Cigarette Socket Charger

[TheRedTornado]

Hi,

Has anyone tried to use a USB charger in the cigarette socket behind the MK7 gear stick?

I purchased a Belkin, plug in charger for my GTD last week, but it doesn’t seem to work in the cigarette socket, it does seem to be okay in the 12v boot socket though. 

I have seen a few posts about messing with fusses to get the 12v sockets to stay on, but it seems to me that the cigarette socket is either not setup to pass a current or its broken, in my car.

Is this normal or a VW warranty repair issue?

[VWcezGTI7]

Did you try to see if the electric cigarette lighter works in the first place? If not, then surely there's a problem in the socket itself. Probably rust if you haven't used it in a while or a broken circuit as you said. I too have a Belkin charger for the iPhone 5 and the blue ring lights up whenever I connect it to the socket ever since I got the car, with no issue (it sometimes gets disconnected if it's not been pushed in to the end or needs a little twist). I'm sure VW warranty works should be able to check and fix your problem. Also, be sure to have the ignition on as it doesn't work if the car is off or you only have the key in like older models.

[p3asa]

Have you got a cigarette lighter socket or 12v socket behind the gear stick?
My 12V socket works fine with a charger.

[TheRedTornado]

Sorry guys i should have been clearer my car has the 12v socket behind the gear stick.
It certainly sounds like it's a fault, i will give it another go in the morning other wise its off to VW.

Im still perplexed why VW thought it was a good idea to supply an MDI port but no USB port as standard in the UK. cant say i had ever seen an MDI connection before this car.

Thanks for your help.

[dippy_x]

I have a USB charger plugged into the socket behind the gear stick.  Charges my iphone fine.  Car has to be switched on for it to function though (in my previous motor the 12v socket worked regardless)

[p3asa]

I have a USB charger plugged into the socket behind the gear stick.  Charges my iphone fine.  Car has to be switched on for it to function though (in my previous motor the 12v socket worked regardless)

You can apparently move the fuse and it will be live all the time.

@Theredtornado the newer Golfs have USB instead of MDI or at least that's how mine is.

[JakeF]

the newer Golfs have USB instead of MDI or at least that's how mine is.

It's on Nav Pro systems since late 2013 - see this extract from the engineering manual:

[TheRedTornado]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for all your help, i have now solved the issue.
It seems that the golf comes with a slightly deeper socket (or the fascia is built up more) behind the gear stick, than in the boot oddly.

I found that when i pushed the Belkin connector into the socket and held it in place (To the point where i felt something was going to break), it would light up.
This gave me the idea to try an old Sat Nav connector in the socket, sure enough it lit up first time. The main difference being the length from the top of the connector to where the socket makes the connection. The Sat Nav connector must be at least 15mm longer.

I then tried the Belkin out in my M135 and sure enough it struggled to pick up a current. I then tried it out in my friends V40, where it worked without any issue 

To solve the problem i bought a slightly larger connector 

[ffrank]

Or you could have just repalced them both for a V40 

How do you find the GTD after the M135i, tempted by a DTUK? 

Edit - I was thinking of getting this for mine, does it look like the one that works for you?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00FSUJ0PS/ref=cm_sw_r_udp_awd_FsNHtb0NX9XCG

[TheRedTornado]

It was actually between the V40 D4 and the GTD when i ordered. I made the correct choice 

The main thing that put me off the V40 was the cost of all the extras, to spec the V40 to the standard GTD level would have probably cost me at another £1500.
Saying that the V40 does accept the smaller better looking 12v chargers and it has a USB port as standard 

Would love to put a DTUK box in the GTD, sadly its a company car so i don't fancy risking it just incase i have an accident and cant get it out before the insurance company see it. (Read P45 lol)

The GTD certainly isn't a disappointment in comparison to the M135, it may not be as quick, but in my opinion its a nicer place to be on a long journey, the BMW feels much smaller inside.

That charger looks identical to the Belkin one that didn't work 

Try this, it may not look as good but it does work - http://direct.asda.com/iBox-Dual-USB-In-Car-iPad/iPhone/iPod-Charger/000547974,default,pd.html