Mod: How to make your 12 volt outlets "hot" at all times

[JuneBug]

This is a pretty simple mod that will allow your 12 volt power outlets in the console and cargo areas to be hot even when the ignition switch is off. The power outlet below the A/C controls will not be affected--it's on a different circuit and will still be tied to the ignition.

Start by removing the panel above the hood release. If you're careful, you can use a thin blade screwdriver to pop it loose on the right hand side. Use a rag to keep from scratching the adjacent panel. Once you get that top right corner loose, you can pull the panel towards you and remove it:



Notice the 3 blue relays on the left. The relay we want is the one in the middle.



Remove the power relay by pulling it straight out. You may have to rock it back and forth a bit. To make it easier for my big hands, I removed the pink IG1 relay first.



Now that the relay is out, you can see how I soldered a jumper wire across the copper colored contacts. This completes the circuit to the power outlets regardless of whether the relay is picked up or not.



Try to solder the jumper wire as close to the relay housing as possible, so it can be re-inserted into the socket.



Others have left the relay out and inserted a jumper wire across the relay socket. That works fine but be sure to use the proper crimp connectors on the jumper. This is a handy mod if you want to use 12 volt accessories, especially in the cargo area.

[Gbcue]

Please note that the wire should be at least 12ga or lower due to the fact the power outlets can handle 10A.

[SeriousBlack]

Very nice write-up!

[Carbon]

Originally Posted by Gbcue

Please note that the wire should be at least 12ga or lower due to the fact the power outlets can handle 10A.

I think that 18 AWG would be quite adequate for a 15 amp fused circuit. The rules and practices are much different for short automotive runs than for AC house wiring. Take a look at the wire size used to power the power taps. The existing wire to the front jack looks about like about #18 with thin insulation to me. I measured 1.4 mm OD on the wire insulation.

See the term "chassis wiring" in http://www.powerstream.com/Wire_Size.htm

[UKcatfan]

Great tip. I often wondered why Toyota didn't have power to those all the time. I also have an 05 Corolla with a power point in the console, I will have to find the relay for that one also.

[krlang]

I put a jumper in my 03 tacoma for the lower two of the three outlets, the upper still works off the ignition. I also mounted a switch next to the two outlets, breaking the ground, so I could shut them off when I wanted to.

I thought I had a pic, but I could not find it.
Here is a pic of the jumper, I reused the relay for the foglights I installed.

[UKcatfan]

Thanks

[cerps]

Dumb question, but how do you get the panel off to access the relays?

[JuneBug]

Originally Posted by cerps

Dumb question, but how do you get the panel off to access the relays?

Very carefully. :D

This is what I wrote in the first post:

Start by removing the panel above the hood release. If you're careful, you can use a thin blade screwdriver to pop it loose on the right hand side. Use a rag to keep from scratching the adjacent panel. Once you get that top right corner loose, you can pull the panel towards you and remove it.

It pops out pretty easy. You can use a plastic pry tool or wrap the end of the screwdriver with electrical tape to prevent scratches.

[gyrfalcon]

Originally Posted by Gbcue

Please note that the wire should be at least 12ga or lower due to the fact the power outlets can handle 10A.

So using steel wool is a bad idea?