Hi everyone,

So this is my first post here, and let me preface this by saying that anything car related is not my forte. So if i seem kind of clueless, it is because i am, but i'm trying to learn. Also, i'm sorry if i'm not supposed to post this kind of thing here, just looking for some answers.

OK, so down to business. A little while ago i bought my first car. It is a Kia Rio (2005). From the moment i got it, the radio has never worked. It has been frusturating me lately, because i hate driving in such silence all the time. Anyways, it seems to me that the previous owner had a custom system in the car, seeing as there are still existing wires in the car and trunk that look like they used to connect to speakers.

So i took off the radio covering, and pulled it out. What i found was: The antenna cable connected to the back of the radio. That seems fine. Then a black and blue wire, about the same size as the antenna one, but it was neither connected to the radio, or anything within the car. It was just loose back there, and i don't know what it is for. I'm not sure if that would be the ground wire? Or the power supply? Then the wiring harness. It seems like it has been sliced previously, because each wire on the harness is now taped back together.

Now, i don't know if i am in over my head here or not. I'm sure if someone knew what i was talking about, and knew how to fix it, and could relay that to me, i would be able to follow instructions to fix it. I am a college student, so i would like to try and fix it myself, instead of spending an outrageous amount for someone to do it for me.

I'll also note that my interior lights, and glove box lights don't work. I'm pretty sure that the stereo wiring harness in my car controls those too. I called a Kia dealership to find out, and the harness itself is over $700.00, and i was recommended to just fix it instead of buying a new one.

Any help would be extremely appreciated!

EDIT: I don't have a camera to take a picture if it all right now, but the radio looks like this:http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/03-05...#ht_3925wt_941 I had to find a picture from ebay of it.

 

Whoever reinstalled the OEM deck probably did a half-*** job of it. I personally would disconnect your -ve battery terminal then take off all the e-tape and check each individual connection on the harness.

If you can get some pictures of the other cables that are in there it might help to identify them. They aren't RCA's by chance are they?

 

Ok, so here are some pictures. I used my phone's camera, so i'm sorry if the quality isn't too good.

All of the wires


Antenna cable


Mysterious ground or power supply?


Back of the radio


Wiring Harness

 

Maybe he had an audio video unit in there, I'm wondering if maybe the black wire by its lonesome was used to disable the video when the car isn't in park. I dont have much experience with that though.

As for the wiring job on the harness, the guy didn't use proper size heat-shrink so I doubt he took much care with the connections themselves. I would cut the shrink tube off, and solder each individual connection properly. Make sure your battery is disconnected though.

See if you can follow that bigger black wire on its own to find out where it goes. It could end up just being a ground for his previous head unit.

 

That black wire, it actually doesn't even go anywhere, i found the other end of it just dangling under the hood, so i'm not sure what it was for because it was connected to nothing.

 

At this point I would really recommend you take it to a pro. Don't BS them and pretend it's all good. Tell them the wiring seems wonky and you have lights out. They'll probably want a hundy to install a new deck and fix the problems but it's money well spent.

 

It seems like that might be the route i have to take. I don't mind spending money, i just didn't want to drop a boat load of cash if it was something i could fix myself rather easily. I appreciate all of the responses in this thread, and am always glad for more advice on what to do.

 

I would agree with Dukk on this one, take it to a shop.

 

Sounds like a plan. Does anyone have any recommendations where i should go to? I go to school in Oshawa, so somewhere around there? Or even closer to Toronto?

Oh and, would it be better to just get a new radio, instead of putting the stock one in? It would be nice to be able to hook up my ipod. Though would the price be a lot more to get a new one put in, than to just have them install the one i have?

Thanks guys!

 

Dash kit - $20 - 25
Headunit - (check for sale section, or buy new, a simple IPOD deck isn't that much)
Either way, it looks like someone will have to check the wiring, so if you choose to put in a new radio you won't be spending that much more in labour.

Not sure where Kawartha Lakes is, can anyone suggest a shop in that area?