# Which brands of cars let me charge my phone when the engine is off? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** chevrolet, charger, malibu, engines\ **Created:** [July 23, 2009, 8:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/which-brands-of-cars-let-me-charge-my-phone-when-the-engine-is-off/33868 "2009-07-23T20:13:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![sblockst](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@sblockst](https://community.cartalk.com/u/sblockst)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 8:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/which-brands-of-cars-let-me-charge-my-phone-when-the-engine-is-off/33868/1 "2009-07-23T20:13:53Z")
Which brands of cars let me charge my phone when the engine is off? I noticed that general motors does, but Toyota does not? Does anyone know about Ford, Chrysler, Honda, Nissa and all the other manufacturers? ---
**Author:** ![oldschool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e19adc/32.png) [@oldschool](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldschool)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 8:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/which-brands-of-cars-let-me-charge-my-phone-when-the-engine-is-off/33868/2 "2009-07-23T20:38:28Z")
Are you talking about a certain kind of phone that is branded to the car or just which cars have a “hot” receptacle with the key off? Any car can be modifed for a outlet to be hot with the key off. ---
**Author:** ![Caddyman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/caddyman/32/23_2.png) [@Caddyman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Caddyman)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 9:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/which-brands-of-cars-let-me-charge-my-phone-when-the-engine-is-off/33868/3 "2009-07-23T21:46:24Z")
Most lighter sockets are “hot” with the key off… ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 9:50pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/which-brands-of-cars-let-me-charge-my-phone-when-the-engine-is-off/33868/4 "2009-07-23T21:50:27Z")
Can you define “most”? My experience is mostly with Hondas, Toyotas, and Subarus, and their lighter sockets are not “hot” when the ignition is turned off. ---
**Author:** ![bscar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bscar/32/34_2.png) [@bscar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bscar)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 12:16am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/which-brands-of-cars-let-me-charge-my-phone-when-the-engine-is-off/33868/5 "2009-07-24T00:16:03Z")
I’m not sure that’d be a good idea since you could come out to a dead car battery if left alone for too long. ---
**Author:** ![Beadsandbeads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c57346/32.png) [@Beadsandbeads](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Beadsandbeads)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 12:30am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/which-brands-of-cars-let-me-charge-my-phone-when-the-engine-is-off/33868/6 "2009-07-24T00:30:54Z")
Just buy what car you want and take it somewhere to have the circuit modified or add a circuit to charge your phone. It should be pretty simple, kindergarden, electrical circuits. ---
**Author:** ![Triedaq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@Triedaq](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Triedaq)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 3:01am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/which-brands-of-cars-let-me-charge-my-phone-when-the-engine-is-off/33868/7 "2009-07-24T03:01:36Z")
The socket goes off with the ignition switch on my 2003 Toyota 4Runner,but is always live on my 2006 Chevrolet Uplander. I think the power socket was always live on my 2000 Ford Windstar. On several occasions, I have left the charger plugged in overnight on the Uplander to charge my cell phone. It didn’t run the battery down–the phone battery doesn’t take much energy to recharge. ---
**Author:** ![MG-McAnick](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mg-mcanick/32/188_2.png) [@MG-McAnick](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MG-McAnick)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 3:31am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/which-brands-of-cars-let-me-charge-my-phone-when-the-engine-is-off/33868/8 "2009-07-24T03:31:45Z")
On some cars the cigarette lighter stays hot when the car is not running, but AFAIK those with a socket labled POWER SOURCE leave THAT socket hot all the time. MANY cars made in the last ten years or so have both. ---
**Author:** ![pleasedodgevan2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ad7895/32.png) [@pleasedodgevan2](https://community.cartalk.com/u/pleasedodgevan2)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 3:53am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/which-brands-of-cars-let-me-charge-my-phone-when-the-engine-is-off/33868/9 "2009-07-24T03:53:08Z")
In addition to the care and maintenance of the cell phone, I hope you are also worried about your own needs. I wish that everybody didn’t have to spend so much time on the phone. It can take a lot out of you. I know that we can’t have the same goals. One person’s peace and quiet is another person’s boredom. The quiet time that bothered me was when school started after Summer vacation and I was at home for a few weeks before starting my first job. I spent the time reading a lot of books. There were no cell phones or home computers back then and the radio was playing some awful stuff, three channels on TV… ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2020, 11:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/which-brands-of-cars-let-me-charge-my-phone-when-the-engine-is-off/33868/11 "2020-01-23T23:35:42Z")
You revived a 11 year old thread just to critique the replies to a question . Ok fine. And how is this not a factual statement . ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2020, 11:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/which-brands-of-cars-let-me-charge-my-phone-when-the-engine-is-off/33868/12 "2020-01-23T23:54:38Z")
> [@Jennifer\_Palumbo](#): > > My Mazda has always allowed it, which has been nice to have. Don’t get ahead of yourself . . . My sister-in-law also has a Mazda and she’s learned to regret having that power port which is hot 24/7 She had a habit of leaving her charger plugged in all the time Well, one day she told me the battery was dead Turns out the tiny little led on the charger . . . which is on all the time, even if the phone isn’t hooked up . . . was drawing enough current to eventually kill the battery. I know this for a fact because I had my dmm with me She now makes sure nothing is plugged in if the car is turned off . . . ---
**Author:** ![Scrapyard-John](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@Scrapyard-John](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Scrapyard-John)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2020, 12:12am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/which-brands-of-cars-let-me-charge-my-phone-when-the-engine-is-off/33868/13 "2020-01-24T00:12:31Z")
I’ve noticed the same. Own 2 older GM’s, one 2013 Toyota. GM is hot with key off. Toyota, no. If a phone charger will drain the battery, well…someone should tell my old GM’s. It’s a handy feature. Annoys me with the Yota not having it. But not a huge gripe. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2020, 2:09am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/which-brands-of-cars-let-me-charge-my-phone-when-the-engine-is-off/33868/14 "2020-01-24T02:09:04Z")
The important point is that you have older GM vehicles, and they likely have significantly fewer electronic devices to drain power. You may have courtesy lights that stay on after you shut the engine down, but probably not the radio and headlights as we have now. I could charge my phone in the 1998 Regal with the engine off and never had a problem. I wouldn’t want to do that with my 2017 car. ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2020, 2:15am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/which-brands-of-cars-let-me-charge-my-phone-when-the-engine-is-off/33868/15 "2020-01-24T02:15:09Z")
> [@bscar](#): > > I’m not sure that’d be a good idea since you could come out to a dead car battery Acura does not. When I changed batteries I used the memory saver but it didn’t work because the car was off is how I know. I understand our 3 year old battery might have been a little tired but we stopped for gas and the wife had the radio on for a short period. Came back to the car and not enough juice to start it again. I don’t know what a phone takes but I wouldn’t chance it. ---
**Author:** ![Scrapyard-John](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@Scrapyard-John](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Scrapyard-John)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2020, 3:03am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/which-brands-of-cars-let-me-charge-my-phone-when-the-engine-is-off/33868/16 "2020-01-24T03:03:17Z")
The radios stay on until you open the door on the GM’s (mine anyway, 2005). The headlights stay on for a period after you leave the Buick. You can alter the time the lights stay on. The truck is a base model, so the lights only stay on about…8 seconds or so maybe and you can’t adjust it. You can roll down the windows in the Buick after you shut down the engine. The truck has manual windows. Conversely, the Toyota’s radio shuts off as soon as you turn the ignition off. I’m not certain on the windows. So I’m not sure. The GM’s are 05’s, the Toyota is a 13. It may be more of a “Toyota” thing or maybe just an Asian brand thing. I really don’t remember what the 2013 Ford I owned did in this regard. I can’t speak for modern GM’s either. But if they act like my older ones (and I suspect they do), I doubt it’s a modern electronics issue. If a phone charger drains the battery overnight, I think you may have a pretty weak battery. Not a deal breaker, obviously, but being able to charge a phone when you hop out of the car is pretty handy. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2020, 4:00am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/which-brands-of-cars-let-me-charge-my-phone-when-the-engine-is-off/33868/17 "2020-01-24T04:00:16Z")
> [@Scrapyard\_John](#): > > If a phone charger drains the battery overnight, I think you may have a pretty weak battery. That charger in my sister-in-law’s car . . . even with no phone hooked up, it draws about 150 milliamps Not okay at all, in my opinion Even a good battery will suffer long term consequences ---
**Author:** ![old\_mopar\_guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/6bbea6/32.png) [@old\_mopar\_guy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/old_mopar_guy)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2020, 4:07am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/which-brands-of-cars-let-me-charge-my-phone-when-the-engine-is-off/33868/18 "2020-01-24T04:07:57Z")
My wife’s Hyundai Elantra has a wireless charging spot that works with the engine on or off. Also a USB outlet that’s always hot. ---
**Author:** ![Scrapyard-John](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@Scrapyard-John](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Scrapyard-John)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2020, 4:22am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/which-brands-of-cars-let-me-charge-my-phone-when-the-engine-is-off/33868/19 "2020-01-24T04:22:20Z")
I don’t know how much mine draws. It’s a cheap-o variety that I bought at a gas station with a light that stays on constantly. I always leave it plugged in. The battery in the Buick lasted 5 years, which is about all I ever get out of a battery in MS. I do drive 20 miles or so (one way) to work, so that may have an effect too. Might be worse in a vehicle that’s driven less. Regardless, it hasn’t caused me any issues and I like the feature. If the battery dies early next time, I might change my tune! ---
**Author:** ![SteveCBT](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/stevecbt/32/3192_2.png) [@SteveCBT](https://community.cartalk.com/u/SteveCBT)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2020, 10:59am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/which-brands-of-cars-let-me-charge-my-phone-when-the-engine-is-off/33868/20 "2020-01-24T10:59:36Z")
Get something like this, less chance of running your car battery down. > **[Amazon.com: Portable Charger 26800mAh【2019 Upgrade High Capacity】Power Bank...](https://www.amazon.com/Portable-26800mAh%E3%80%902019-Capacity%E3%80%91Power-External-High-Speed/dp/B07Z8X9SHX/ref=asc_df_B07Z8X9SHX/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=385147126455&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=9555758257704327148&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9007492&hvtargid=pla-842305752928&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=78225421666&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=385147126455&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=9555758257704327148&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9007492&hvtargid=pla-842305752928)** > > Amazon.com: Portable Charger 26800mAh【2019 Upgrade High Capacity】Power Bank Ultra Compact External Battery Pack Backup with 4 LED Lights,Dual USB Ports High-Speed Charging for Cell Phones, Tablet and More (Black): XINLANG-US ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2020, 2:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/which-brands-of-cars-let-me-charge-my-phone-when-the-engine-is-off/33868/21 "2020-01-24T14:01:22Z")
I thought your vehicles may have been older, like 1990s, and not have had as much electronics. [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/which-brands-of-cars-let-me-charge-my-phone-when-the-engine-is-off/33868.md?page=2)