I performed this mod today but have not installed it. I should get my CarPlay Head Unit in Wednesday or sooner, so I will actually install this once I have the radio as well.
I posted elsewhere that my AUX 12v power adapter near the driver was not working. It was intermittent and it seemed as if it was because the connection between accessories and the socket was poor. In researching a fix, I came up with this idea.
Needed:
The purpose of this mod was threefold:
- Fix 12v AUX Power
- Provide USB Port for Headunit (the male USB end will plug into the back of the headunit)
- Leave vehicle (dash, etc) unmodified by cutting no holes, etc
Admittedly, I have not installed this yet, but I don't foresee any reason it should not work.
I've taken extremely detailed photos also because the information regarding this part (Toyota 74110-35010-B0) is extremely limited. I lucked out and think I was able to accomplish exactly what I had hoped for.
Here is the part in its "stock" goodness:
Here is everything included with the USB kit:
Here I've labeled exactly what everything is, that was a mystery to me until I started taking it apart:
Pulling the plugs (literally). Also, the bulb twists out:
After that, the plastic holder piece comes out easily:
At this point, I realized that the ashtray is removable. You can see the "window" that allows the light from the ashtray bulb to poke through. It is glass/plastic/etc. I pried the little chrome/etc piece that holds your cigarette out as I won't be smoking:
The "assembly" without the ashtray:
There is a small philips screw holding in the ashtray light:
I took the screw out, removed the ashtray light piece, then put the screw back in so I wouldn't lose it:
I temporarily removed the tape holding the wires to the side and removed the "unneeded parts" that I've been removing. They are shown above the assembly:
I don't know how to describe this step. Perhaps some people will have an easy time with it, perhaps others will have a harder time. It probably took me 15 minutes. You have to sorta twist, unsnap, and push the silver piece up through the light ring. If I had been more forceful and less concerned about breaking something, this would go fast:
Showing the green "tabs":
It's taken probably 20 minutes to get here, but here she is:
The next step kinda happened all at once. I fed the USB port through the right way and started the plastic nut threading:
As you can see, without modifying the assembly (which was my goal), the nut kinda hangs on the black plastic tabs/support. With enough fiddling, I was able to get it pretty tight:
Unused parts from USB Kit:
This part was an afterthought by me. Assuming that all of this works exactly as planned, I took some silicone sealant (dries clear) and placed some around the plastic nut, sorta tacking it in place. Hopefully this will prevent everything from moving. I did not want to glue it as I may have to replace the plug at some point. I think the silicone sealant could be peeled off easily:
The "finished" product. I think it looks quite nice. I cannot wait until my headunit gets here:
Afterthoughts
The "smokers kit" feels nice.The USB Socket kit feels like a cheap USB port. If it works and lasts a few years, it's no big deal. Perhaps it will feel better once installed.
I set it up this way as I wanted a USB connection going to the back of the headunit. If all you want is "power", there are numerous other options for that.
If you wanted, you could leave the ashtray light plugged in and installed. I don't plan on using the ashtray for anything other than storage of something random, so I took it out so I wouldn't have to plug anything like that in.