Suggestions/solutions for cell phone charger won't stay plugged in (vehicle, plugs)

[HWTechGuy]

Since I bought it, I've noticed a minor issue with my Toyota Avalon. I have few different 12V to USB chargers for my phones and such. None of them want to stay plugged in. It doesn't matter if I use the charging point in the center console or the two up front in the cubby with the USB port. Every time I plug my phone in - I don't hear the audible notification that it's charging. So, I check and find that the charger has backed out of the socket. I push it back in and I am good to go for an indeterminate amount of time until it works its way out again. At times, I'll be driving along and notice the phone isn't charging again and reseat it again. It's a minor, but constant inconvenience.

I use the same exact model chargers in my other car (Honda) and my company vehicle (Ford) and do not experience this issue.

It appears that an easy solution could be to buy a charger with the metal tabs that can be bent outward to make it fit very tightly in the socket. Since I have a Samsung phone, I prefer to use the OEM charger so it will fast charge. The problem is that it has "buttons" on the side instead of those bendable metal tabs.

https://www.amazon.com/OEM-Samsung-E.../dp/B01CGTCS9I

I have a few generic chargers that were fast-charge compatible but they are of similar design to the Samsung charger and thus have the same issue.

Some quick Googling has given me some low-tech solutions such as wrapping a piece of double sided tape around the charger above the contact points to help hold it in place. Before I do that, I figured I'd bounce it off the forum for some other solutions.

My wife and I went on a trip and her phone didn't charge, and of course - it was my fault.

So, my reason for wanting a fix should be crystal clear.

[notnamed]

It's not difficult to just add a USB socket to your car. Especially for a hw tech guy heh. Can tap one of those power sockets or just run an add-a-fuse for it.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01CT...aWL&ref=plSrch

[HWTechGuy]

Originally Posted by notnamed

It's not difficult to just add a USB socket to your car. Especially for a hw tech guy heh. Can tap one of those power sockets or just run an add-a-fuse for it.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01CT...aWL&ref=plSrch

Thanks for the reply, but there is already a USB socket in the car. I can't use it to charge the phone because my Galaxy S7 Edge draws too much power. I get an error message on the head unit display indicative of that and it kills the power to port. The only thing I can charge with that port is my Bluetooth earpiece that I use when I am not in the car.

[notnamed]

That's likely connected to the head unit and not giving you a 2.1a charge like one of those would.

[Regajohn]

if you are talking about plugs that go into the cigarette lighter receptacle ... I have had several cars, usually European, that didn't hold plugs very well, whether they were USB cigarette lighter plugs or radar detector cigarette lighter plugs or something similar.

Usually a shim (like a strip of folded up paper {like an accordion} to create a tighter fit) next to the plug, and slid into the socket at the same time you insert the plug into the socket, helps.

[HWTechGuy]

Originally Posted by notnamed

That's likely connected to the head unit and not giving you a 2.1a charge like one of those would.

Got it. I'll look into that solution as I think I have a blank switch position in the dash where that could fit. Thanks.

Originally Posted by Regajohn

if you are talking about plugs that go into the cigarette lighter receptacle ... I have had several cars, usually European, that didn't hold plugs very well, whether they were USB cigarette lighter plugs or radar detector cigarette lighter plugs or something similar.

Usually a shim (like a strip of folded up paper {like an accordion} to create a tighter fit) next to the plug, and slid into the socket at the same time you insert the plug into the socket, helps.

Good idea. That might work for the time being. Thanks.