Hi,
Can anyone help? I have a 2003, 3-door Rav4 nrg, manual 2L petrol engine. There is a 12v socket between the front seats near the handbrake and it does not work. I've had the car for nearly 3 years and it's never worked but I've now decided to see if I can get it working as some of the things I plug into the 12v cigarette lighter socket render the cup holder unusable. I've checked the fuse and it is fine, what else should I check? Is it easy to get and fit a replacement?
Any suggestions gratefully received, thanks.
I'm not sure about the 4.2, but on my 4.3 the center console outlet goes through a relay. That powers the outlet only when the ignition is on. You could check for a relay and make sure it's working. Also unplug the connector from the back of the outlet and check the voltage with a voltmeter or test light.
I've tinkered with this specific plug in my Rav several times. My first guess would be the clip beneath it. The center console pulls off with 2 screws and 2 bolts. Pull the handbrake as far up as you can. Remove the cover around the base of the shifter (it just pops off) and towards the rear of where that cover sits are the 2 screws. On the rear of the console, open the drink-holder thing and the 2 bolts are in the bottom. 10 mm if I remember correctly. Lift the back first and stick your hand underneath to check the clip for the wiring of the plug. Mine has a tendency to work itself loose and I'll bed that's what happened to yours. The first time you pull the center console and the clip for that plug, it can be overwhelming and you're going to think it'll be a PITA to get back together, but it goes together fine. Replace the front of the console; reach under and plug in the outlet, then lower the rear. Replace bolts and screws and shifter-base cover and you're done. It really only takes about 90 seconds to remove the center console.
Thanks for the feedback, I thought it might be a loose connection but had no idea where to start looking. I'll follow the advice of natcon, you have given me confidence to try it myself as you have made it clear exactly how to do it and what to expect. Thanks again
Pull the handbrake all the way up (you'll need it up to lift off the console).
The cover around the base of the shifter pops off, but may need pried up with a plastic prying tool or a taped flat-head screwdriver (to prevent scratching)
Remove the cover; you'll have to angle it towards the side to finally get it off the shifter handle.
Remove these screws.
Open the back drink holder thing.
Remove these 2 bolts.
Same picture without flash to see the bolts.
Close the drink holder thing back and lift from the rear. This works best seated in the passenger seat. Reach under and you'll feel the wires going to the plug (if yours are still attached). Remove the console and make sure you still have good connections with the clip, etc. When you put it back in, set the front on first and reach in from the rear to plug in the clip. This is done much more easily than you think. Set the rear down and replace the 2 bolts and 2 screws. Replace shifter base cover and you're finished. Here's a pic of the console removed from the rav as well as a view from the underside after removal. I should have also indicated on the picture of the underside where the plug is for the 12v outlet, but I forgot. You can see it opposite the side that has the slot for the handbrake at the end labeled "front."
Thanks natcon, pics were very helpful though mine was a wee bit different being a manual transmission built for the uk market but it only involved 4 screws (removed with an allen key) on the bit round the gear stick (so no prising required).
The 12v connectors were just lying there not attached to anything so I popped them back on and 'bingo!' it worked. All in all, even faffing about with the extra screws, it only took a few minutes to do and as you said, it all goes back together very easily. thanks very much for your help, I really appreciate it.
mine was a wee bit different being a manual transmission built for the uk market but it only involved 4 screws (removed with an allen key) on the bit round the gear stick
Are you sure those screws are not just for decoration? My german imported 2003 model with manual transmission is like that. The gear stick trim can be popped off without any screws removed. (And yea, I undid those screws the first time as well!:wall)
I think at least the allen screws around the radio are real, so one might assume that the one around the shifter are real as well, but you never know, do you?
i am having a similar problem..mine is the 12v socket facing the gear stcik...under the radio panelling...any idea if a similar fix will work?..any tips on how to remove the paneling?
I just had to reattach my connector to the centre 12v socket and the four allen key screws on my model are just for show, although they can be unscrewed.
Also if you find the relay that feeds the sockets and bridge the connectors they will always be operational, instead of only having power when you have your ignition on, I find it handy.
I'm posting off an old thread.. My friend has a 2001 RAV 4 and her cell ph. charger was not working, the one in the console and in dash. So tried different charger and there is only a slight trickle of power to cell ph. and it stops also. So I ruled out the charger itself. Checked the fuses (15 amps), one was blown and other was slightly, so changed the fuses. Still getting only a slight intermittent charge from the dash port. The console port by shifter is doing the same. I only had my test light with me, so I touched the center bottom of the cigarette lighter for power and both are getting power. So I'm a little confused as to why there is power, but it intermittently charges the phone if at all.
Any ideas....????
I'm posting off an old thread.. My friend has a 2001 RAV 4 and her cell ph. charger was not working, the one in the console and in dash. So tried different charger and there is only a slight trickle of power to cell ph. and it stops also. So I ruled out the charger itself. Checked the fuses (15 amps), one was blown and other was slightly, so changed the fuses. Still getting only a slight intermittent charge from the dash port.
Possibly the charging cable is shorting out or phone battery is defective. If you use another device such as a GPS or just use the cigarette lighter then test if the fuse blow. If they do blow using those other devices then there is a short in the outlet wiring. (or loose wire)
So I tested the socket again and it blew both power cords for a cell ph. charger. I measure voltage on both the dash and console 12V cig. lighter outlets and both show around 12V. Would this suggest that there is a short somewhere in the wiring loom upstream? That might get messy and expensive to find and fix.
Is there any way to tap into another 12V source for the cig. lighter in the dash?
I was thinking of the power wire to the radio, since it is reliant on the key to power also. Any thoughts on that?
So I tested the socket again and it blew both power cords for a cell ph. charger. I measure voltage on both the dash and console 12V cig. lighter outlets and both show around 12V. Would this suggest that there is a short somewhere in the wiring loom upstream? That might get messy and expensive to find and fix.
Is there any way to tap into another 12V source for the cig. lighter in the dash?
I was thinking of the power wire to the radio, since it is reliant on the key to power also. Any thoughts on that?
To trouble shoot this take the dash cover off so you can see the wire where the outlet is connected. Check to see if the wires are loose or touching each other. If everything looks ok replace the outlet as Junebug mentioned. Sometimes the outlet wear out faster when you twist the device instead of pulling it straight out.
Removing the cigarette lighter dash cover is very easy. There is just one screw to remove on the right corner and you just pry the entire cover off.
Look at this link here which shows a youtube video. Watch starting at the 5 min 40 second mark for the outlet dash removal.
I just reread your original post and you mentioned both the cigarette lighter outlet and center console fuse were blown using different chargers. (one was blown and the other slightly ?). If the fuses are blown on both outlets that could mean you are using the same defective hardware on both outlet. The question is what are you using on both outlet? Is it the usb cable or the usb charging adapter or phone? You need to find this out to rule out your hardware.
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