The USB power outlet has been bothering me, specifically the lack of access I'm going to have once the skin over top of the instrument panel is in place. I previously made up a tool to help get the lock nut undone, but I tried using it and it's still impossible to get the power outlet out of the panel.
So today I came up with another idea......... instead of removing the power outlet through the front of the panel, I made up a bracket so it removes from the rear. The pictures below show how I did this.
Now, to get the power outlet out of the panel I don't have to touch the large retaining nut at all. You just undo two screws from the front and poke the whole assembly down the gap alongside the map box. You can then unplug it from underneath quite easily. To put it back in I simply insert a USB stick to act as a handle, poke the assembly up through the gap, grab the "handle" through the hole and use it to hold the thing steady as I insert the two screws.
Took me a while to come up with this, but I'm happy with the outcome. Plus I think it actually looks better as well.
Making up a mounting bracket for the USB power outlet
The whole assembly is held in place by two small screws through the front panel
