B6 to B7 Center Console Swap- Cigarette Lighter Question With Video

[Brens]

Hey all,

I did this swap a while ago, and still have yet to get my lighter socket working. Hopefully the video explains it well, but the socket gets weird when something is plugged in. This makes no difference if the car is running or not, key in or key out. The charging device doesn't charge, but the 4 ways turn on, and stay lit. The socket alone doesn't drain the battery or anything, it only acts up when there is a load.

The B7 ashtray's lighter harness is identical to the B6's stock harness, with the three wires. I just extended these wires so it would reach the ashtray. Not sure why this would cause issue, but the video shows it a little better I hope.

[ryanj]

Can you confirm with a meter that you have power at the socket and polarity is correct? (positive tip and ground on the sides)

[Brens]

Can you confirm with a meter that you have power at the socket and polarity is correct? (positive tip and ground on the sides)

I'll try this later, but I'm confident they are correct, and anyway, if the LED if illuminated I assume its correct as LEDs are polarized.

[ZERO FRAME GRAB]

Totally off topic but Brens your in phillipsburg? Im right across the bridge in Easton we should meet up one day. I have some questions about that center console swap. I have one sitting in my basement right now I just need the B7 handbrake to finish the swap. Also Brilliant black B6 A4 Avant.

[AvantNoir]

Seems like you've got some wires crossed. Sound like your power lead is going to the light circuit.

[Brens]

Seems like you've got some wires crossed. Sound like your power lead is going to the light circuit.

And this of course, just means the 3 socket wires, correct? And therefore if one is crossed, it causes some strange reaction in the lighting circuit?

[Airflite40]

This could have been solved in 5 seconds with a multimeter. When I did my swap, the harnes connectors were identical as OP stated but the wires had to be swapped.

I'm pretty sure I had to swap the wire that powers the light and the wire that powers the socket. OP use a multimeter to verify your connections!

[Brens]

Totally off topic but Brens your in phillipsburg? Im right across the bridge in Easton we should meet up one day. I have some questions about that center console swap. I have one sitting in my basement right now I just need the B7 handbrake to finish the swap. Also Brilliant black B6 A4 Avant.

Yep! Send me a PM, we can meet sometime.

[Brens]

This could have been solved in 5 seconds with a multimeter. When I did my swap, the harnes connectors were identical as OP stated but the wires had to be swapped.

I'm pretty sure I had to swap the wire that powers the light and the wire that powers the socket. OP use a multimeter to verify your connections!

I see what you mean. However, as I said above, the fact the LED works made me believe it was powered correctly, since LEDs will only light with proper polarization.

[Brens]

Ok, so I checked polarity... it's backwards. I'm a big dum-dum. I'll have to actually pull out the ashtray to see what wires I have backwards.

Quick Q: Red is pos, brown is ground... what's blue? Voltage across Red-brown is 12v, and across red-blue is 12v.

[Let it snow]

Brown is ground. Red is positive for cigarette/accessories. Grey is positve for light illumination. As stated above where the wires land is different from the B6 and B7. The B6 color brown should land to point 1 on the B7 cigarette lighter. B6 red goes to point 2 on B7 lighter. B6 grey goes to point 3 on B7 lighter.Hope that helps.

[Brens]

Brown is ground. Red is positive for cigarette/accessories. Grey is positve for light illumination. As stated above where the wires land is different from the B6 and B7. The B6 color brown should land to point 1 on the B7 cigarette lighter. B6 red goes to point 2 on B7 lighter. B6 grey goes to point 3 on B7 lighter.Hope that helps.

Thanks so much! From which end are you basing the points from? I see Red stays to Red, on the middle pin.

[AvantNoir]

And this of course, just means the 3 socket wires, correct? And therefore if one is crossed, it causes some strange reaction in the lighting circuit?

3 wires - power, ground (brown), and light. off hand I cant remember the color of the power or light wires. Power is most likely red. You've probably just crossed the power and light wires.

- - - Updated - - -

Brown is ground. Red is positive for cigarette/accessories. Grey is positve for light illumination. As stated above where the wires land is different from the B6 and B7. The B6 color brown should land to point 1 on the B7 cigarette lighter. B6 red goes to point 2 on B7 lighter. B6 grey goes to point 3 on B7 lighter.Hope that helps.

What he said on the colors. If I remember correctly, the light wire is grey with blue stripe.

[Let it snow]

Thanks so much! From which end are you basing the points from? I see Red stays to Red, on the middle pin.

Yes the two outside wires are opposite from the B6 to the B7.

[Brens]

Yes the two outside wires are opposite from the B6 to the B7.

Nice and simple then. Thanks again (and to everyone else). I will fix tonight or tomorrow and report back with results.

Glad this is online now. Unless I didn't see it before, I didn't know this needed to be swapped.

[Brens]

So I swapped the wires over and boom, it works. I could've known sonething was up when the LED light was always on, regardless of if the rest of the interior lights are on (I.e. It's always getting power, and the charger gets none) but oh well.

Thanks for the help everyone! Nice to have the interior buttoned back up and ready for commuting.