Kia Rio Car Stereo Removal

by Jule Pamplin

There may come a time when you must remove the factory stereo in your Kia Rio. Perhaps you are ready to upgrade your system, or you must make repairs. Regardless of the reason, there is a simple set of procedures that will ensure the easy removal of your Kia Rio's stereo and save you the cost of having a technician at the dealership do the work.

Safety First

When connecting or disconnecting any component involving your Kia's electrical system, it is important to first disconnect the car's negative battery cable. This cable connects the battery to the frame or chassis of the Rio. Use a Phillips-head screwdriver to loosen the bolt holding the cable's clamp around the negative battery lead. Remove the clamp from the lead until your work is finished.

Gaining Access to the Stereo

The Kia dash panels hide access to the stereo. To remove the stereo deck, you must first remove the correct dash panel. Use a trim panel tool (wrapped in a thin cloth to protect the dash trim finish) to pry the panel surrounding the stereo deck free from the dash. Once you have disconnected one area of the panel, you should work the trim panel tool around the perimeter of the panel until the entire piece is free from the dashboard.

Behind the trim panel are four screws that hold the stereo in its dock. Remove the screws with a Phillips-head screwdriver.

Removing the Stereo

Pull the stereo away from the dash. You will be able to pull the stereo far enough forward to gain access to the connections at the rear of the unit. Disconnect the wiring; the four groups of wires control the antenna, the amplifier, the speakers and the power supply. Just pull the white base of each wiring group from its corresponding outlet in any order.

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