451 Additional 12V Socket in the cubby

[gotwavs]

I tried this mod from another forum but changed it up a bit. Instead of the left cubby I put mine in the right cubby. It's a little harder to drill it out because it's a tighter area to work in. If you have the right tools it's pretty easy though. I also took out the radio so that I could feel around behind the area I was going to drill out so that I didn't cut any wires and checked for room. While I had it out I routed my aux cable to the cubby from the glove box. I used the Radio Shack outlet here. It fits in there perfect. I needed it for my Griffin Tuneflex for my ipod. The default power outlet is in a bad place for the tuneflex because it blocks the cup holders and it has a tendancy to move around. The new outlet works much better for me. It's easier for me to see the ipod and access.

Sorry, my pics are a little crappy cause I used my phone to take them.

Edited July 26, 2008 by gotwavs

[Guest kwaldron]

I like.

[SCHMART]

Bravo!

[gotwavs]

Thank You, thank you. Glad you like it. It was fun to do and surprisingly easy.

[Harleyduo]

Can you give us some step by step insructions for removing the radio and also removing the auxiliary input? This sounds exactly like what I want to do but I'm really uncomfortable about trying to remove those items without some instructions to guide me safely so I don't 'break' anything. Did you actually disconnect the radio during the process or just pull it forward leaving the wires intact?Thanks

[gotwavs]

Here is a link to Evilution's 451 Stereo Removal Tutorial I didn't unplug the radio. I just pulled it out and let it hang by the wires.

I didn't remove the aux input. I just added a new 12V outlet. I got this at Radio Shack. [This line was edited for clarity]

I hooked a spade connector (seen here) to the red wire so I could plug it into a free switched connection on the fuse block under the dash on the driver side. There is a great pic of the switched outlet in the other forum (seen here). [also see pic below]

I also sniped the ring terminal (seen here) off the black wire and crimped on a bigger one that would fit on the ground point. The located to the left and below the fuse block. It has a bunch of brown wires connected to it. There a picture on the other forum's tutorial (seen here). [also see pic below] Just take that nut off with a 10 mm socket or wrench and put the ring terminal on and put the nut back on.

The tutorial (seen here) is very good. I couldn't have done it better. The only thing I did differently was install it in the right cubby instead of the left cubby. That's why I took out the radio. So that I could feel around back there to see where it was safe to drill.

I used a 1" spade bit (seen here) to drill the hole. And then I used a rat tail file to open the hole up a bit. Then I sanded the edges with sandpaper on a piece of wood dowel to dress it up. If I had one I would have been better off with a 1 1/8" spade bit (seen here). You should be able to pick one up at any hardware store. With the 1 1/8" bit I might have been able to avoid the rat tail file step.

In the other tutorial he used a large step bit. I would have used that but I couldn't get it to fit in the right cubby. They also cost $60-$80 so if you don't already have one it's not really worth it. And if you're not careful with a step bit you can accidentally make too big of a hole. You can take the plastic off but you can't put it back on.

I also had to notch the hole a little bit on the right side with a knife because the outlet has a ridge to line it up an keep it from turning. I put in the outlet upside down so that the cover would hang down. Notch it on the left if you want the plug cover words to be right-side up.

Route you're cables. Slide the outlet into place, snap it in. Hook the black wire with ring connector to the ground point. Plug the red wire with male spade connector to the fuse block (switched or unswitched your preference. I did switched so it would shut off with the car.) And you should be good to go.

Another thing I did since I had the radio out was route a cable from the aux input in the glove box to the cubby hole. Since I already had the radio cover off I just ran the cable out of the glove box under the AC unit (above the radio) and into the cubby. [see pic below] I put the cover back on and it worked like a charm.

I've edited this post to add four more pics for clarity:

Edited July 28, 2008 by gotwavs

[Harleyduo]

Thank you for the information and also for the speedy reply. It's helpful things like this that make me love this site and appreciate smart owners helping smart owners. I also have a Tuneflex and never quite liked the fact that the power plug connection was blocked my 32 oz Diet Coke cup (which I constantly seem to have sitting in my cupholder), so I consequently found myself having to decide whether I wanted my cup held securely or listen to my iPod. This looks like the solution I've been needing.Thanks again.

[Harleyduo]

So, Gotwavs, tell me more about your auxiliary cable. Did you use an 'extension' cable that your Tuneflex connector plugs into, or did you route the Tuneflex mini-plug over to the glove box to plug it in? At first I thought you wired in an additional jack so you could plus an auxiliary item in either place, but now I'm not sure. I like the idea of an extra jack as long as it was 'neatly' held in place like in the glove box, but perhaps even a female jack on the end of an extension cable wouldn't be that big of an issue if it didn't rattle around too much. Right now I only use that cubby to hold my cell phone but your picture almost makes it look like there might still possibly be room for my cell phone underneath the Tuneflex. Since you have yours installed, you can probably tell me before I actually drill my hole.Great modiification!!!! Thanks again for sharing.

[gotwavs]

That's exactly why I did the mod. The tuneflex blocked the cup holders. I was always having to, like you said, decide whether I wanted to take the tuneflex out or risk a spill.I'm glad I could help. I also love this site for all the helpful people and information.I used the cable that came with the tuneflex. I just plugged it into the aux input and routed that behind the radio/AC faceplate and into the cubby. (no drilling required for this) I thought about either moving the Aux jack or splitting it and adding another one but I don't really think I need it.I have plenty of room for my cell phone and change and wallet under the tuneflex so that should work for you.

Edited July 28, 2008 by gotwavs

[gotwavs]

I edited my posts above and added some pics for clarity.

[Harleyduo]

Thanks, I was thinking that the cable with the Tuneflex might just be long enough and since that's the only thing I have ever plugged in, I should be fine. If not, I can always deal with that later.So far, I value your mod more than any I have read about as far as practicality for me here and now. Thanks again.

[gotwavs]

Yeah, that cable should be plenty long enough. Mine even has a little extra that I leave in the glove box.I'm glad to help.