GDawgA4

I bought a TomTom One GPS unit and wanted to hardwire the cigarette adapter charger to the car, instead of having wires dangling. So I went to Radioshack and bought a 12v power socket that you can hardwire to the car for power.

This is what I bought:
<a href="http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062272&cp=&origkw=car+power&k w=car+power&parentPage=search">Here</a>

*I assume no responsibility nor will be held responsible if you damage your vehicle or anything goes wrong* BTW, you might need your radio code, I didn't need mine, though. It powered on fine, didn't ask for a code.

Here it is:

First thing is to remove the negative lead on the battery.
Start by removing the fuse panel cover:
<img src="http://www1.coe.neu.edu/~gkong/12v/12v03.JPG">

Notice the bolt right above the fuses, the bolt below the fuses and the bolt that holds the knee bolster. First remove the bolt that holds the knee bolster:
<img src="http://www1.coe.neu.edu/~gkong/12v/12v04.JPG">

Remove the bolt above the hood release cable:
<img src="http://www1.coe.neu.edu/~gkong/12v/12v05.JPG">

Remove the last bolt above the gas pedal:
<img src="http://www1.coe.neu.edu/~gkong/12v/12v06.JPG">

Now, gently push/pull down next to the headlight switch:
<img src="http://www1.coe.neu.edu/~gkong/12v/12v07.JPG">

Do the same with the right side of the steering column:
<img src="http://www1.coe.neu.edu/~gkong/12v/12v08.JPG">

Once you've loosened up the knee bolster, gently lay it down on the floor:
<img src="http://www1.coe.neu.edu/~gkong/12v/12v09.JPG">

Next, remove the VAG-COM connector, there are two tabs. Push both connects towards the connector block and remove.
<img src="http://www1.coe.neu.edu/~gkong/12v/12v10.JPG">
<img src="http://www1.coe.neu.edu/~gkong/12v/12v11.JPG">

Do the same with the foot well light. There is a tab on the right side of the light, push that in and push the light downwards. Then, rotate 90 degrees so that you can pull the light up and through the cutout.
<img src="http://www1.coe.neu.edu/~gkong/12v/12v12.JPG">

Now, time to remove the fuse box. There are the two bolts I mentioned earlier, remove those. There are also two tabs next to the bolts, push those in and the box can be removed.
<img src="http://www1.coe.neu.edu/~gkong/12v/12v13.JPG">

Once you have the fuse box in your hand, there are two tabs (shown below) that allows you to open the cover of the fuse box to expose the wiring.
<img src="http://www1.coe.neu.edu/~gkong/12v/12v14.JPG">
<img src="http://www1.coe.neu.edu/~gkong/12v/12v15.JPG">

I tapped into fuse number 5, which is 10amps. Fuse 5 is for the multi-function switch, maintenance monitor and something else. Its ignition switched so its not constant power. Connect the wire tap to the wire coming out of fuse 5 and connect the power wire of the 12v socket. Use pliers to press tightly to make a good connection.
<img src="http://www1.coe.neu.edu/~gkong/12v/12v16.JPG">

Connect the ground wire (the soldered spade included already will not fit on the bolts around the fuse area. Just cut the spade connector off and strip the jacket. Then you can ground it to one of the bolts used to hold the fuse box in. DON'T TRY TO PLUG ANYTHING IN AND POWER IT ON WITHOUT GROUNDING IT FIRST.
<img src="http://www1.coe.neu.edu/~gkong/12v/12v17.JPG">

Now you can connect the negative lead back to the battery terminal and test the connection. Connect your cigarette adapter to the 12v socket you just hardwired. Success!
<img src="http://www1.coe.neu.edu/~gkong/12v/12v18.JPG">

View of the fuse tap after cleaning it up.
<img src="http://www1.coe.neu.edu/~gkong/12v/12v19.JPG">

Close up the fusebox as it was before opening it and re-install it to its original position.
<img src="http://www1.coe.neu.edu/~gkong/12v/12v20.JPG">

This is where I grounded the 12v socket, to the bolt that holds the bottom of the fusebox.
<img src="http://www1.coe.neu.edu/~gkong/12v/12v21.JPG">

Here is all the wiring, sitting above the fusebox, in the empty area.
<img src="http://www1.coe.neu.edu/~gkong/12v/12v22.JPG">

Now, where I mounted the GPS and the thickness of the charger, I had to remove the A pillar. You can stop reading if you don't need to remove A pillar to tuck the wiring behind it.

There are a few torx screws that need to be removed so that the pillar can come off. They're just held on with clips behind it, so go gentle when pulling it off.

Here is a torx with the sunvisor:
<img src="http://www1.coe.neu.edu/~gkong/12v/12v23.JPG">

The handle above the drivers side has two torx screws behind covers hiding them. Pull the handle down and you'll see the two covers, pull the covers and it'll expose the two torx screws.
<img src="http://www1.coe.neu.edu/~gkong/12v/12v24.JPG">

The last torx screw that holds in the pillar is under the AIRBAG cover on the B pillar.
<img src="http://www1.coe.neu.edu/~gkong/12v/12v29.JPG">

The sun visor has a power connector, need to pull the connectors apart so that you can remove the visor completely.
<img src="http://www1.coe.neu.edu/~gkong/12v/12v27.JPG">
"img src="http://www1.coe.neu.edu/~gkong/12v/12v28.JPG"&gt;

This is what it looks like when you pull the pillar
<img src="http://www1.coe.neu.edu/~gkong/12v/12v25.JPG">

The pillar sitting on my dash =P
<img src="http://www1.coe.neu.edu/~gkong/12v/12v26.JPG">

Finally, you can tuck the wiring along the edge of the pillar, right below the windshield. Once you tuck the wiring in, you can put the pillar back on. Everything just clips into place, pretty simple.

My finished job:
<img src="http://www1.coe.neu.edu/~gkong/12v/12v30.JPG">
<img src="http://www1.coe.neu.edu/~gkong/12v/12v31.JPG">

Wiring all tucked in:
<img src="http://www1.coe.neu.edu/~gkong/12v/12v32.JPG">

Now you can replace the knee bolster. Please make sure to note the clip right behind the brake pedal and the one behind the clutch area. Also, place the left side of the pillar ABOVE the hood release FIRST before trying to slip the tabs into the clips.
<img src="http://www1.coe.neu.edu/~gkong/12v/12v33.JPG">
<img src="http://www1.coe.neu.edu/~gkong/12v/12v34.JPG">

Once you get it into place, make sure everything lines up, including the areas next to the steering column. Replace all three screws and then put the fusebox cover back.

You're done! Voila! Of course, you can use the 12v socket to power anything else or just to have an extra power socket for use.

skeeball

This is a very good reference.

Although, I thought it was recommended not to place anything near the A pillar because of the airbag.

MB The Body

very nicely done!

GDawgA4

underneath the pillar, right below the windshield. Doesn't interfere with the curtain bags. I should have taken better pics of that.

GDawgA4

Thanks!

skeeball

Does anyone have a picture of the airbags deployed? I don't even know where they all pop out of.

A4AdMan

Can't wait to see it in person. How much for the unit?

heateris

2nd! nice work.

quattrothatcould

Nice job. You should put that in the tech article section

Boston Driver

putting a power socket is not a bad idea, but it is not ideal. I thought you were doing a true hardwired setup, where there is no cig plug adaptor.

Regardless, nice writeup and job well done!

Just curious if that location is going to be a distraction for you, you know...the whole field of vision thing....