Wiring 12v power to the Dashboard Cubby, and Center Dash Removal -- DIY how-to video

Hey guys!

I did this about a month ago and finally got around to editing and uploading the video (Forgive the bad audio dub at the beginning, I had to re-record the sound clips).

I wired up a 2nd 12v Power outlet to the cubby and added a spot for my Spotify Car Thing, and tapped into the lower 12v power outlet. This is nice because the power is switched with the ignition (stays on for about 20 minutes or so after the car is turned off).




Lower 12v Outlet Wiring:
+ Green wire/white tracer
- Black wire/blue tracer

Maverick Dash Cubby Insert:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/1218357449/enclosure-for-2022-ford-maverick-side

Spotify Car Thing:
https://carthing.spotify.com/

12v to 5v USB-C Converter
https://a.co/d/70Dq64h

The 12v socket was just purchased from O'Reilly Auto Parts

Nice work

DTF-Garage said:

Hey guys!

I did this about a month ago and finally got around to editing and uploading the video (Forgive the bad audio dub at the beginning, I had to re-record the sound clips).

I wired up a 2nd 12v Power outlet to the cubby and added a spot for my Spotify Car Thing, and tapped into the lower 12v power outlet. This is nice because the power is switched with the ignition (stays on for about 20 minutes or so after the car is turned off).




Lower 12v Outlet Wiring:
+ Green wire/white tracer
- Black wire/blue tracer

Maverick Dash Cubby Insert:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/1218357449/enclosure-for-2022-ford-maverick-side

Spotify Car Thing:
https://carthing.spotify.com/

12v to 5v USB-C Converter
https://a.co/d/70Dq64h

The 12v socket was just purchased from O'Reilly Auto Parts

Click to expand...

Thoroughly confused. Seems redundant. You have Spotify compatibility on the stock head unit already by way of CarPlay/Android Auto. And it’s playing on the stock head unit in your photo. So the Car Thing is just kinda there? I guess? For when you don’t want to use Spotify on the stock head unit? I don’t get it. You don’t have to explain yourself obviously, I just couldn’t not say something. To me it’s like adding a second toilet in your bathroom right next to the first one and reserving it strictly for shitting or something.

KFBR392 said:

Thoroughly confused. Seems redundant. You have Spotify compatibility on the stock head unit already by way of CarPlay/Android Auto. And it’s playing on the stock head unit in your photo. So the Car Thing is just kinda there? I guess? For when you don’t want to use Spotify on the stock head unit? I don’t get it. You don’t have to explain yourself obviously, I just couldn’t not say something. To me it’s like adding a second toilet in your bathroom right next to the first one and reserving it strictly for shitting or something.

Click to expand...

It's definitely redundant, there's no denying that lol. When the music is up on the main touchscreen I have 4 different places I can pause, play and skip tracks it's definitely made for older vehicles without touchscreen stereos.

I will honestly probably end up switching it out eventually, but for now it's at least something there to fill the space. The thing I do like is that it's easier to access Playlists than with the stock head unit, and you can do it without leaving the maps screen.

The main thing I wanted was the extra 12v outlet up top. We have a lot of things to plug in when we go on road trips.

Nice vid! Interesting to see the dash come apart and the location of the clips.

What exactly does the spotify thing do? How does it differ from Android Auto or sync 3?

What I think I would like to put there would be a 120v AC plug.

Glad you did this was wondering if it work in portrait mode to cover full cubby. Still debating doing something like this. Keep us up to date on usefulness.

Too bad there wasn’t a factory lead/harness dohicky to plug directly into that 12 volt so you don’t have to splice into it. I agree with the other poster an easy to access A/C outlet would be great

DTF-Garage said:

Hey guys!

I did this about a month ago and finally got around to editing and uploading the video (Forgive the bad audio dub at the beginning, I had to re-record the sound clips).

I wired up a 2nd 12v Power outlet to the cubby and added a spot for my Spotify Car Thing, and tapped into the lower 12v power outlet. This is nice because the power is switched with the ignition (stays on for about 20 minutes or so after the car is turned off).




Lower 12v Outlet Wiring:
+ Green wire/white tracer
- Black wire/blue tracer

Maverick Dash Cubby Insert:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/1218357449/enclosure-for-2022-ford-maverick-side

Spotify Car Thing:
https://carthing.spotify.com/

12v to 5v USB-C Converter
https://a.co/d/70Dq64h

The 12v socket was just purchased from O'Reilly Auto Parts

Click to expand...

Thank you…. I want my Sirius XM in my XLT LUX and from the looks of what you did, a small XM radio would be perfect fit there… all I’ll have to do is add an XM Radio Antenna.

DTF-Garage said:

(stays on for about 20 minutes or so after the car is turned off).

Click to expand...

Nice video. If anything else, good video on taking those parts of the dash apart.

Interesting that you found that it only stayed on for ~20 minutes.
I was testing out the USB and 12v, and found they stayed on for at least 1 hr (I gave up after that).

DTF-Garage said:

Hey guys!

I did this about a month ago and finally got around to editing and uploading the video (Forgive the bad audio dub at the beginning, I had to re-record the sound clips).

I wired up a 2nd 12v Power outlet to the cubby and added a spot for my Spotify Car Thing, and tapped into the lower 12v power outlet. This is nice because the power is switched with the ignition (stays on for about 20 minutes or so after the car is turned off).




Lower 12v Outlet Wiring:
+ Green wire/white tracer
- Black wire/blue tracer

Maverick Dash Cubby Insert:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/1218357449/enclosure-for-2022-ford-maverick-side

Spotify Car Thing:
https://carthing.spotify.com/

12v to 5v USB-C Converter
https://a.co/d/70Dq64h

The 12v socket was just purchased from O'Reilly Auto Parts

Click to expand...

...tell us about the "ford performance" splash screen you have up!

Is that actually running on the head unit??

KFBR392 said:

Thoroughly confused. Seems redundant. You have Spotify compatibility on the stock head unit already by way of CarPlay/Android Auto. And it’s playing on the stock head unit in your photo. So the Car Thing is just kinda there? I guess? For when you don’t want to use Spotify on the stock head unit? I don’t get it. You don’t have to explain yourself obviously, I just couldn’t not say something. To me it’s like adding a second toilet in your bathroom right next to the first one and reserving it strictly for shitting or something.

Click to expand...

Thats what i was thinking too but i didnt wanna poop all over his project lol the usb charging station is also redundant… the stock one is like 2’ below this in the cubby meant for phones lol but i feel 2 toilets beside each other is more practical than you give it credit for. think about those times youre sick and need to use the bathroom and then also have to puke. No need to dirty a garbage pail. Just lean over to the other potty. Genius.

Mabcim said:

Nice video. If anything else, good video on taking those parts of the dash apart.

Interesting that you found that it only stayed on for ~20 minutes.
I was testing out the USB and 12v, and found they stayed on for at least 1 hr (I gave up after that).

Click to expand...

I think the time varies on battery voltage and how much power the stuff plugged in is actually pulling.

aspect said:

...tell us about the "ford performance" splash screen you have up!

Is that actually running on the head unit??

Click to expand...

I switched it out with FORScan. I just wanted "Ford Performance" without the Cobra but they didn't have one.

aspect said:

...tell us about the "ford performance" splash screen you have up!

Is that actually running on the head unit??

Click to expand...

There are a bunch for pre-canned images in Sync.

On my Fusion I changed it to the Mustang Pony symbol, as that is what I traded in, and I missed that coming up.

DTF-Garage said:

I think the time varies on battery voltage and how much power the stuff plugged in is actually pulling.



I switched it out with FORScan. I just wanted "Ford Performance" without the Cobra but they didn't have one.

Click to expand...

Ahhhh right, I forgot those are available on Lariat.

My truck doesn't even have that module