Installing Car Stereo on Kia Sportage...

[lokki]

Hi,
I'm installing a new stereo on my 98 Sportage. Trying to figure out the wiring but I'm having a hard time.

Is there such a thing as universal color code?

Red Power
Black Ground
For speakers?
Color +
color stripped -

Been trying to find wiring diagram with out much luck.

any help would be appreciated.


Thanks

[jam92102]

Sometimes there's common wiring but most the time if you're not using a wiring harness you have to use a volt meter to determine what is what.  It's easiest to go somewhere like best buy and buy a wiring harness for your car.  It makes it a lot simplier, and if you ever want to go back to the stock radio you just take the wiring harness out.

[lokki]

Thanks,
I for the tip. I found a harness at Best Buy.


Thanks

[Xam]

A harness is by far the best way to go on car stereo installs. Car manufacturers tend not to follow a universal code the way an electrician wires a house.
Another reason is, when you splice the wires, you could end up with altenator or other motor noises.
Last reason I can think of....most harnesses are around $10-$15 and make the job much easier and neater.

Xam

[SirPeale]

Harness is definitely the way to go.

I cuts costs where I can, but for time/energy/effort, this is a plug-and-play solution.

[ChadTower]

You can usually look up the color coding for any given car, too, rather than take a DMM to the wires.  The DMM won't help in identifying some of them (like the antenna wire).

[DrewKaree]

I know you stated you found a wiring harness, but for anyone else.....


http://www.designtech-intl.com/wire.asp

http://www.installdr.com/

http://www.directwholesale.net/diagrams/diagrams.asp?link=BULLDOG


Bookmark those in case you think you might ever contemplate messing around with your car stereo.

[JackTucky]

In a KIA, aren't the sounds systems "load bearing"?

-J