After a visit to my local van center I noticed that the VW T5 California in the showroom had a 12V auxiliary power socket mounted into the tray in the middle of the dash, This is something that would be really handy as I have found when the 12V socket in the ashtray draw is used the plug slowly vibrates out due to road vibration.
After looking on ETKA I found the VW part numbers as follows:
Dash tray – 7E0857922G – The ‘G’ is the important bit pre G will not have the dash power socket.
Auxiliary power socket – 1J0919309B
I decided to take the power for the new socket from the same supply as the ashtray socket as I figured the ashtray socket would seldom get used once fitted.
Firstly I removed the 15A fuse for the cigarette lighter (located under the passenger seat)
Pull out the dash tray. I had to cut a small lip of plastic out to make room for the socket.Remove the Glove box, flick off the plastic covers and undo the 5 Torx screws. this could be optional if you can get the cable through.
I pulled out the ashtray draw (you need to give it a very firm tug) and spliced into the cables under the ashtray with a new pair.
Run the new pair of cables up through the hole behind the radio and connect to new power socket.
I used 1.5mm red and brown cable in keeping with VW’s wiring colors using red for +ve the center pin and brown for -ve. I also wrapped the new wiring loom and crimp connectors in felt tape to stop any rattles from behind the dash.