My car radio broke... halp :(

[Lbelle]

I got into my car earlier today, it's a 2001 Kia Sportage, and the radio wouldn't come on. It's just static no matter how high I turn the volume. Yes, it's on. It was parked in the sun for the last couple of days, not sure if that's useful info...and I was using it the other day so this is a recent and new problem.

Any ideas on how to fix this, BG?

[Stee]

Most likely your stereo got fried, probably gonna need to replace it.

Try isolating the problem, it might also be the speakers.

[Absolutely Virtue]

Static no matter what source (CD, tape, iPod, etc)? Or just static when you use the AM/FM radio?

The former could be a bigger problem, the latter could be as simple as a broken/loose antenna.

[Penthesilea]

Get a new car

[Lbelle]

Static no matter what source (CD, tape, iPod, etc)? Or just static when you use the AM/FM radio?

The former could be a bigger problem, the latter could be as simple as a broken/loose antenna.

Well my ipod went through the radio and I don't have a CD player in the car so I can't test either of those. I was trying to get sound through the AM/FM and it didn't work.

[Jodwahh]

Do you use a cable to connect your ipod or one of those mini radio transmiters? If its cabled directly in then it sounds like your shit is borked and you might need to get a new headset. Try playing a tape through it to see if thats screwy too.

[Absolutely Virtue]

Get a new car

I kinda thought this was implied. Radio may be worth more than the car, lol.

[Lbelle]

Do you use a cable to connect your ipod or one of those mini radio transmiters? If its cabled directly in then it sounds like your shit is borked and you might need to get a new headset. Try playing a tape through it to see if thats screwy too.

I use a thing that plugs into the cigarette lighter thing and then you plug your ipod into it and it goes through the radio.

Also, I can't get a new car so that option's out.

[Purrrfect]

is the static only on the channel you tune to for the ipod, or on any radio channel?

[Penthesilea]

in all seriousness you probably have atleast 100$ so just go buy a new radio unit that has an auxiliary jack or USB for your iPod

[Jodwahh]

Pull out the head unit and make sure the radio input into the back of it is connected properly. It'll be the big chunky cable, not the rectangle block with a load of wire's sticking out of it. If that's seated properly then the chance's are your head unit is burnt out or there's a break in the wire between your head unit and the antenna. Hope its the former because antenna cables can be a complete fucker to rewire depending where the antenna is.

[Isiolia]

If it's a stock head unit, I'd go ahead and use this as an excuse to buy a new one. I mean, it might have fuse or something that's blown...but you'll have to pull the whole thing out either way, so might as well take that opportunity to put in something with CD/MP3/whatever capability.

[Lbelle]

I have no idea how to do any of that, maybe one of my guy friends does or something. Thanks for the info guys.

[Isiolia]

Well, this is how to pull your existing one out http://documents.victorytechnologies...duct/12912.pdf (well, included in there).

Looking at the CD unit pics from eBay, looks like there's a fuse on the back that "could" be blown. Not sure if it's for the amplifier or what though, I don't delve into car audio much.

Most of the rest is just a matter of brackets/adapters, though if you're not electronically inclined putting together a wiring harness might be annoying.

[SephYuyX]

Find Car Audio/Video Gear that Fits Your Vehicle at Crutchfield!
2 Door 2001 KIA Sportage CD Recievers

Looks like the Clarion DB285USB or Dual XDM6820 would work for you, and theyre cheap.

Crutchfield provides all the tools/directions to remove and install.

[Crouchingllama]

off subject to the OP but sorta not:
My 99 Saturn SL2's stock radio works fine, but the built-in clock stopped doing the orange backlighting that it did at night, but actual clock still works just fine at all times during the day. Could this possibly be just a single blown fuse? Why would backlighting get its own fuse? Or is this just a 10 year old car saying: I'm old.

[Zalius]

go to sears, its like 10-20$ to get one installed. could prolly find a decent rig with an aux input for under 50 bucks, less if you dont want tape/cd or any faggoty features and low bass/treble capabilities, but you'll be able to understand all the words and hear the melody just fine