More about a car radio

[question everything]

I posted a question about an "Audio Head" broken that prevents me from getting Sirius

https://democraticunderground.com/12053642

But I wonder whether it is more. I can select a station (FM now) among a pre selected list by using the up or down arrow mounted on the steering wheel. Recently however this function does not always work and at the same time neither is the tuning button.

Turning the radio off and returning to the main navigation screen does fix this. I don't know whether the screen changing is necessary; it is just what I did this morning.

Thus I wonder whether the "Audio Head" is responsible also for changing stations.

Too complicated..

[taxi]

1. Yes, the audio head is responsible for changing stations.

Click here for SYSTEM CONTROLLERS AND FUNCTIONS information on your car

https://ownersmanuals2.com/kia/soul-2014-owners-manual-37121/page-245

[question everything]

3. Thank you. Interesting though that while changing stations is off and on

getting Sirius is off.

Still waiting for the replacement item. The technician told me it "usually" takes a month and that no it is not coming all the way from S. Korea.

I got the car in 2014 after Consumer Reports was so exciting about it. Now it trashes it. Yes in its recent cars issue listing used models it specifically said no to 2014 year..

[moniss]

2. I feel your pain

and all I can tell you is that it sounds like a trip to the dealer. Car radios are an example of something that was a simple device in a car that has been made way overly complicated all in the name of "convenience and features". The good old basic radio, even with Sirius, just sat there in the dash and if it wasn't working you could check the fuse and if it had power but no stations, output etc. you could just pull the unit out of the dash with a couple of cheap release tongs, unplug the radio, plug in the replacement and slide it back in and away you go. If we go even further back it was a matter of pulling off the volume knob and tuning knob, taking off the retaining nuts and then the radio could be taken out by reaching up under the dash.

But not anymore. Now the "media center" issues usually require a trip to the dealer for all of the vague problems. No power can still be checked by looking at fuses but that's about it. So what was a fairly simple and low cost problem to resolve is now many hundreds of dollars in labor at the dealer and if they go to replace that head unit that part is not inexpensive by any means. Also it is not unheard of for people to have to go back multiple times during ownership of a "media center". It's really a cash cow for the dealer.

I have a used vehicle that has the "media center" with steering wheel controls. It never worked right according to the original owner. He didn't fuss with it and just listened to his music on his phone and a Blue Tooth speaker. I did a similar but more basic work around. I bought an old "knobs" AM/FM radio and hooked it up. I use external speakers rather than the vehicle speakers just for ease of making it all go together. I've got my little Sirius unit with the FM transmitter. So I just reach my hand out and turn the knob for power/volume, hit my power button on my Sirius remote and I'm in business and I can tell you it all cost me less than $200. If anything should go wrong it is all simple to get at and a simple system.

As far as linking your phone and having a screen for the vehicle cameras/GPS etc. you can do GPS on your phone and you can use the speakerphone feature also. The camera thing is workable on your phone also if you want to use cameras that are Blue Tooth. The cameras are relatively cheap and very basic to attach to the car.

[question everything]

4. I don't even like to use the phone while driving

Yes, I am a dinosaur; driving while listening to music or to navigation instructions but nothing distracting. Spouse got a Toyota Rav4 with "Apple Play" - or something. And when the sales rep showed us how one can read mail or other activities through the iPhone I couldn't help commenting about distracted drivers.

For me a car was always meant getting from Point A to Point B safely and comfortably (if possible) which, I suppose, is not exactly what members of this group are interested, but I am grateful you guys are here.

[moniss]

5. I am exactly the same

way. I don't need or want all of the bells, whistles and distractions. I believe in getting into the vehicle and paying attention to your driving as you drive in a reasonable manner and drive defensively. Just like I don't need my vehicle to remind me that the oil change is coming up. I'm supposed to pay enough attention to what is going on that I know when to go. I don't like the screens and the GPS but some people think they would rather trust the GPS than getting directions from a human source. The GPS can and will steer you wrong about as often as a human in my experience.

[question everything]

6. This reminds me. Some years back we used the Garmin GPS and visited Door County WI

It is a peninsula if you are not familiar with it. A really nice place.

The main bridge was under construction and we were directed to a secondary bridge. On the Garmin it looked as if we were crossing Green Bay swimming in the water..

[moniss]

7. When you get into

states like Nebraska, South Dakota etc. many times the GPS will try to take you on roads that don't exist or are just more or less an off-road trail.