Aux button on '09 Kia Picanto...no plug!

[C.A.R.]

As the title really, I would put this in the Korean cars section but thought it might see a better response here!

Girlfriends' Kia Picanto has an aux button on the standard headunit, but for the life of me I can't find any form of jack or socket anywhere in the car.

I have checked the handbook and can't find a mention of it in there either.

I'd be very grateful of assistance. If it can be retrofitted I am all ears, unless there is a very illusive plug somewhere....

[Benbay001]

My old mk2 Focus had the button on the head unit.
But no plug.
It was an optional extra when new.
I got ford to fit the plug for £70 iirc.

[DanB7290]

I believe it should be around where the cup holder is, in front of the gear stick. However, it is possible that Kia may have kept the button on there without the plug, to save manufacturing costs on a different stereo without the button

[dci]

On my mk3 Rebault Clio I had to buy a lead from renault (even though it came advertised as having an aux connection) and pop out the stereo to plug it in, then had to feed it through the glovebox.. Took about 10 minutes and £15 for the lead.. Do a google search and you may find it similar with the Kia..

It's highly likely there is a port on the back of the unit reserved for the higher trim levels, you could probably retrofit this option quite easily..

Edited by dci on Monday 11th August 22:16

[lufbramatt]

dci said:

On my mk3 Rebault Clio I had to buy a lead from renault (even though it came advertised as having an aux connection) and pop out the stereo to plug it in, then had to feed it through the glovebox.. Took about 10 minutes and £15 for the lead.. Do a google search and you may find it similar with the Kia..

It's highly likely there is a port on the back of the unit reserved for the higher trim levels, you could probably retrofit this option quite easily..

Edited by dci on Monday 11th August 22:16

Just done exactly the same on my BMW. Socket was already in the loom, just had to plug a £10 cable on the end and it enabled the AUX option on the headunit. That was a car with a huge amount of 3rd party support though, not sure a Kia will have the same kind of thing available if they use a custom plug in the loom so might have to go to a dealer.

[C.A.R.]

Thanks guys - I suspect the same RE the port being an 'option' and I'm hoping it's part of the loom.

There's not much info to be gleaned online though; I assume this is because the majority of Picanto drivers haven't pulled their car apart to look!

On that note, I can't even figure out how to remove the headunit itself. There's no 'key' slots or gaps or anything. It's held in by magic.

[Toaster Pilot]

The port is an option and I _think_ it connects to a seperate port on the back of the radio - I looked into this briefly when I had a poverty Picanto but didn't ever follow it up

RE: removing the radio - I think you need to take the centre console trim off and you'll then find it's screwed in

[C.A.R.]

Cheers bud - I'm going to give Kia a ring at lunchtime as I've given up Googling

[Toaster Pilot]

I have a PDF workshop manual somewhere that shows removing trim etc - will see if I can dig it out.

[Craikeybaby]

It was the same on my girlfriends Fiat 500. Fiat weren't any use, but I found out it was a Blaupunkt headunit, so I was able to get one of their leads from eBay, once I'd identified the connector.

[Matt100HP]

Craikeybaby said:

It was the same on my girlfriends Fiat 500. Fiat weren't any use, but I found out it was a Blaupunkt headunit, so I was able to get one of their leads from eBay, once I'd identified the connector.

It's the same on my Panda 100HP too. The AUX option was selectable on the headunit, but useless until I actually connected the right wire 'round the back.

It took about 5 minutes and cost me under a tenner. A pretty decent effort vs reward ratio.

[Swanny87]

You might be lucky and have a female 3mm input on the back of the headunit. if that is the case then just buy a 3mm male to male cable off ebay. Is there 4 holes in the headunit? There should be two pair of holes at the right and left side of the HU. If not you might need a Kia specific removal key. If so then just get some of these slot them in and then pull the headunit out.

Edited by Swanny87 on Tuesday 12th August 12:28

[jhfozzy]

I think it will be something like this.

http://www.warringtoncaraudio.co.uk/ctakiusb001-us...

[Craikeybaby]

Matt100HP said:

Craikeybaby said:

It was the same on my girlfriends Fiat 500. Fiat weren't any use, but I found out it was a Blaupunkt headunit, so I was able to get one of their leads from eBay, once I'd identified the connector.

It's the same on my Panda 100HP too. The AUX option was selectable on the headunit, but useless until I actually connected the right wire 'round the back.

It took about 5 minutes and cost me under a tenner. A pretty decent effort vs reward ratio.

Yes, especially as I used the AUX input to connect an Alpine EzyDAB, so I've now got DAB and iPod connection.

[RizzoTheRat]

I assume you've checked in various cubbyholes? My Octavia has the aux port in the storage compartment between the seats so they can sometimes put in them hard to find, albeit quite sensible, places, rather than just on the dash like the wifes Jazz.

C.A.R. said:

On that note, I can't even figure out how to remove the headunit itself. There's no 'key' slots or gaps or anything. It's held in by magic.

Take the engine out and then push the stereo out from the rear

[C.A.R.]

RizzoTheRat said:

Take the engine out and then push the stereo out from the rear

No need - it's only a 1 litre so I can probably do that while in-situ!

I have done some more research, if the car has the Aux-in connector then it would have a different centre console with the sockets immediately next to the cigarette lighter socket, which unfortunately this doesn't have.

Connects2 don't offer anything either, which is unusual.

[jhfozzy]

C.A.R. said:

Connects2 don't offer anything either, which is unusual.

Is the Connects2 lead that I linked to not the one you need?

[C.A.R.]

jhfozzy said:

C.A.R. said:

Connects2 don't offer anything either, which is unusual.

Is the Connects2 lead that I linked to not the one you need?

I'm going to need to pull the headunit out to check, but I was just going via the Connects2 website which shows nothing compatible for the Picanto.

I'll pull the stereo out when she's not looking. Probably can't do that whilst she's driving it though.

[Matthen]

Benbay001 said:

My old mk2 Focus had the button on the head unit.
But no plug.
It was an optional extra when new.
I got ford to fit the plug for £70 iirc.

I fitted it myself for £6, buying the cable and keys from amazon.

[jhfozzy]

C.A.R. said:

jhfozzy said:

C.A.R. said:

Connects2 don't offer anything either, which is unusual.

Is the Connects2 lead that I linked to not the one you need?

I'm going to need to pull the headunit out to check, but I was just going via the Connects2 website which shows nothing compatible for the Picanto.

I'll pull the stereo out when she's not looking. Probably can't do that whilst she's driving it though.

Looking on eBay there are two different versions, one type with a DIN (round) plug and one with the mini-ISO plug (mini yellow, green and blue plugs) that I linked to. Should be easy enough to see which type fits from the back of the stereo. If not, post a pic and I'll see what type you need.