Possible damage from leaving an accessory plugged into car
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 42,473
Likes: 320
From: California
Possible damage from leaving an accessory plugged into car
Hey all, just wanted your input or experiences. What are the chances this could happen to a newer Lexus?
This happened to a friend of a friend, I'll post the msg:
This happened to a friend of a friend, I'll post the msg:
Hi All, Wanted to share!
As some of you may know, we had a pretty scary incident recently. Attached are pictures of what remains of our 2007 Suburban. We are all okay but I wanted to warn everyone not to make the same mistake I did. This fire resulted from leaving an iPhone charger/docking station plugged into the car outlet. It overheated and started a fire, while parked in our garage. PLEASE unplug anything you have in your car outlets once you turn off your car!
We were VERY fortunate that we found the fire, at 11pm, before going to bed and before it spread to the house. None of our garage heat detectors or house fire alarms went off (another item to take care of on my “to do” list). Feel free to pass this along to anyone you want. Better safe than sorry.
As some of you may know, we had a pretty scary incident recently. Attached are pictures of what remains of our 2007 Suburban. We are all okay but I wanted to warn everyone not to make the same mistake I did. This fire resulted from leaving an iPhone charger/docking station plugged into the car outlet. It overheated and started a fire, while parked in our garage. PLEASE unplug anything you have in your car outlets once you turn off your car!
We were VERY fortunate that we found the fire, at 11pm, before going to bed and before it spread to the house. None of our garage heat detectors or house fire alarms went off (another item to take care of on my “to do” list). Feel free to pass this along to anyone you want. Better safe than sorry.
The sockets become disabled when the ignition is turned off on my car (2007 IS350) so I wouldn't be worried about it. However on one of my previous cars I drained a battery when I left something plugged in so in good practice I don't leave anything in the socket anymore when I'm not in the car.
By the way, if you Google that exact quote you'll see it's been going around since 2009.
Just sayin'.
By the way, if you Google that exact quote you'll see it's been going around since 2009.
Just sayin'.
Li-ion batteries are dangerous, and its very important that the battery is well built and has protection circuit, and to use quality charger with protection circuit as well.
Never use third party batteries.
Never use third party batteries.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 8,281
Likes: 292
From: Las Vegas
Most cars since the mid to early 90's don't have any juice to the cig lighter when the key is off. I know my Lexus doesn't. I went for a drive this weekend so that I could charge my cell phone(I was out of town and had forgotten my 110v charger).
We did leave stuff plugged in all the time though in our older vehicles and were fortunate not to have anything happen. Did have a 12v cooler burn up on a trip, but no open flame. Just a messed up circuit in our old cube van. That happened while driving though.
We did leave stuff plugged in all the time though in our older vehicles and were fortunate not to have anything happen. Did have a 12v cooler burn up on a trip, but no open flame. Just a messed up circuit in our old cube van. That happened while driving though.
On my 2007 lexus it doesnt work unless ignition is on accesory, on top of that why would a charger overheat? Its not charging and even if it is then it has to have the automatic shut off built in. It was probably one of those $5 chargers.
Yeah like others have said, not really worried myself because they don't work when the car is off for me.
Scary that this happened though, glad nobody was hurt....could have been a lot worse when a car goes up in flames inside your home.
Scary that this happened though, glad nobody was hurt....could have been a lot worse when a car goes up in flames inside your home.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,676
Likes: 18
From: So California
As Greg0126 says, some cars can have their battery drained when devices are plugged in. e.g. my 2009 BMW 335i would drain it's battery if I kept my iPod plugged into the USB port with the car off -- BMW's response: "Always unplug all devices." I thought that was a ridiculous design (or lack thereof), but since then, I'll remain wary of each and every vehicle until I know specifically how it operates peripheral connections when the car is supposedly off.
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Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,388
Likes: 9
From: Michigan
Some cars have 12V outlets that are powered by ignition (switched), and some powered directly by the battery (hot) for use even when the car is off. It's a good idea to check which ones are constantly hot and which are switched as some aren't marked on their covers.
My Town & Country has both right next to each other on the bottom of the center console. My Mercedes had a switched one in the center console, and a hot one in the passenger footwell.
My Town & Country has both right next to each other on the bottom of the center console. My Mercedes had a switched one in the center console, and a hot one in the passenger footwell.
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chrispy
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Mar 25, 2008 03:22 PM
