How to Replace the Radio on a 2002 KIA Sportage
by Russell Wood
The stock stereo in a 2002 Kia Sportage came standard with a tape player and am/fm stereo. Nowadays, car stereos come with navigation, cd changers and even bluetooth. If you want to upgrade your older stereo with newer equipment, this is easy to do thanks to the wide selection of aftermarket parts. Although it may seem daunting, this job can be done in about 30-45 minutes depending on your experience level.
Step 1
Unclip the black plastic bezel that goes around the radio using your hands. If you can't get it free with your hands, then you can use a flathead screwdriver to pry the panel out. Then unscrew the screws that hold the deck in place using the phillips-head screwdriver.
Step 2
Place the cage that comes with the replacement stereo into the vehicle-specific dash kit and lock it in place using the flathead screwdriver to push the tabs on the cage out, locking the cage against the kit. Then slide the replacement stereo into the cage until it clicks into place.
Step 3
Place the vehicle-specific wiring harness on a work surface in front of you. Strip 1/4-inch of wire shielding from the end of each wire using the wire strippers, then crimp a blue butt connector onto each wire using the wire crimpers.
Step 4
Place the wiring harness that came with the replacement stereo on a work surface in front of you. Strip 1/4-inch of wire shielding from the end of each wire using the wire strippers. Each wire on each of the two harnesses are color coded and labelled. Match up each wire on each harness to each other, then connect the ends using the wire crimpers. Then plug the stereo harness into the back of the replacement stereo.
Step 5
Plug the vehicle-specific wiring harness into the stock harness in the dashboard, then plug the antenna lead into the stereo. Screw the dash kit into the dashboard using the phillips-head screwdriver. Then push the radio bezel back onto the dashboard using your hands.
References
Things You'll Need
- Phillips-head screwdriver
- Replacement stereo
- Wire cutters
- Wire crimpers
- Wire strippers
- Vehicle-specific dash kit
- Vehicle-specific wiring harness
- Blue butt connectors
- Flathead screwdriver
Writer Bio
Russell Wood is a writer and photographer who attended Arizona State University. He has been building custom cars and trucks since 1994, including several cover vehicles. In 2000 Wood started a career as a writer, and since then he has dedicated his business to writing and photographing cars and trucks, as well as helping people learn more about how vehicles work.
