According to posts found on a kia vehicle forum site, the AM/FM amplifier in the Kia "shark fin" antennas is known to fail. As did mine. Dealerships are quoting somewhere in the neighborhood of $800 to fix it. The reason for the high cost is (a) the part itself is $250. And (b) you have to remove a huge amount of trim in the rear of the car and drop the headliner to access the fin. The process is labor-intensive.
For those who are mechanically savvy, you can do this yourself (I did), but the procedure is both time-consuming and difficult.
To me, this is incredibly annoying (and expensive). An antenna should never die. My theory is that the antenna electronics are possibly susceptible to damage from heat, as my car site in the sun a lot during the summer. My vehicle is only 4 years old.
If you're lucky you can find a replacement antenna fin from a junkyard or eBay. You do NOT need one in your car's color-- the top comes off very easily and can be swapped out.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
According to posts found on a kia vehicle forum site, the AM/FM amplifier in the Kia "shark fin" antennas is known to fail. As did mine. Dealerships are quoting somewhere in the neighborhood of $800 to fix it. The reason for the high cost is (a) the part itself is $250. And (b) you have to remove a huge amount of trim in the rear of the car and drop the headliner to access the fin. The process is labor-intensive.
For those who are mechanically savvy, you can do this yourself (I did), but the procedure is both time-consuming and difficult.
To me, this is incredibly annoying (and expensive). An antenna should never die. My theory is that the antenna electronics are possibly susceptible to damage from heat, as my car site in the sun a lot during the summer. My vehicle is only 4 years old.
If you're lucky you can find a replacement antenna fin from a junkyard or eBay. You do NOT need one in your car's color-- the top comes off very easily and can be swapped out.
- Kent B., Greendale, WI, US