No problem. I will post video or pics later. It really is easy if you go with basic functions, which is what I've done (so far). If you want to customize so that the lights integrate to include a door assist feature that has the LEDs turn white when a door opens and then the light strips turn to your set color when the car starts and then they stay on until you lock the car (all without needing the remote and with no risk of running down the battery, see this! This guy happens to be demostrating on his own Kia:
2021 Sorento Mods - Share and discuss
How about we list and/or illustrate any mods we make in one place.
- Hood struts have been done following this mod: Hood Struts 2021 Sorento
- Roof rails (X-line in this case). I just received Turtle roof rails after reading this thread: Roof Rails - Sorento 2021 X Line
- 2" Receiver Hitch and Wiring Harness. AFAICT there are no aftermarket hitches yet but I had the dealer install the Kia hitch. It took them 2.5 hours as they were surprised to find that Kia had not brought any electricity to the rear of the vehicle (like they do for the Palisade) so they had to run wiring all the way to the engine compartment.
- Foot-well lighting. I added lighting front and back, using this product when it was $35: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OU5LOT2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 It was easy to install and hide all wiring. The lights turn on with the car. I have them set to match the purple color of the Kia screen but they can be white or any other color. They can also dance to the beat of music which is too much fun for me to handle.
- Fumoto / Quick and Clean Oil Changes: I always do my own maintenance and have used this on several cars. Every car should come with one: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HP5V092/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
- NEW: (3/12/21) Radar Detector - Hard Wired with Mirror Tap!: 2021 Sorento Mods - Share and discuss
- NEW: Post #141: Conical Air Filter:
2021 Sorento Mods - Share and discuss
#7 mod: High performance air filter (replacing stock box) with heat deflector and modified cold air intake. I do love the "blow off" sound. Silly, at my age, but true. NOTE: I took off the cold air intake and removed the front section of it and then reinstalled (just 2 clips) because it looks...www.kia-forums.com
- NEW: Post #142: Grill Screen: 2021 Sorento Mods - Share and discuss (this shows the how to do the lower section. the upper section is also complete).
- NEW: Post #236: Rain Visors: 2021 Sorento Mods - Share and discuss
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Pictures of OPT7 foot-well lighting install. The lights can be adjusted for brightness and change color via an included remote. They turn on with the car at the last setting.
The install is pretty clean. You can't see the light strips without crawling and looking for them and all the the wires are tucked behind panels.
![Purple Flash photography Violet Entertainment Visual effect lighting]()
![Automotive lighting Purple Entertainment Visual effect lighting Gas]()
![Hood Purple Automotive tire Lighting Automotive lighting]()
1) This center console panel (near the gas pedal)pops out from the right side and then slides right to fully detach. Once the panel is installed again, all the wires are hidden cleanly.
![Tire Motor vehicle Automotive tire Automotive lighting Wheel]()
2) There is plenty of room for the control box and excess wiring to be mounted behind the removed panel. I added Velcro tape to the bottom of the control box to hold it steady and be able to remove it if needed.
![Cable Electrical wiring Wire Electric blue Metal]()
3) I used the provided 3M tape to attach the light strip for the drivers side. It's taped to the rear (non-opening) side of the Airbag device.
![Automotive tire Motor vehicle Automotive design Bumper Automotive exterior]()
4) This is the passenger side light strip. The wire passes easily to the control box from the previous photo.
![Automotive tire Automotive lighting Automotive design Grey Road surface]()
5) This is one of the rear foot-well lights. They are attached with zip ties to the carpet material that is underneath the rear of the front seats.
![Automotive lighting Automotive tire Bumper Automotive exterior Hood]()
The install is pretty clean. You can't see the light strips without crawling and looking for them and all the the wires are tucked behind panels.
1) This center console panel (near the gas pedal)pops out from the right side and then slides right to fully detach. Once the panel is installed again, all the wires are hidden cleanly.
2) There is plenty of room for the control box and excess wiring to be mounted behind the removed panel. I added Velcro tape to the bottom of the control box to hold it steady and be able to remove it if needed.
3) I used the provided 3M tape to attach the light strip for the drivers side. It's taped to the rear (non-opening) side of the Airbag device.
4) This is the passenger side light strip. The wire passes easily to the control box from the previous photo.
5) This is one of the rear foot-well lights. They are attached with zip ties to the carpet material that is underneath the rear of the front seats.
Accessories (minor "mods"). I like making a new vehicle feel like it's "Mine" by adding mods and accessories...
- Rear Cargo Liner (for dirty dogs). Very good fit. Also cargo storage with bunjee to hold it in place: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XSNW91J/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
- Front seat liner (for dirty sweaty driver). Fits better than the online product photos would indicate due to having more material a the top: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XTT2FH2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
- Valve Caps (nearly a color match but a poor focus on the intricate cap. In daily life, no one will likely ever notice the caps besides me, LOL): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0816CQMX4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
- Black plate holder (with clear cover): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B083VXWRZD/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
- Rear Storage Accessories (car jack, socket set +, tire repair kit, first aid kit, snow "sock", emergency reflector triangle, jumper cables, tire inflation pump, car vacume.
Attachments
Mine is not working either. I've added this fact to the quibbles and annoyances page: Quibbles and annoyances - 21' Sorento
The orange ISG light turns orange when the car stops but never green to show the engine is off. WTH.
EDIT: FIXED:
NEW MOD: Hard-wired Radar Detector (mirror tapped)
![Car Vehicle Plant Speedometer Automotive lighting]()
![Automotive lighting Hood Automotive tire Automotive mirror Automotive side-view mirror]()
![Light Product Automotive lighting Automotive mirror Bag]()
![Tire Wheel Motorcycle Hood Automotive tire]()
Suction mount works VERy well on the plastic behind the mirror so there's no need to mount to the windshield (illegal where I live) or to the mirror stem (whick needs a costly add-on mirror mount).
![Automotive design Bumper Automotive exterior Gas Electrical wiring]()
Wire taps were VERY tight. I had to trim and file the pins to get them to fit the wire harness. The wire harness has three wires and you need to tap wires #1 and #3, not the middle wire.
NOTE: Yes, I know I have black to red and red to black for the taps. I guessed wrong on the pins and didn't want to pull the taps once they were finally in.
Suction mount works VERy well on the plastic behind the mirror so there's no need to mount to the windshield (illegal where I live) or to the mirror stem (whick needs a costly add-on mirror mount).
Wire taps were VERY tight. I had to trim and file the pins to get them to fit the wire harness. The wire harness has three wires and you need to tap wires #1 and #3, not the middle wire.
NOTE: Yes, I know I have black to red and red to black for the taps. I guessed wrong on the pins and didn't want to pull the taps once they were finally in.
#7 mod: High performance air filter (replacing stock box) with heat deflector and modified cold air intake. I do love the "blow off" sound. Silly, at my age, but true.
NOTE: I took off the cold air intake and removed the front section of it and then reinstalled (just 2 clips) because it looks like it will help (a little) to feed "cold air" towards the filter.
![120587]()
![120588]()
NOTE: I took off the cold air intake and removed the front section of it and then reinstalled (just 2 clips) because it looks like it will help (a little) to feed "cold air" towards the filter.
#8 mod: Radiator protection screen - Installed without removing any parts.
1. cut to shape
2. apply black duct tape to cut ends. This will prevent scratches during installation and rattling noise after installation.
3. fold horizontally and insert through grill
4. patiently and carefully unfold and fit - using both hands reaching through grill.
5. pull forward GENTLY with fingers and needle nose pliers (pliers will break screen if pulling too hard)
6. arrange screen behind grill and orientate for the best fit possible
7. bend the tip(s) of zip tie(s) and insert through the screen and pull back to hook the bent tip back through the screen. (hard to describe but I hope it makes sense)
8. grab the tip(s) of zip tie(s) that were bent and stuck through with a needle nose plier and pull the tip toward you to wrap around grill and secure the tie
TIP 1: don't fold the screen vertically, it will break. You CAN fold horizontally (the way it was rolled to ship)
TIP 2: DO fold screen vertically to cut it. It's cleaner and easier than using a tin snip (true for vertical cuts only).
NOTE: for those planning to use this screen on the upper radiator section - I don't tink it will hide the silver radiatiors behind it (as theorized and hoped)
![120582]()
![120583]()
![120584]()
![120585]()
1. cut to shape
2. apply black duct tape to cut ends. This will prevent scratches during installation and rattling noise after installation.
3. fold horizontally and insert through grill
4. patiently and carefully unfold and fit - using both hands reaching through grill.
5. pull forward GENTLY with fingers and needle nose pliers (pliers will break screen if pulling too hard)
6. arrange screen behind grill and orientate for the best fit possible
7. bend the tip(s) of zip tie(s) and insert through the screen and pull back to hook the bent tip back through the screen. (hard to describe but I hope it makes sense)
8. grab the tip(s) of zip tie(s) that were bent and stuck through with a needle nose plier and pull the tip toward you to wrap around grill and secure the tie
TIP 1: don't fold the screen vertically, it will break. You CAN fold horizontally (the way it was rolled to ship)
TIP 2: DO fold screen vertically to cut it. It's cleaner and easier than using a tin snip (true for vertical cuts only).
NOTE: for those planning to use this screen on the upper radiator section - I don't tink it will hide the silver radiatiors behind it (as theorized and hoped)
Amazon.com: AF DYNAMIC UNIVERSAL STAINLESS STEEL HEAT SHIELD COVER for 3.5"-6.5" AIR FILTER : Automotive
Buy AF DYNAMIC UNIVERSAL STAINLESS STEEL HEAT SHIELD COVER for 3.5"-6.5" AIR FILTER: Heat Shields - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases
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