I use AndroidAuto nearly every drive.
In my Explorer, it's less of an issue, since it has a phone pocket & sits inverted in it.
In my wife's truck, the phone mount is vertical on one of the AC vents. A solid bump in the road will interrupt the USB connection.

Compressed air doesn't do it, lint/pocket debris gets compacted at the base of the port & the plug doesn't fully seat, but gets just enough to get the AA connection.

Anyone have a good method for cleaning out the phone port?
The only thing I've found that's small enough is a sewing needle, and don't like the idea of using a metal object in the charging port.

There’s lots of good videos on YouTube on this. Dental picks (plastic) and toothpicks are some of the tools used.

CRC / WD40 contact cleaner, typically in the electrical section at Lowes or Home Depot.
Key word here is electrical / electronic contact
cleaner.

Thanks, toothpick seems too thick, unless I shave it down a bit.
It's mostly clearing out the compacted pocket debris, not actually dirty contacts.

What about just firmly plugging and unplugging a couple dozen times. That was an old trick I learned years ago with RCA and RJ-45 connectors; sometimes there’s just a tiny bit of oxidation on the connectors that repeated firm plugging and unplugging helps to clean off. Then a good blast of canned air.

This stuff is great. Check it out here.

quote:

Originally posted by PASig:
What about just firmly plugging and unplugging a couple dozen times. That was an old trick I learned years ago with RCA and RJ-45 connectors; sometimes there’s just a tiny bit of oxidation on the connectors that repeated firm plugging and unplugging helps to clean off. Then a good blast of canned air.

Unfortunately this usually wont work with the Usb sockets. They usually arent tarnished, but have build up of pocket lint, and other assorted crap stuck in the socket which wont allow a plug to go in far enough for a good connection. Plastic picks and electronic cleaner to get the gunk out and all should be good

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BD...ec29bc6700d98b2e6bd7

This message has been edited. Last edited by: PeteF,

Search the big internet store for plastic tools for sockets.

I found it possible to use a thin blade-like object (think feeler gauge) with tissue paper wetted with plastic-safe contact cleaner.

I've been digging lint out of my iphone lightning port with a metal paper clip for years and never had an issue, even scraping the inside.

I went to Amazon seeking cans of compressed air, and found this. Works great, much better than cans of air without being over-powered like my shop compressors.

Shaved down toothpick is my solution. Done it several times. Amazing how much lint gets packed in the port.

I bought some metal dental instruments quite a while ago. Same thing as your dentist uses for your checkup. Those two picks get used almost as much as my screw drivers. Wonderful devices for cleaning many different items. Buy them now and use them for years. I think they were an impulse item at the checkout of my local Ace store and cost a buck or two.

I use nylon picks and contact cleaner

Wooden toothpicks, and real compressed air from a compressor blow gun, not one of those stupid cans, is what I always do.

My 12 mini has a micro usb charging port rather than USB-C, but a toothpick, flashlight, and strong enough glasses to see wtf I'm doing works great to clean it out.