How To: Install Cigarette Lighter in Dash near Shifter

[Jmage]

Hey,

This is a guide for installing a cigarette lighter in your dash right next to your shifter. Please note that it was my first install ever that needed taping into a wire and I really suck at customizing thing esthetically, I only want it to work. So that being said, you must not take anything that I wrote as the right way to do it.

It is also needed to modify a little bit the center console(using sandpaper) for the lighter to fit into and you have 2 choice of how you want to fit it. One being the fastest, easiest and less chance of failing I call it the DIY version and the other would be the OEM fitting version needing alot more precision and sanding.

Whats needed :


Pictured :
-Cuter
-Long noise
-Scissors
-~10ft of Gauge 18 Electrical wire. Mine was of stranded type.
~5$ for 25ft
-2x Wire Tap Connector 22-18 gauge. There is some type of connector for 14-18gauge but it might be too loose.
~3$
-2x « Female Disconnects »
~3$
-Sharpie pen for identifyin your cables
-2x Zip-tie to hold the tap connector better

Not Pictured :
-Electrical Tape
-60grid Sandpaper (less than 2’’ square) or a round shaped file
-Honda Cigar Lighter Assembly. : Part# 08U96-S9A-101
~30$ shipped to you at online honda dealer
It was written « CRV » on mine… Doesn’t really mater

DIY :
Remove the center console to enlarge the hole with a sandpaper or file.


Enlarge the hole until you can insert the black bracket into it without having to force it to enter but don’t slack it. If you force the Bracket in you might crack the silver cover…

Now this is where you have the choice to go the DIY way or the OEM way. At this point you probably noticed the black bracket doesn’t fit entirely into the hole, the clips suposed to hold it doesn’t go enough far for a « secure » holding.

So going the DIY way, just leave it there like that and put the lighter in or apply some glue on the bracket to hold it more then put the lighter in. Easiest and simplest way of modding the dash.


It will still look pretty good, like this :



Now since I had a spair silver cover in a not so good shape I decided to sand it more so it can fit perfectly tight and clip like a OEM would have done… For that you need to sand the « outer » circle of the Hole so the bracket can fit tight in it.


Please be very careful if you do it because the dash piece is easily scrachable and this might lead to awful looking afterward. But like I said I tried it since it was a spair cover and failed to not scratch it lol.

Test fit the bracket by puting it inside by the other side so you don’t clip it everytime and loose the clip.



After like 30 mins of sanding (maybe more) you’ll have a perfect OEM looking fit or a perfect OEM looking fail :D (I’m not to proud of the final result so didn’t take picture lol)

Once you have fitted the bracket like you want, we now have to wire it.

FIRST : Disconnect the Neutral(-) on your battery!

I decided to tap my wire directly at the OEM 12v power source we have just below our shifter. You first need to take out the cover. Mine was pretty loose and I only put my finger inside the hole and pulled it. Be somewhat gentle here because you’ll only have like 1’’ of cable loose. Remove the connector from the plug by pushing the fastener on it. (It’s hidded under it, you dont see it).

Here’s the back of the cover, showing the clip.



Once you have it out, you’ll need to unclip the wire by poping out this fasterner :



Once it’s done, start feeding you wire into the hole. If you tape both of them together with electrical tape to protect them, it will be safer like this to not damage the cable during the process. Be SURE to identify them with the sharpie pen BEFORE feeding them in the hole and/or putting electrical tape on them.





I made them go through a little hole at the right of the shifter base :


Now once it’s done, make one end with the Female Connector and use the Tap Connector and tap wire together at the other end. I put zip-tie on my connector because they were of shitty quality and looked like the would open by themself.



Plug the cigarette lighter by pluging the cable the same way than the OEM one. I used Electrical tape around the connector at the lighter because I though they were too near of each other. Put at least 1 turn on each so they will not short.

Now reassemble everything back together(don’t forget your battery) and enjoy your new lighter/dash look! I think it will only work when your keys are at ACC


Hope you liked it :) If you see anything I made that is dangerous or not safe please advice me and everyone here!

Thank you

EDIT: I am going to sleep now haha