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Don't hack up your dash or cubby. Replace the 12V outlet on the passenger side lower dash panel instead. There's a few vendors that make plug and play adapters that fit perfectly. I prefer the Scosche unit. Looks cleaner/stealthy, no need to cut holes! I made a post you can find here.
Cheers
-Icer
The cup holder is higher up on the same panel, some vehicles have a small change or business card drawer instead of the cup holder (which is how mine came equipped). Honestly I'm not 100% sure what those little pop out drawers are for. They are so small, it's almost pointless (I'm sure Mic knows). At the very bottom of the panel there should be a flip down cover that exposes the 12V outlet. Yes, on older vehicles (pre-90s) these were primarily used for cigarette/cigar lighters (I still remember my brother's 1984 Lincoln Continental with these in the door arm rests). The 350Z did not come with the push button lighter, it's just a metal barrel with 12V power for plug-in accessories. There should be another 12V outlet behind the center armrest pocket (also with cover flap). No one really uses the passenger footwell 12V outlet in 350Zs, and if they do, they typically use it for phone charging. The adapter I mentioned still maintains phone charging capabilities, but also doubles as a USB data port for connection to a head unit.
Anyway, it was just a mere suggestion from one Z owner to another. If you prefer to drill and mount elsewhere in your Z, by all means. But I don't believe there's enough clearance for the adapter you linked to mount inside the center waterfall cubby (back wall, sides, top, or bottom). Depending on the year and trim of your Z, you could mount it at the center console, on the blank cover panel between cup holders and shifter bezel (Caveat: Must not have leather heated/power seats). I had this same adapter once upon a time and that's where I put it since the blank cover is cheap and easily replaced if you want to cleanly remove the USB port in the future. The switch dividers will need to be broken out for this though, which shouldn't be a problem if you never had switches to begin with. Other places aren't nearly as convenient, such as the glovebox , but would require a USB extension cable and the need to move the passenger seat whenever you wanted access. The same is true for the other smaller, upper storage pockets behind the seats. The center armrest compartment sits close to the transmission tunnel and SRS module for mounting at the bottom, but the back wall might work, I haven't verified this myself.
Cheers!
-Icer
The center armrest compartment sits close to the transmission tunnel and SRS module for mounting at the bottom, but the back wall might work, I haven't verified this myself.
I mounted a similar looking USB socket (it has a USB and 3.5mm aux input) on the front wall of the center armrest compartment under the storage lid. I can snap a pic if OP (or anyone) is curious as to the placement.
I mounted a similar looking USB socket (it has a USB and 3.5mm aux input) on the front wall of the center armrest compartment under the storage lid. I can snap a pic if OP (or anyone) is curious as to the placement.
That would be great. I took out my center console to see where I can run the USB wire and location of the hole.
Last edited by streamin350; 06-25-2023 at 12:53 PM.
Sorry no pictures during the install, but here is the finished product. It fits pretty nicely right there in the middle of the business card holder (which I have never used).
06-18-2023, 09:58 AM
USB install from rear of stereo
