Inside Kia Forte Head Unit

[littlekia10]

Has anyone taken the factory head unit out and willing to take photos of its internals? I'm looking to find out information on the chips that can be found inside to pull data sheets and add pre outs to the stock unit.

[littlekia10]

Well I guess if no one has cracked up their head unit I'll be a first. I'll be sure to take plenty of photos while voiding my warranty to pieces... Hopefully I'll be able to get started on this soon. Anyone make a vent removal tool from a hanger?

[LeShadow]

I think there is the plan of the tool somewhere in the Audio section...

Good search !


oh...

Thanks in advance for the pics ! U have some plan for the HU ???

[littlekia10]

Well really i'm just looking to solder in some RCA's to create 4 channel Pre-outs. My goal is to tap into the signal prior to the internal amp in the head unit. I've completed this task on an old unit from a kia spectra just to prove out if it was going to be possible worked just fine. I may look into building a small circuit board with some burr brown op amp chips to boast the signal from about 1 volt up to 4... i'm not entirely sure on that... while i'm in there i'm going to see if I cant also pull some data on the sirius chip.... i've always been curious on what makes it tick... but main goal is RCA pre outs. I'll be sure to take plenty of photos.

Also found the tool... seems pretty simple! Only time will tell though.

[LeShadow]

Niiiiiiice !!!!

I wanna see !!!!

[littlekia10]

Ok I tried for 15 min. to remove these crazy vents... i made a tool with old coat hangers formed as close to pictures I've seen online of the actual tool. It slips right in and catches in the small gap where the vent transitions from the duct work... I pulled very hard but nothing... then I used a screw driver for as a handle and pulled extremely hard... I was afraid it was going to break... but it bent the hanger slightly on the bent ends that fit in the groove and one end popped loose. How in the world do these things come out?

[Khonshu]

For some people they come off easy but I know for me it was extremely hard my hanger actually started tearing into the plastic from where it hooks onto And I busted the vent adjuster but was able to put it back together tho. If Kia ever needed to get into mine they would see all the damage I caused lol

[littlekia10]

It is just unreal how hard it is to unseat these vents... I'm very determined though so I will try again after road tripping this weekend for Christmas... Maybe I'll make a second tool to distribute some of this force a bit while trying to pull the vent out... It makes me wonder if their tool presses against some type of clip in that small grove at the back of the duct work...

[asdetail]

been through this when i replaced my head unit, just use two butter knives with the blades wrapped in insulation tape to prevent trim damage and prise the bastards out, exerscise a little patience and you will succeed

[littlekia10]

I will try a combo of using the butter knives and hanger tool to hopefully pop these things out. I'd thought I would be a little further along by now works been busy... I'll post with updates as they come.

[littlekia10]

Weather finally warmed up and I had some time. I think i have what i need to start planing. Pictures to come for thoes interested.

[littlekia10]

https://picasaweb.google.com/1072938...2762/Internals# I took several pictures while digging around inside the unit. Now its datasheet and design time. I'd really like to get a headunit out of the 2011 model i'm jealous!

[Tebore]

I wish I could get my hands on the 2011's firmware apparently the head unit supports A2DP but it's not enabled on the 2010. It also supports RDS but again is not enabled.

If anyone has that firmware file that Kia uploaded once I'd like to take a look at enabling some of the locked out features.

[littlekia10]

I haven't checked but do they post firmware updates on the technical service web page for Kia. I too would love these features.

[asdetail]

OMG i hope it works again when you reassemble it