12 volt power outlets intermittent. '09 Tahoe LTZ

[PatDTN]

I like to use Waze when I drive. Power requirements are high so I plug my phone in. When I connect the power the phone lets me know it's charging. I noticed the phone battery was getting low on one drive and realized it was no longer charging. I tried changing from one side to the other outlet. Nope. Tried a different adapter, still not charging. Later in the drive I heard the phone noise and realized it was charging again.

I've experienced this a number of times now. I plan to pull the radio console apart to see if there's a physical reason there for this.

Meanwhile, has anyone else experienced this? I'd love to find it's common and easy to fix.

 

[mizzouguy]

Might be a dumb comment but is the plug in on your phone full of pocket lint or crap that could be causing a bad connection with whichever cable you use? Unless a wire has come loose in the dash and bumps make it make contact idk. I'm pretty sure power ports draw power directly from the fuse box, seeing as that they stay hot all the time.

 

[Tonyrodz]

Had the same problem, turned out to be the charging port in the phone.

 

[PatDTN]

Good thoughts but no, the phone port is clean and it always makes contact with the home charger.

Just realizing the charger tips may not be reaching in far enough. I had one plug in had to add a dab of solder to to get it to connect. Maybe these sockets are slightly deep.

Thanks.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

 

[M3kanic]

Mine does the the same thing. When we bought it I checked all of power outlets and I found a dime in the one on the back of the center console. Worked good for a few months then it started it again then I noticed that it wasn't always charging at 14v. After a few more months it did not seem to have any correlation between the volts being produced and my phone charing. But now I have had it for a year now and just kind of accept it.

 

[PatDTN]

I'm reading a thread on switching the power outlets to switched power so I can leave my USB adapter plug in place. At the moment I'm pulling it out when I park and sometimes forget to push it back in - removing it completely helps this - killing my phone battery. I'll see if this changes how things work out.

I will definitely check for dimes though! Clearly the DPO carried spoiled brats around.

Thanks.

 

[PatDTN]

Update to this; I bought a new 12v to USB charger at Walmart. I chose it because the tip looked longer. It works perfectly. Yay. Didn't convert to switched but maybe today.

 

[M3kanic]

Thanks for the update

 

[garrettpsu]

I'm having the same issue on my '07 LTZ Tahoe. I have two USB/12v adaptors (different brands) on both up front 12v outlets. Neither work now. First one was not working and then both - intermittent for sure, but now it seems they are never working. I checked the mini spade fuse in the bank under the hood. Looked good, replaced and worked for the ride home. Now nothing. I'll keep poking around, but it's definitely the vehicle, not the USB ports.

 

[PatDTN]

Unless one of the ports is shorted internally. I seem to remember a direct wire between the outlets.