Replacing USB Port in Console '13 Forester about:reader?url=https://www.subaruforester.org/vbulletin/f77/repla...

subaruforester.org

Replacing USB Port in Console '13

Forester
3-4 minutes

Forum Member

 
Join Date: Oct 2012

Location: West Central Florida

Posts: 121

Car Year: 2013

Car Model: Forester2.5X Premium

Transmission: Automatic

Feedback Score: 0 reviews

Replacing USB Port in Console '13 Forester

I know I'm not the only one who's done this oops and figured I'd

1 of 10 5/15/19, 7:41 PM
Replacing USB Port in Console '13 Forester about:reader?url=https://www.subaruforester.org/vbulletin/f77/repla...

post my resolve in case it helps someone else. Shoved a bunch

of stuff down in my console to clear the front seat and heard this
nasty crunching snap as my USB drive snapped off in the USB
port destroying the port in the process. Managed to pull the
"pieces" out but the inside of the port came out with it

So, next step, call the dealer and schedule an appointment to get
it replaced. Things didn't work out so just decided to buy the $95
part, save the $150 install fee and try it myself. Got some
"instructions" but they didn't match up so off to trial and error.
First pulled the obvious two screws out from the inside of the
console :

2 of 10 5/15/19, 7:41 PM
Replacing USB Port in Console '13 Forester about:reader?url=https://www.subaruforester.org/vbulletin/f77/repla...

Something holding the front so snapped off the cover around the
parking brake and found a small screw holding the front on.

Had pried the front of the USB port off and if you do this, trust me
when I say you're not fixing it. The body of the USB port will fall
down into the console. So pulled the port out from under the

3 of 10 5/15/19, 7:41 PM
Replacing USB Port in Console '13 Forester about:reader?url=https://www.subaruforester.org/vbulletin/f77/repla...

loosened console and unplugged the cigarette port. This allowed

me to pull the whole console assembly out of the car.

The reason you can't fix from inside the console is the wires are
connected to the bracket the rear two screws are fastened to and
have VERY LITTLE SLACK. So I removed the connection point
to get more slack to work with.

4 of 10 5/15/19, 7:41 PM
Replacing USB Port in Console '13 Forester about:reader?url=https://www.subaruforester.org/vbulletin/f77/repla...

I plugged the cigarette plug back in and then ran the two wires
for the USB up thru the hole.

5 of 10 5/15/19, 7:41 PM
Replacing USB Port in Console '13 Forester about:reader?url=https://www.subaruforester.org/vbulletin/f77/repla...

Then this is where you sometimes learn your lesson the hard
way and remember that you learned that lesson. I plugged the
USB port back together and tried it and made sure it worked

BEFORE I put everything back together. It worked so just

screwed it all back down, snapped the parking brake cover on
and good and solid.

Didn't have a low profile USB drive to use but didn't want it back
in the console so used a USB extension cord and duct taped the
cable around the side of the console.

6 of 10 5/15/19, 7:41 PM
Replacing USB Port in Console '13 Forester about:reader?url=https://www.subaruforester.org/vbulletin/f77/repla...

Then I cut a small V in the bottom of the small drop in cup holder
divider and stuffed the USB drive and cable up inside the divider.

7 of 10 5/15/19, 7:41 PM
Replacing USB Port in Console '13 Forester about:reader?url=https://www.subaruforester.org/vbulletin/f77/repla...

Then dropped the divider down in and buttoned it all up.

All done! Well, with that part. Noticed the covers over the hinges
had popped loose and must of been a long, long time ago, so
they were extending into the console opening.

8 of 10 5/15/19, 7:41 PM
Replacing USB Port in Console '13 Forester about:reader?url=https://www.subaruforester.org/vbulletin/f77/repla...

Dang!!! Could NOT get them to stay down, pried, pushed,

shoved, no way! Soooo, drilled some holes thru the plastic and
the hinged bracket, installed a few self-tapping screws from our
aluminum porch framing, and tah-dah!, now they're all down and
tight :

9 of 10 5/15/19, 7:41 PM
Replacing USB Port in Console '13 Forester about:reader?url=https://www.subaruforester.org/vbulletin/f77/repla...

So all fixed, USB working and hidden, hinge covers all tight,
might not be professional but dang well good enough for me.

Hope this helps if someone else faces this same situation.

10 of 10 5/15/19, 7:41 PM