Stereo removal & Sub swap help

[jpday3]

Originally Posted by conwelpic

You are quite handy, not sure I would want to tackle that, particular on a new vehicle, would be worried that I would loose a part or not put it back correctly. How long did it take you to do this and what is the cost of that material, not sure if they sell that in Canada.

Would be interested in your door and tailgate work with pictures just find out whats behind there. Probably needs it as you can sure hear the radio outside the vehicle and it sounds a bit tinny when you turn on that back wiper.

It was easy, just took my time. Read through KGIS a few times. It took me about a day. Started Friday night and finished it Saturday afternoon, that includes installing the Nav Unit. The materials cost me $250. Im sure they sell it there, they use it mostly in high end car stereo installs. I found it online pretty cheap.
I will post pictures when I do the rear hatch and door panels. When I replaced the door speakers I was sick and just wanted to put it back together. Door panels take like 2 minutes to remove.

[jpday3]

Originally Posted by 3kid2cat1dog

Any other plans for the sound system? You are not running factory speaker are you? KC

I replaced the factory speakers with some Infinity Ref 6022i's (front & rear). I had the cheapest stereo and speaker package in my rondo that did not sound to good (to me). I plan on Putting a sub in the floor were the jack is, a 10" with a small amp. Im going to build a box that will replace the storge box for the sub and still hold the jack kit. other that that, i don't have plans for much more, although I am still kicking around the idea of the leather seat covers.

[jpday3]

Originally Posted by Paul B

I've never really touched this stuff, but heard it really works for sound deadening, but is very heavy. Any estimates about what a sheet weighs?

I bought 2 boxes, each comes with 9 18" X 32" sheets, each box covers 36 sqaure feet and weighs 22 pounds. I used 10 sheets so far.

[G WILLIE FOX]

Originally Posted by Paul B

Just replaced the factory radio in my Rondo with an after market JVC. I has the aux input and did everything well except pick up AM stations. After a tremendous amount of word and research I found that the Kia Rondo antenna needs to be "energized" for good AM reception - possibly because of the small size of the antenna. The way I did this was to use the output line from the radio for power antenna activation (or aux amp activation) and connected it to the adapter from the radio installation kit. Had to find the right wire but now it works great. Did not know they had to do this for good old AM, but I listen to the talk shows sometimes so it had to work.

Paul Tell me more about boosting the AM antenna. Are you installing another device or redoing something already installed?

[Paul B]

Sorry, but I was off the net this weekend. If you add an aftermarket radio to the Rondo (by the way it is the same with a lot of other German - VW and other Japanese cars) the antennas are very small and you need to "energize" or amplify them to pick up AM. They work fine for FM but it is on different frequencies.

This came to me by way of the installer after my radio would not pick up the stronger AM signals (I listen to talk radio) even though FM was perfect. Some aftermarket and all factory radios have this energizer wire built into the wiring harness or adapter harness and others you just have to figure out.

The installer told me that they sometimes have to use an additional small power supply - specially on VW's. On mine I could just use the radio lead that energizes the power antenna circuit - these are well marked and don't really put out much <200mah. If you get an aftermarket radio and want to listen to AM, and I know some people never do, you want to be sure that the wiring adapter kit and the instructions cover this or you will have very poor or non-existant AM radio in the Rondo.

[Skyking8g7]

Hi. A question. I have a Sportage that I installed a double din GPS unit into. It really sucks on radio reception. I sent it back for another. I also have a Rondo. Both appear to have the same antenna. When I get the new GPS unit, I am going to install it in the Rondo instead. From your comments, maybe I sent it back for nothing? Why would they install an inferior antenna? I tried an antenna I had laying around before I returned the unit and with it just laying there, and it worked fine with it but not with the sportage antenna. Can you give me some info an the amplifier you installed in case I have to do this as a last resort. Thanks

[Paul B]

As indicated, I used the power antenna lead on mine to energize the small Kia antenna. The info on the separate power units came from the installer. I would suspect you could call a local installer who puts aftermarket stereos in VW's what they do. VW's have the same shorty antennas and are said to need these extra "exciters." This may prove relatively inexpensive even if you have to take it in and at least it works.

[ka0s]

I hope my question is not hijacking the thread. I have a 2007 ex V6, and I have the audio controls on my steering wheels, does installing a after market stereo negate the controls? Does the rondo have standard audio control interface (from the steering wheel) so that I can look for such a interface on a future navigation/mp3 player unit?

jp3day, the Kenwood looks pretty sweet in the dash. I was always scared that it be very difficult to match an after market into the dash (colour vise). I am anxious to see how you do the subwoofer. I got a 12" from my old car, but i can't fit that in with the 3rd row seating, so your plan to stick it in where the jack goes seems an interesting approach.

-k

[Paul B]

When I bought my install kit from Crutchfield they had an adapter for the steering wheel button radio setups. I do not have this so did not use it, but from the sound of it I think it takes a bit of experimentation but can be done. Really the hard part of any install is the dash panel removal.

I had a bit of trouble with Crutchfield as their techs did not know or tell me all the little wiring tricks like the one mentioned above for AM. Also when you are playing with the steering controls you have to worry about airbag circuits. If it were me I would pay the $54 for a local installer (Crutchfield sells a card that lets you call your local installer and get it installed for that amount) to install the steering wheel controls and for that matter the whole radio. The installer is who got me on the right track after I had installed it without the AM antenna tweak.

[RondoCrazy]

hey i just bought my Rondo and i want to change my radio out for after market but here in Tulsa ok no one has an adapter plug do you know the part number from crutchfield by chance