Power Outlet Switching

Does anyone know how one would go about making the power outlet full
time (not switched)? I want at lest one outlet on for charging a cell
phone. There must be a relay or something that can be modified.

 

What year and model car is this? Typically there is no relay, you'll
have to get behind the dash and snip the wire to the power plug and
reconnect it to a constant power source. One exception is the rear power
outlet in certain model years of the CRV, this outlet does have a relay,
and you can simply replace the relay with a jumper to make it on full
time.

For other models, there is typically at least one always-on options
connector in the fuse box. This would be a good point to connect to if
you rewire the power outlet.

 

What does "switched" mean? Do you mean that the cigarette lighters are
not on constantly? I use the CLA for charging cell phone just fine.

 

A parts or service department might be able to tell you where the relay
is. Pull it out and place a jumper terminated with spade lugs in the
socket. I'll probably do it to one of the sockets in my Accord.

 

Oh, I see what you mean, you want it on when the key is out. All the
cars I've ever had work the same way, no key... no cigarette power. I
agree that it would be very useful to have the cigarette power
available at all times, I can think of many cases where that would be
useful.

On the hand, I've always wondered why headlights don't shut off when
you take the key out. I can't think of any circumstances where I would
need the headlights without keys. They should reverse the
headlights/cigarette behavior.

 

Some cars it does stay on. Back in my Chevy days, my S-10 Blazers the
outlet stayed on with key out.

I can't speak for the Pilot, but on my '01 Accord I leave the headlight
switch on at all times. Lights go out about a minute after closing the
doors. Come on automatically (for a minute) when I use the keyless entry to
unlock the doors.