Window Cranks? How Do You Get Them Off?!

[faynce]

I'm hoping someone can help me with this. I have a 2006 Rio5.

I'm personally installing a Kenwood CD player, Alpine 5-channel amp, a Bazooka tube, a Kenwood equalizer, a capacitor (to keep the alternator safe) and two pairs of Polk component speakers.

I've done this before. In fact, I pulled most of these components out of my trade-in. I only have two questions I'm hoping you fine folks might answer.

1) I've ordered the Hyundai 99-02 wiring harness which I understand fits the Kia harness. Will the wires match up exactly? Meaning, will the labels on the Hyundai wiring harness match the actual function of the wires?

2) Just how the heck do you get the window cranks off?!? For the life of me, I can't figure it out! Unless I get those cranks off, I simply can't remove the inner door panels. I heard the 05 and earlier models had some kind of clip to remove, but I see no clip at all on my 06.

Thank you in advance!

[Murphwiz]

The 2006 Rio uses a different loom entirely.
Now uses the same loom as the second gen sportage.

[okjeeper]

The window crank handles are usually held on by a metal c-clip. There are tools you can get to remove them or you can try using some needle-nose pliars and pulling that clip out and then the handles slide off.

[faynce]

Yeah, I used the instructions on other parts of these forums from other years and models to try to find the C-Clip. The instructions are actually pretty clear, but I was unable to find the clip! Perhaps they are different due to the 2006 redesign?

-Erik

[faynce]

Where can I find a color coding for the factory wire harness?

[KiaMech]

The cranks on the '06 Rio are the hardest I have ever had to remove. They are the same clips found on any other vehicle, but the thing that makes them so hard to remove is that they are inset from what you can reach. Even pushing the door panel in won't make the clips visible, and lets face it, the door panels on this car don't really push in much any way. The clip is about 2mm further inside the handle than what you can see. If you have a clip remover tool, bending the "fingers" that actually remove the clip is the best way to remove it. Once you get the tool between the handle and the plastic washer, move the crank back and fourth and the clip should pop off. You'll also want to tape the hell out of the door panel before attempting this or you will ruin it.

The cap won't really save your alternator though, it just helps take the spikes out so your headlights won't dim. The best thing you can do for your alternator is to upgrade the grounds. Do the ones from the battery to chassis, from the engine to the chassis, and from the transmission to the battery. 8 gauge is fine for the engine, but you need to increase the cable size to one size above what you're using for the stereo. So if you have 4 gauge to the stereo, you'll want that ground to be 2 gauge.

[faynce]

I've found that I can do the rear speakers without getting the clips off by removing all other connecters than the window crank and then prying the door panel back as far as possible without breaking them while I work. But dear God, is it a pain in the butt! It took me 2 hours to install one speaker last night! Now I will try to do the other one tonight.

I haven't tried this with the fronts yet....

-Erik

When I'm done, I'll post some photos of my sound system!