I love my '08 Santa Fe Limited, but I hate my stereo. I have the Infinity/Navigation system, and it just isn't up to par. Of course my main complaint is that I can't get my iPod to play through it effectively. I've tried everything. Wireless FM is horrible, Wired FM modulation is a little better, but still lacks clarity of sound. I would be content to replace the unit completely with an Alpine iDA-X100 and a Garmin Nuvi 760, but I can't.

I can't find a single company that makes a wiring harness for the '08 w/ Navigation. The dash kits don't fit either. The factory navigation stereo has a recessed bezel, allowing the stereo to protrude slightly. The center console piece fits over that recessed bezel. The dash kits are NOT recessed, and therefore the console piece will not go back into place. (At least the Scosche kit I had doesn't fit. The Metra kit looks identical, but I haven't tried it.) So, not only do I hate the factory stereo, but I can't figure out how to replace it at any cost. (Well, I guess the cost would be splicing into the wires in the car's harness and installing the stereo without a bezel... totally ghetto in every possible way.)

Sooooo... my question is this... has anyone with an 08 Santa Fe that came w/ the Navigation unit (from LG) successfully located a wiring harness or a dash kit? Am I the only person in North America who wants to replace the nav unit??

Jonathan

 

Don't have any real help on your exact problem.
But if you do manage to replace it, I'd be interested in purchasing your old factory deck. Let me know if you'd like to sell it.

 

I'd like to sell it to you, but I don't think it's going to happen. Turns out nobody makes either a wiring harness or a dash kit for the 2008 Santa Fe w/ Navigation. Good news: a map update will be available in January of 2009. Bad news: it costs $200. *sigh* I can't believe there's no way to change the stereo in this car...

 

Hey. No longer interested in your stereo (to purchase it) but I was told that the Santa Fe with Navigation is made by Delco (which is GM).

You should have a connector on the back that looks something like a 2 part connector. Looking at the back there should be a 12 pin connector on the left (2 high x 6 wide) and a 24 pin connector beside it on the right (2 high x 12 wide). (I've hopefully attached a picture of the connectors)

If this is the case then you need to look for a GM style wiring plug. Hope that helps.








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Thanks for trying to help; unfortunately, that's not the correct connector. The navigation unit is actually made by LG. There are some similar harnesses, but none that actually fit and have all the correct wiring. As it turns out, nobody makes one yet. I'm sure there's a very low sample of people who want to replace the unit, and it may be a long time before a harness is available.

In the mean time, I replaced my Kenwood FM modulator with the Audiovox model and I am VERY pleased with the sound quality of my iPod. I'm running a Garmin Nuvi 760 instead of the built in navigation, and I'm pleased with the set up. Now I just REALLY wish I would have gotten the DVD Entertainment system instead of the Nav unit... but, hindsight is 20/20.

Thanks for the tip, wish it would have worked!

Jonathan