fuse is good, and I get 12-14V when I test at the outlet with a volt meter, but when I plug in my cell phone or gps charger nothing happens.

I tried plugging in a corded accessory plug which has ring terminals on the wire ends. This plug came with an inverter which I use for something else entirely. I haven't used it with the inverter, but it makes a good tester for this outlet. When I test the voltage at the wire ends of the accessory plug it also reads 12-14V, however when I connect any load to the terminals (phone charger, 12V trouble light) the voltage goes down: zero in the case of the trouble light and to 2V with the phone charger. I've tested the phone charger and the bulb with a spare 12V battery, and they both work fine off that, so I think it's something in the circuit. I've read the on-going thread on this forum for issues related to the relay which temporarily disconnects the radio, mirrors, and accessory outlet during engine starting, but this doesn't seem to fit with that issue as the radio and mirrors are working fine. I've also searched on other forums, etc. without any luck.

Anyone any ideas?

 

Pretty likely to be that relay. It certainly is indicative of a resistive connection. That would most likely be the relay contacts.

 

Replace the fuse. It could be a partial failure and it only allows enough current to register.

 

This just magically and suddenly happen? What changes have you made to the car? Is the polarity correct? This shouldn't reverse itself but things like phones and GPS are polarity sensitive.

You should never get as low as 12v. Charged battery is 12.7 volts and there isn't enough wire resistance to drop it to 12v. Should be closer to 14v with the engine running.

-- Chuck

 

IIRC, there are 2 fuses to worry about for the outlet plug. One also controls the radio (if powered off the stock radio power feed. If you have aftermarket stereo, it may be powered from a different source than stock).

So look for another fuse besides just the one marked for accy outlet. I know this sounds weird, but I recall my outlet went dead, and there were 2 fuses I had to change to get it working again. Radio went dead at same time as outlet).

As for the 'exactly 12 volts' being too low (for healthy battery), yes, true, but he never said he measured exactly 12.0 volts. I think he was just rounding off, basically saying he got battery voltage at accy outlet. He recognized no need to be precise here...

Sent from my SM-G920P using IB AutoGroup

 

Yah fuse number 9 in the under dash box controls the radio and outlet plug but I doubt it's a bad fuse.

Check these grounds





If that doesn't work check the connector and the 12v outlet itself.

The wire for the socket is white/red, ground is black.

I suppose the accessory relay could affect voltage if there was a problem with the blue/white wire or it's associated relays or light blue wires from the clutch interlock switch. The clutch interlock switch, IG2 relay, starter cut relay, and engine start switch have wires that activate the accessory relay(opens and cuts power) which is a normally closed switch.



Here's the wiring diagram.

 

could be corrosion at any of the connections. At the fuse, at the connection to the outlet, in the relay contacts. My understanding is that he only gets the large voltage drop when he tries to draw appreciable current.

 

Problem fixed. You were right first time. It was the relay. I had discounted that because the radio, which was supposed to be on the same relay, was working OK. But after removing the console, etc., looking at the accessory outlet and its connections, and testing the resistance of the wiring between each point, I isolated the high resistance (120 ohms) to the relay which had dirty contacts. I had to order a new relay from the dealer. It came in today, installed it, and now the outlet works fine.

I think the radio, which is aftermarket and installed by the previous owner, must be wired to some other relay. Perhaps because of this issue. Anyway thanks to all who replied, you were a great help.

 

Glad we could help.