power outlets not producing full charging power

[outgolfin0]

Ok, I have quite a bit of research and have found a lot of issues with the cigarette lighter receptacles, but nothing like my issue. If I missed a thread somewhere, my apologies and point me that way.

Now, the issue:

Neither the outlet in the center console or the outlet in the rear cargo area works properly. I say properly because they are powered, but not really. I have a phone charger I have used for years with multiple phones and ipods (including my current phone.) 3 days ago, it stopped chraging the phone but all other indications show it working. The charger LED come on, the phone beeps when plugged in and it even shows its charging even though the battery life just drops. the rear outlet does the same thing. I have checked a different charger and the phones charges fine everywhere else. it must be the Runner.

Troubleshooting:
Checked the POWER OUTLET fuse with a tester and visually inspected the CIG, ACC fuses. It's not the charger or phone.

Things I'm going to try when I get home tonight:
Test the voltage across the outlets.
Test the CIG, ACC fuses

Background:
Alternator failed and was replaced a month ago.
Battery replaced a month ago.
I recently found some water dripping from behind the front console by the fusebox. (different problem for a different time, but possibly related)

Has anyone come across this or have any suggestions as to what the problem could be? Am I missing any related fuses? I am very handy and can pretty much do anything y'all suggest for troubleshooting, I just may need some instruction.

Thanks in advance!

 

[CookieRoe]

FWIW, My phones are always slow to charge in mine. Never gave it a second thought. I think its normal. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[Rocky5000100]

It sounds like the charger to me,even though you say it works fine in other locations.

 

[outgolfin0]

CookieRoe: It's not a slow charge. I stated that the phone doesn't charge at all but actually loses power over time. I have been using the outlet for years. I would know the difference between slow charging and no charge. This is a change in how it has acted for years.

Rocky: Maybe you missed it, but I mentioned that I tried a different charger. It didn't work as well. It's not the charger.

 

[riceandpho]

Do you have the right usb chargng cable? Some are configure diffrently. Also what type of charger is being usedd?

 

[outgolfin0]

Riceandpho: correct cable. It's the same one I have always used. the charger is an I-XT 2usb charger. nothing special, but I have used it for years. I also tried my 400 watt inverter in the outlet and I got the same result. the inverter acted like it was working but I never got any output to charge the phone.

 

[Asmara]

Riceandpho: correct cable. It's the same one I have always used. the charger is an I-XT 2usb charger. nothing special, but I have used it for years. I also tried my 400 watt inverter in the outlet and I got the same result. the inverter acted like it was working but I never got any output to charge the phone.

I assume from your initial post that you used the identical setup (same charger, cable and phone) in a different car and the phone charged fine. As some have alluded to in the previous posts, Apple has changed cable configurations slightly over the years when they went from Firewire charging to USB charging.

What I would do first is check the voltage but with and without a load to see if it drops. Get a multi-meter (if you don't have one you can find them for about 10 bucks these days). Open up the center console (there are instructions on the site but basically just pull up on the plastic) so you can see the wiring. Start the truck and leave it running. Measure the voltage at the cigarette lighter outlet. Then plug in your charger and measure it again. For the latter, you'll need to do it from behind the outlet which is why I said to open the console. You should get slightly more than 12 vdc at idle for both measurements. Anything about 12 is fine. Above 15 and you may have alternator issues.

If you get the same reading on the outlet loaded and unloaded, the truck system should be OK. If it drops then you have resistance in the circuit somewhere. Probably corrosion at a connection point. Since it is in both outlets, there are only two likely locations - either the relay or behind the lower instrument panel (that sounds like the fuse area to me). Given your water issue, I would start there. I attached a photo of the wiring under the console. The power outlet is the wire on the left of the Y of the wiring harness. The center is positive. I also attached a wiring diagram so you would have an idea of what you are looking at.

Post back with what you find.

 

[DC runner]

Just throwing this out there, but have you tried running a small light off the inverter? To actually test? I find it much more likley it is phone side. In terms of complexity, the cig power port is about 10 times simpler than a lithium battery charge. All it is, is a circuit to your battery interrupted by the close/open from your key.

You appear to get power to the port, but not phone. The thing is, your average cell phone car charger uses a mere fraction of typical power port power. You say this is an older cable, so gonna role version 1 SPEC. That is around .5 amps max charger via port for around 6 watts total of a 12 volt port. 6 watts. That is your typical car charger. So called fast charge can be .9 or 1.5 amps. That still gives you a peak pull of like 18 watts.

18 watts out of a power port designed for around 120 watts. You don't need all your power, nor even a 10th to charge your phone.


It is clear the port has power, and the runner does not have a smart power system, which means it isn't changing they max available stream.

All this leads me to suspect the problem is your phone or cable or charger. Lithium batteries have a microcpu built in to prevent overcharge, since lithium reacts bad to it...blows up.

Chinese chargers are notorious for way out of tolerance voltage regulators that will destroy a battery.

Does your phone charge inside? Try the car chargrr in another car. Change cables.

 

[outgolfin0]

I was called into work the past fews days and didn't have a chance to work on this issue. Sorry for my silence.

DC Runner- I'm sorry, I either misspoke or wasn't very clear. The cable is newer (a few months) and the charger is what I have used for years.

Asmara - Thanks for the details and photos. It's very helpful.

Here's what I have found, and I am very frustrated that it was so simple yet hard to figure out.

Simple answer (and many of you will roll your eyes and say I told you so, but please hold off and read my side).... it was the charger, I hope.

I think it has finally died completely. I think, initially, it was intermittently failing, as electronics do at times. I say this because the charger worked for the short time I checked it in my wife's car. The phone charged in the wall with no problems and it charged for the short test in my wife's car with the bad charger. I checked it again tonight and it wouldn't work in my wife's car. Also, I tested the socket with my multi-meter and I had 11.8v, so it isn't an issue right there. Also, I found my wife's charger and it worked in my car :ybrick:

I know that right there makes ya think that it was the charger and I was a blind idiot for thinking otherwise, but I was completely thrown off track that the inverter plugged into the outlet wasn't working as well. I am still puzzled that the inverter wasn't charging the phone.

Thanks to those who chimed in to help. I always appreciate the information I find on the forums here. For the time being, I will try buying a new charger and going from there. I will be back if something goes wrong!

Now, you may roll your eyes and call me stupid if you still think so! :becky:

 

[DC runner]

We all make stupid mistakes. Heck, I just managed to accidentally hook up my car battery backwards. DUH!!!! Talk about stupid. The combination of an angry/cranky wife late for work, me with no coffee and a dark garage. I took the spare truck battery and sat it in for the shortest of seconds and BLAM shorted the whole truck.

Since nothing works and it is likely I blew a ton of fuses and some serious relay's; it is not being towed to Toyota. We need both cars so I don't have the time to poke around.

SO, yea.... we all make mistakes. I am just fingers crossed it didn't pop a computer.