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2012 Power Ports Go Off

1389 Views 6 Replies 7 Participants Last post by  Dzd
I have a 2012 Outback and when the car turns off the power ports go off. This is very annoying as when I'm charging my phone, it stops charging obviously.

Dealer says this cannot be turned on. Is that accurate?

Very stupid idea, if so.
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Yes, all Subarus are that way and, I believe, many other late model makes. (If anything, it prevents the battery from being inadvertently being run down by a phone or GPS etc being left connected for an extended period.)

There's other threads here about the same topic. Do some searching -- perhaps someone has figured out a way to get around it.
It would be possible to make a port or two "hot" all the time, but you'd need to run new wiring to the port from the battery to do it safely.
It would be possible to make a port or two "hot" all the time, but you'd need to run new wiring to the port from the battery to do it safely.
most cars its just the matter of replacing a fuse with a jumper for the outlet to stay "hot"
My Escape is on all the time. I love it when sitting and waiting or something.

You can buy aftermarket power ports, and then run it to something like the dome light, which always has power and then run a ground wire. Get some clips so you can just clip it in when you need it for visual appeal, or spend the time to wire it down the headliner and under the dash. For my Escape that is what I did, and it works fine at keeping a GPS charged. However, if it's drawing power and the dome light is on with the car off it's quite dim, but useable. To do it safely, I think if you put an inline fuse you'd be perfectly fine, and grounding it to whatever the dome light is grounded to.
My Escape is on all the time. I love it when sitting and waiting or something.

You can buy aftermarket power ports, and then run it to something like the dome light, which always has power and then run a ground wire. Get some clips so you can just clip it in when you need it for visual appeal, or spend the time to wire it down the headliner and under the dash. For my Escape that is what I did, and it works fine at keeping a GPS charged. However, if it's drawing power and the dome light is on with the car off it's quite dim, but useable. To do it safely, I think if you put an inline fuse you'd be perfectly fine, and grounding it to whatever the dome light is grounded to.
That might explain why I see lots of Fords stranded ;-)

Heck even my $52,000 when new 1993 solid axle King of SUV's Land Cruiser shut power off to all power ports when shut down. Probably to avoid stranding people a very very VERY long way from home.

Take a electricians course on youtube and knock your self out.
its just subaru protecting us from ourselves. Like others have said if you know better than them, run a wire from your battery to a power plug and swap out the positive lead. the power ports harness are actually very common and you may be able to find on at a parts store. dont forget the fuse! good luck!
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