Wireless charger in media bin removal

[hack-e]

Anyone figure out how to disassemble the media bin that holds the wireless charger?

I've been thinking about how the wireless charger is almost useless for my phone and would rather just remove it so it doesn't heat up my phone.

Sponsored

 

[azerik]

I’ve been trying to figure out the same. If I could just turn it off I’d be happier. Though for some reason wireless car play kills my phone battery even when not using it. It probably runs the map in the background even if not selected.

 

[hack-e]

A kind person shared some initial clues as to how to gain access to the wireless charger mounted under the media bin and I deduced the rest and now I have successfully removed it in my MME. Here are some tips to guide someone through it.

Do not try this if you do not feel comfortable. Do this at your own risk.

The question is how do you lift off the top of the media bin to get access to the bottom-side where the wireless charger is mounted?

You can guess that there are clips holding it in place:

But what is not obvious is that the front and back edges are also held in place by other pieces:

The front edge can be freed by removing the panel just above it, which has two clips (in red below) at the top and two catches (in blue below) lower down, and then it has a fit-hinge at the bottom so that after unclipping/catching you can lift it out of its hinges by holding it nearly closed and pulling up:

Now you can see the lip that holds it down in front:

The back edge can be freed by removing the PRNDL/Parking-Brake center console piece and its base holder. The top part of that center console piece is just held down with four clips on the four corners (in red below) and can be popped off its base holder with a little pull upwards. Then the base holder can be lifted out by removing four 9/32 inch screws (in blue below) holding it down. There is enough spare cabling to set them off to the side:

And now you can see the small lip that sits beneath the center console base holder:

Now you are free to pry up the media bin and cup holder top piece. I used a metal pry tool (probably not the best) and started at the front and worked my way back on both sides:

You can simply unplug the wireless module but leave it mounted:

I chose to remove the module altogether. To do that, remove the four Torx T20 screws:

I recommend putting the screws back in for safe keeping:

:

Of course reverse the steps to put it back together.

I hope this improves my range in the summer by not wasting energy on generating heat!

Edit: removed extraneous photos.

 

[geftsnowball]

For those wanting to achieve the same effect without tearing up the tray, some tin foil placed under your tray mat will work too. It can't initiate wireless charging if the signal is blocked from initiating the charge.

 

[hack-e]

This "tearing up" comment makes me want to clarify that nothing was damaged here.

 

[geftsnowball]

This "tearing up" comment makes me want to clarify that nothing was damaged here.

Accidents do happen ??

 

[JohnFoxeSheets]

We do with our cars what makes up happy... Some people remove the lift gate GT emblem and replace it with a pony emblem,

...and others remove their wireless charger.

I say live and let live. ?

 

[Kamuelaflyer]

I say live and let live. ?

That is not in keeping with Internet forum protocol. Cease and desist sir!

 

[JohnFoxeSheets]

That is not in keeping with Internet forum protocol. Cease and desist sir!

What can I say? I'm a rebel.

 

[hack-e]

I did end up designing my own 3D printed mount and install a 15W wireless charger from Amazon. I just finished installing it so I need a little time to see if it's any better than the one I removed:

This one's powered from the same connector as the one removed but it doesn't communicate with the car, so the car won't let you know that a phone is charging on it like the original one does, but I could care less as the phone tells me that..

 

[hack-e]

After looking up the FCC test report on the Ford wireless charging module, it appears to be 5W:

So I expect my 15W replacement to work better. We'll see.

 

[hack-e]

I went to the grocery store and back, which was probably 10 minutes total, and it charged 2%. I think that's a sign it's working much better.

I do have the AOSK after market tray sitting on it. I designed the wireless charging module to stick up a little since my P7P has a camera bump but the tray negates that somewhat. I've been considering cutting a hole in the tray so that the charging module can poke through to get a little closer to the back of my phone.

 

[hack-e]

If anyone else needs dimensions to build your own, I can share:

 

[Logal727]

If anyone else needs dimensions to build your own, I can share:

I got the Twraps MagSafe charger, it’s awesome and perfectly molded for the MME

 

[hack-e]

I got the Twraps MagSafe charger, it’s awesome and perfectly molded for the MME

That product looks neat and I considered it, but it's only 7.5W and I use the USB-C port that it uses for something else. But definitely a welcome product and way easier to install.

Sponsored