2005 Honda Civic LX accessory socket/power socket not working
Quick back story, I bought my civic, used, a few years ago. I bought it from someone who picks up abandoned cars by military people here (Hawaii) does minor fixes on them (if needed), renews the paperwork and sells them for a lot cheaper. This is why I don't have any info from previous owners besides the Car Fax report. When I first got the car, it was checked mechanically by my picky father and was told that I got pretty "lucky" with this one.
To the issue: I didn't realize till after a year that the power socket was not working, and after I changed out the fuse, it still didn't go. I put it on the back burner but now I am thinking about it again. I was wondering what else can I check without having to take it in to see if someone can figure it out. One thing too, I am not sure how to pop out that area to see what's going on behind it. Maybe something is unplugged or got cut?
To the issue: I didn't realize till after a year that the power socket was not working, and after I changed out the fuse, it still didn't go. I put it on the back burner but now I am thinking about it again. I was wondering what else can I check without having to take it in to see if someone can figure it out. One thing too, I am not sure how to pop out that area to see what's going on behind it. Maybe something is unplugged or got cut?
If you think a good mechanic is expensive, try hiring a bad one
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Re: 2005 Honda Civic LX accessory socket/power socket not working
Pull the trim panel out so you can reach the wiring on the back of the socket.
Test for power and ground in that connector (with the key on)
You could use a DVOM
or a simple #194 light bulb with the two wires straightened out as a test light.
If it lights up, you have power and ground so the accessory socket must be bad (might have a bad fusible link on the back of the socket). If the test light bulb doesn't light up, more checking is needed.
Test for power and ground in that connector (with the key on)
You could use a DVOM
or a simple #194 light bulb with the two wires straightened out as a test light.
If it lights up, you have power and ground so the accessory socket must be bad (might have a bad fusible link on the back of the socket). If the test light bulb doesn't light up, more checking is needed.
Re: 2005 Honda Civic LX accessory socket/power socket not working
Pull the trim panel out so you can reach the wiring on the back of the socket.
Test for power and ground in that connector (with the key on)
You could use a DVOM
or a simple #194 light bulb with the two wires straightened out as a test light.
If it lights up, you have power and ground so the accessory socket must be bad (might have a bad fusible link on the back of the socket). If the test light bulb doesn't light up, more checking is needed.
Test for power and ground in that connector (with the key on)
You could use a DVOM
or a simple #194 light bulb with the two wires straightened out as a test light.
If it lights up, you have power and ground so the accessory socket must be bad (might have a bad fusible link on the back of the socket). If the test light bulb doesn't light up, more checking is needed.
Thank you. I will check on that this week when I am off as it looks like it is gonna take a bit to dismantle that center area to get behind it. I didn't know where to start checking.
If it doesn't light up, I am assuming that somewhere up the wiring harness I will have to go up and look through.
If you think a good mechanic is expensive, try hiring a bad one
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 32,017
Likes: 256
From: Midwest. Aiming about mid-chest
Rep Power: 517 










Re: 2005 Honda Civic LX accessory socket/power socket not working
If it doesn't light up a test light bulb plugged into the connector terminals, then you'd need to test to see if the connector is missing the positive 12v, or the negative (ground). Each wire leads to different areas, gotta know which one is missing or wrong first.
This is probably the absolute simplest 12v test light you can make for about 25 cents:

Take an ordinary #194 light bulb (commonly used for license plate light and park lights)
straighten out the two wires at the base and insert one wire into each of the two terminals in the connector from the power outlet. Turn on the key and see if the light lights up.
If it does light up, you just verified that connector has both 12v positive and ground.
If so......Problem has to be in the power outlet itself.
This is probably the absolute simplest 12v test light you can make for about 25 cents:

Take an ordinary #194 light bulb (commonly used for license plate light and park lights)
straighten out the two wires at the base and insert one wire into each of the two terminals in the connector from the power outlet. Turn on the key and see if the light lights up.
If it does light up, you just verified that connector has both 12v positive and ground.
If so......Problem has to be in the power outlet itself.
Re: 2005 Honda Civic LX accessory socket/power socket not working
If it doesn't light up a test light bulb plugged into the connector terminals, then you'd need to test to see if the connector is missing the positive 12v, or the negative (ground). Each wire leads to different areas, gotta know which one is missing or wrong first.
This is probably the absolute simplest 12v test light you can make for about 25 cents:

Take an ordinary #194 light bulb (commonly used for license plate light and park lights)
straighten out the two wires at the base and insert one wire into each of the two terminals in the connector from the power outlet. Turn on the key and see if the light lights up.
If it does light up, you just verified that connector has both 12v positive and ground.
If so......Problem has to be in the power outlet itself.
This is probably the absolute simplest 12v test light you can make for about 25 cents:

Take an ordinary #194 light bulb (commonly used for license plate light and park lights)
straighten out the two wires at the base and insert one wire into each of the two terminals in the connector from the power outlet. Turn on the key and see if the light lights up.
If it does light up, you just verified that connector has both 12v positive and ground.
If so......Problem has to be in the power outlet itself.
I have one of these multimeter things, would you know which dials to turn so I can get the correct reading?
If you think a good mechanic is expensive, try hiring a bad one
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 32,017
Likes: 256
From: Midwest. Aiming about mid-chest
Rep Power: 517 










Re: 2005 Honda Civic LX accessory socket/power socket not working
^Didn't it come with instructions?
https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/How+To+...ltimeter/25632
The light bulb check seems simpler as a starting point.
https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/How+To+...ltimeter/25632
The light bulb check seems simpler as a starting point.



