Car Charger for Cell Phone

"Abbye" <abbyerose.TakeThisOut@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:mJOdnaUWZsEdEV7bnZ2dnUVZ_vqpnZ2d@comcast.com...
> Hi there,
>
> I recently replaced my 1997 Ford Explorer with a 2006 Highlander Hybrid
> Ltd.
>
> In the Explorer, I could charge my cell phone using the cigarette lighter
> adapter even when the car was not running. However, in the Highlander,
> the
> charger won't work if the car is off.
>
> Is there any way to change that?
>
> Thanks in advance,
> Abbye
Ignore the other replies to your post....they're jealous of you, having a
Highlander.
I think you'll find that the cigarette lighter (or rather its socket) is
probably disabled when the ignition is turned off....and this is probably to
prevent kiddies from playing with the lighter while their adoring mamas are
shopping and have left them in the car unsupervised.
You could leave the ignition on, but you'd also be draining the battery as
you charge the cellphone. And you might find that if you forgot and left it
on overnight, you'd find 1. the battery dead or 2. your car stolen.

Best to just charge the phone while you drive. It's not that much of an
inconvenience....unless you talk on the phone while you drive, which is not
a great idea anyway.
hope this helps.
 >> Stay informed about: Car Charger for Cell Phone 

"mack" <mackerel RemoveThis @dslextreme.com> wrote in message
news:13c77cs873q85f6@corp.supernews.com...
>
> "Abbye" <abbyerose RemoveThis @comcast.net> wrote in message
> news:mJOdnaUWZsEdEV7bnZ2dnUVZ_vqpnZ2d@comcast.com...
>> Hi there,
>>
>> I recently replaced my 1997 Ford Explorer with a 2006 Highlander Hybrid
>> Ltd.
>>
>> In the Explorer, I could charge my cell phone using the cigarette lighter
>> adapter even when the car was not running. However, in the Highlander,
>> the
>> charger won't work if the car is off.
>>
>> Is there any way to change that?
>>
>> Thanks in advance,
>> Abbye
> Ignore the other replies to your post....they're jealous of you, having a
> Highlander.
> I think you'll find that the cigarette lighter (or rather its socket) is
> probably disabled when the ignition is turned off....and this is probably
> to prevent kiddies from playing with the lighter while their adoring mamas
> are shopping and have left them in the car unsupervised.
> You could leave the ignition on, but you'd also be draining the battery as
> you charge the cellphone. And you might find that if you forgot and left
> it on overnight, you'd find 1. the battery dead or 2. your car
> stolen.
>
> Best to just charge the phone while you drive. It's not that much of an
> inconvenience....unless you talk on the phone while you drive, which is
> not a great idea anyway.
> hope this helps.
There is also a relay under the hood that you can pull out and push two
contacts together. I did it on my Tundra, but I can't tell you which relay
or pins for your vehicle.
 >> Stay informed about: Car Charger for Cell Phone 

Abbye wrote:
> Hi there,
>
> I recently replaced my 1997 Ford Explorer with a 2006 Highlander Hybrid Ltd.
>
> In the Explorer, I could charge my cell phone using the cigarette lighter
> adapter even when the car was not running. However, in the Highlander, the
> charger won't work if the car is off.
>
> Is there any way to change that?
>
> Thanks in advance,
> Abbye
>
>

Ask your dealer about this. On my Dodge Caravan, Dodge sold an accessory
relay that plugged into a fuse block in place of the OEM relay, and this
allowed the cigarette lighter socket to be live with the ignition switch
on or off.
Morton
 >> Stay informed about: Car Charger for Cell Phone 

On Wed, 15 Aug 2007 17:36:39 -0700, "mack" <mackerel RemoveThis @dslextreme.com>
wrote:

>
>"Abbye" <abbyerose RemoveThis @comcast.net> wrote in message
>news:mJOdnaUWZsEdEV7bnZ2dnUVZ_vqpnZ2d@comcast.com...
>> Hi there,
>>
>> I recently replaced my 1997 Ford Explorer with a 2006 Highlander Hybrid
>> Ltd.
>>
>> In the Explorer, I could charge my cell phone using the cigarette lighter
>> adapter even when the car was not running. However, in the Highlander,
>> the
>> charger won't work if the car is off.
>>
>> Is there any way to change that?
>>
>> Thanks in advance,
>> Abbye
>Ignore the other replies to your post....they're jealous of you, having a
>Highlander.
>I think you'll find that the cigarette lighter (or rather its socket) is
>probably disabled when the ignition is turned off....and this is probably to
>prevent kiddies from playing with the lighter while their adoring mamas are
>shopping and have left them in the car unsupervised.
>You could leave the ignition on, but you'd also be draining the battery as
>you charge the cellphone. And you might find that if you forgot and left it
>on overnight, you'd find 1. the battery dead or 2. your car stolen.
>
>Best to just charge the phone while you drive. It's not that much of an
>inconvenience....unless you talk on the phone while you drive, which is not
>a great idea anyway.
>hope this helps.
>
Wise words. Having electrical accesories live without the ignition
can certainly pose problems. How can Ford get away with it? They
can't. Just note the millions of vehicles they're recalling due to
the cruise controls catching fire while parked in their owners'
garages.
 >> Stay informed about: Car Charger for Cell Phone 

On Wed, 15 Aug 2007 23:07:57 -0500, Viperkiller <nothing.RemoveThis@nothing.net>
wrote:

>On Wed, 15 Aug 2007 17:36:39 -0700, "mack" <mackerel.RemoveThis@dslextreme.com>
>wrote:
>
>>
>>"Abbye" <abbyerose.RemoveThis@comcast.net> wrote in message
>>news:mJOdnaUWZsEdEV7bnZ2dnUVZ_vqpnZ2d@comcast.com...
>>> Hi there,
>>>
>>> I recently replaced my 1997 Ford Explorer with a 2006 Highlander Hybrid
>>> Ltd.
>>>
>>> In the Explorer, I could charge my cell phone using the cigarette lighter
>>> adapter even when the car was not running. However, in the Highlander,
>>> the
>>> charger won't work if the car is off.

>>
>Wise words. Having electrical accesories live without the ignition
>can certainly pose problems. How can Ford get away with it? They
>can't. Just note the millions of vehicles they're recalling due to
>the cruise controls catching fire while parked in their owners'
>garages.

Point of information Viperkiller. American cars have, almost without
exception, had the power to their cigarette lighters unswitch since
they have had cigarette lighters (they used to be called cigar
lighters). However they now are 12vdc power ports. They lack the
bimetallic latch that holds the lighter in until it gets hot.

Ford (as well as GM and Chrysler) cruse controls are powered through
the ignition switch. They always have been. I can't ever remember
reading of a car's cruise control catching fire while parked in a
garage. While running, yes, but not while parked. Can you site
article(s) to document your claim?

Jack


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 >> Stay informed about: Car Charger for Cell Phone 

"Retired VIP" <Jackj14321.RemoveThis@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:35m8c3lsberi3urmkf8d6enbsqp70l6rot@4ax.com...
> Ford (as well as GM and Chrysler) cruse controls are powered through
> the ignition switch. They always have been. I can't ever remember
> reading of a car's cruise control catching fire while parked in a
> garage. While running, yes, but not while parked. Can you site
> article(s) to document your claim?

Ford has some vehicles were there constant power to a circuit that
includes a brake fluid pressure switch is a last ditch safety device
that will disable the cruise control if you press on the brake. Some
of these switches were defective and leaked slowly. Because of the
contamination of the contacts with brake fluid the contact resistances
builds up to the point that the temperature is high enough to ignite
the brake fluid. The small brake fluid fire then ignites other
flammable material and a significant fire ensues. Fires from this
failure almost always occur when the vehicle is unoccupied. When the
problem was first discovered it applied to a relatively limited range
of F150s and Expeditions. There were very few reports of fire and they
were all within well defined group. Ford initiated a recall of the
affected vehicles. However, after word of the problem got out, all
sorts of Ford, some with completely different style switches and
circuit, started bursting into flame. Once bottom feeding trial lawyer
got into the act Ford was screwed. They first widened the recall to
all F150s and Expeditions with the type of circuit associated with the
original problem. Now they have expanded the recall to cover pretty
much any Ford that uses the brake pressure switch.

I've owned two Ford with the "dangerous" switch. I never worried about
either. In fact, the switch was overkill. It was itself an over
reaction to lawsuits that claimed cruise control went wild causing
cars to go out of control.

But the bottom line is - there are definitely fires that Ford has
admitted were caused by cruise control deactivation switches while the
vehicle was parked and not running. In fact, this was the usual
failure mode. See:

http://nhthqnwws111.odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/docservlet/Artemis/Public/P...uits/20
http://nhthqnwws111.odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/docservlet/Artemis/Public/P...uits/20

Ed
 >> Stay informed about: Car Charger for Cell Phone 

"Viperkiller" <nothing.DeleteThis@nothing.net> wrote in message
news:19j7c394i55pv12j7ab5g3ka0ldk900egc@4ax.com...

> Wise words. Having electrical accesories live without the ignition
> can certainly pose problems. How can Ford get away with it? They
> can't. Just note the millions of vehicles they're recalling due to
> the cruise controls catching fire while parked in their owners'
> garages.

My Nissan Frontier has multiple outlets. One is always live, the other
two are live only with the ignition is on. Some Buicks include the
option of changing the outlet from live with the ignition on to always
live merely by changing a jumper in the fuse box. There are lots of
"always live" circuits in all cars (clock, radio, pcm, interior
lights, keyless entry, brake lights, power door locks, etc., etc.).
The power point doesn't seem to be an especially dangerous item to
keep live.

Ed
 >> Stay informed about: Car Charger for Cell Phone 

"C. E. White" <cewhite3.RemoveThis@removemindspring.com> wrote in message
news:46c4710d$1@kcnews01...

Wow, what was I thniking when I hit send before reading the original
post.... I've tried to fix the bad grammar below. Sorry.

Ford built (and still builds I think) vehicles were there was constant
power to a circuit that included a brake fluid pressure switch. This
switch is a last ditch safety device that will disable the cruise
control if you press on the brake. Some of these switches were
defective and leaked slowly. Because of the contamination of the
contacts the contact resistance built up to the point that even a
minor current flow generated a temperature high enough to ignite brake
fluid. The small brake fluid fire that broke out would sometimes
ignite other flammable material and a significant fire sometimes
ensued. Fires from this failure almost always occurred when the
vehicle was unoccupied. When the problem was first discovered it was
assumed to apply to a relatively limited range of F150s and
Expeditions. There were very few reports of fires and they were all
within a well defined group. Ford initiated a recall of the affected
vehicles. However, after word of the problem got out, all sorts of
Fords, some with completely different style switches and circuits,
started bursting into flame. Once bottom feeding trial lawyer got into
the act, Ford was screwed. Ford first widened the recall to all F150s
and Expeditions with the type of circuit associated with the original
problem. Now they have expanded the recall to cover pretty much any
Ford that uses the brake pressure switch.

I've owned two Ford with the "dangerous" switch. I never worried about
either. In fact, the switch was overkill. It was itself an over
reaction to lawsuits that claimed cruise control systems went wild
causing cars to go out of control.

The bottom line is - there are definitely fires that Ford has admitted
were caused by cruise control deactivation switches while the vehicle
was parked and not running. In fact, this was the usual failure mode.
See:

http://nhthqnwws111.odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/docservlet/Artemis/Public/P...uits/20
http://nhthqnwws111.odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/docservlet/Artemis/Public/P...uits/20

Ed
 >> Stay informed about: Car Charger for Cell Phone 

On Thu, 16 Aug 2007 11:47:31 -0400, "C. E. White"
<cewhite3.RemoveThis@removemindspring.com> wrote:

>
>"Viperkiller" <nothing.RemoveThis@nothing.net> wrote in message
>news:19j7c394i55pv12j7ab5g3ka0ldk900egc@4ax.com...
>
>> Wise words. Having electrical accesories live without the ignition
>> can certainly pose problems. How can Ford get away with it? They
>> can't. Just note the millions of vehicles they're recalling due to
>> the cruise controls catching fire while parked in their owners'
>> garages.
>
>My Nissan Frontier has multiple outlets. One is always live, the other
>two are live only with the ignition is on. Some Buicks include the
>option of changing the outlet from live with the ignition on to always
>live merely by changing a jumper in the fuse box. There are lots of
>"always live" circuits in all cars (clock, radio, pcm, interior
>lights, keyless entry, brake lights, power door locks, etc., etc.).
>The power point doesn't seem to be an especially dangerous item to
>keep live.
>
>Ed
>

You're certainly correct that there are accessories that are powered
without the ignition such as headlights, brakelights, and even the
interior lights. These are developed and researched thoroughly by the
manufacturer. I would just be cautious of an "aftermarket"
conversion. Besides, wouldn't purchasing another cell phone charger
be easier and cheaper?
 >> Stay informed about: Car Charger for Cell Phone 

On Thu, 16 Aug 2007 11:44:00 -0400, "C. E. White"
<cewhite3 DeleteThis @removemindspring.com> wrote:

>
>"Retired VIP" <Jackj14321 DeleteThis @yahoo.com> wrote in message
>news:35m8c3lsberi3urmkf8d6enbsqp70l6rot@4ax.com...
>> Ford (as well as GM and Chrysler) cruse controls are powered through
>> the ignition switch. They always have been. I can't ever remember
>> reading of a car's cruise control catching fire while parked in a
>> garage. While running, yes, but not while parked. Can you site
>> article(s) to document your claim?
>
>Ford has some vehicles were there constant power to a circuit that
>includes a brake fluid pressure switch is a last ditch safety device
>that will disable the cruise control if you press on the brake.

snip

I stand corrected. Makes sense to have a circuit to kill the cruse
control always live. That would make sure that the cruse control
didn't over-rev the engine while it was turned off and parked.

Ford used to use, and maybe still does use, a pressure switch on the
brake master cylinder that controlled the brake lights. It was always
powered, maybe that's what you're thinking of.

Jack


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 >> Stay informed about: Car Charger for Cell Phone 

"Viperkiller" <nothing DeleteThis @nothing.net> wrote in message
news:fii9c3hbpi9j2n2p6sc3s4k3sagu1bfk66@4ax.com...
> On Thu, 16 Aug 2007 11:47:31 -0400, "C. E. White"
> <cewhite3 DeleteThis @removemindspring.com> wrote:
>
>>
>>"Viperkiller" <nothing DeleteThis @nothing.net> wrote in message
>>news:19j7c394i55pv12j7ab5g3ka0ldk900egc@4ax.com...
>>
>>> Wise words. Having electrical accesories live without the ignition
>>> can certainly pose problems. How can Ford get away with it? They
>>> can't. Just note the millions of vehicles they're recalling due to
>>> the cruise controls catching fire while parked in their owners'
>>> garages.
>>
>>My Nissan Frontier has multiple outlets. One is always live, the other
>>two are live only with the ignition is on. Some Buicks include the
>>option of changing the outlet from live with the ignition on to always
>>live merely by changing a jumper in the fuse box. There are lots of
>>"always live" circuits in all cars (clock, radio, pcm, interior
>>lights, keyless entry, brake lights, power door locks, etc., etc.).
>>The power point doesn't seem to be an especially dangerous item to
>>keep live.
>>
>>Ed
>>
>
> You're certainly correct that there are accessories that are powered
> without the ignition such as headlights, brakelights, and even the
> interior lights. These are developed and researched thoroughly by the
> manufacturer. I would just be cautious of an "aftermarket"
> conversion. Besides, wouldn't purchasing another cell phone charger
> be easier and cheaper?


How would purchasing another charger solve this problem, if it also needs to
be plugged into the cigarette lighter?
 >> Stay informed about: Car Charger for Cell Phone 

On Thu, 16 Aug 2007 21:07:13 GMT, "JoeSpareBedroom"
<dishborealis.DeleteThis@yahoo.com> wrote:

>"Viperkiller" <nothing.DeleteThis@nothing.net> wrote in message
>news:fii9c3hbpi9j2n2p6sc3s4k3sagu1bfk66@4ax.com...
>> On Thu, 16 Aug 2007 11:47:31 -0400, "C. E. White"
>> <cewhite3.DeleteThis@removemindspring.com> wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>"Viperkiller" <nothing.DeleteThis@nothing.net> wrote in message
>>>news:19j7c394i55pv12j7ab5g3ka0ldk900egc@4ax.com...
>>>
>>>> Wise words. Having electrical accesories live without the ignition
>>>> can certainly pose problems. How can Ford get away with it? They
>>>> can't. Just note the millions of vehicles they're recalling due to
>>>> the cruise controls catching fire while parked in their owners'
>>>> garages.
>>>
>>>My Nissan Frontier has multiple outlets. One is always live, the other
>>>two are live only with the ignition is on. Some Buicks include the
>>>option of changing the outlet from live with the ignition on to always
>>>live merely by changing a jumper in the fuse box. There are lots of
>>>"always live" circuits in all cars (clock, radio, pcm, interior
>>>lights, keyless entry, brake lights, power door locks, etc., etc.).
>>>The power point doesn't seem to be an especially dangerous item to
>>>keep live.
>>>
>>>Ed
>>>
>>
>> You're certainly correct that there are accessories that are powered
>> without the ignition such as headlights, brakelights, and even the
>> interior lights. These are developed and researched thoroughly by the
>> manufacturer. I would just be cautious of an "aftermarket"
>> conversion. Besides, wouldn't purchasing another cell phone charger
>> be easier and cheaper?
>
>
>How would purchasing another charger solve this problem, if it also needs to
>be plugged into the cigarette lighter?

I meant a home/office charger as opposed to a car charger.
 >> Stay informed about: Car Charger for Cell Phone 

You will void the cars warranty if you change anything.

Hasn't anyone invented a solar powered cellphone charger yet?
 >> Stay informed about: Car Charger for Cell Phone