Just a quick pic of the Mirror Installed.............................

2018 Optima Interior 04-22-2018_a by John Nelson, on Flickr

 

Well, upon closer inspection, pushing the dome light housing up into the roof while removing the screws will hold the clips in place. Once you get the housing out turn the plastic nut inserts in roof to remove. EDIT: I have snapped pics.....

The clips are H shaped and they fit in an H shaped slot in the dome light housing. To reinstall, hold the clips in the housing and insert/tighten screws. Then you snap the housing into place.

 

That's why those screws wouldn't come out, so I left them in and worked around that as there was just enough space to shove the wire and connector up into the Headliner. I had to use some upward pressure to screw those little buggers back in............

 

Not a dumb question at all! I'll try that tomorrow when I put all the trim back on. The cold must have numbed my brain...lol I just held it up there.

I still have front/rear camera to install/wire up. I had an accident last year on expressway. My statement, limo entered expressway, crossed empty right lane and hit me mid doors on right side in middle lane. His story, I turned into him. No witnesses. Still hasn't seen arbitration. Since then, like the folks in Russia, I have front and rear cameras.

One other thing....the plastic inserts in the roof for the two screws that secure the dome light housing. They are too small and turn in the square holes. I had to pull down on the housing to unscrew.

 

I've been wanting to install a camera system like that too. Had a similar he said/ she said incident when the other person was clearly at fault. But, no witnesses or video.

And yes, the wire cover snaps in place and slides to extend to the headliner.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

 

Did you extend the trim piece? I know it's a dumb question but I had to ask anyway............................

 

So got the auto dimming mirror installed today. It works, but I've been shorted. The trim piece that hides wire between mirror and headliner is too short.

 

I'm an old relic Chief...lol

 

Yeah, me too. I was a tubehead from my Broadcast Engineer days, last 17 years as a Avonics Tech. Had to give up Motorcycles after 45 years, things hurt too much and the Ride is not enjoyable at all..............

 

Looks like you know what you're doing and this isen't your first rodeo.....................................

 

Thanks for the tips! I'll be OK though.

On my '15 Malibu, I added OEM HID headlights. Schematics showed me I needed different underhood harness and one brown trace wire from BCM to underhood fuse/relay box which had the HID relay in place. Also required BCM programming as I went from two turn bulbs per side to one (hyper flash) and needed to ground KR49 relay for low beam relay. I even sourced the correct color trace wire. Also, for halogen lights, low beam was the DRL using PWM (pulse width modulation). HID had separate DRL bulb. Brights, of course the shutter opens fully.

I also installed OEM Nav radio with Nav display and backing camera. Most of the harnesses were in place for backing camera. Just needed camera harness from body to bumper cover. For the Nav display touch icons in frame to light up and work, one wire had to be added from radio control to display 8/9.

Yes it was pricey doing the headlight conversion even using nice LKQ parts (like $700) but I think the appearance was vastly improved. The Nav radio was a lucky find. $100 (where they usually fetched $400), $150 for the Nav display. The standard display did not have touch icons in frame, but would work with the Nav radio. Chevy provides part numbers for the terminals on the connector pin out diagrams so it was done right; no wires stuffed into connectors. Used Nav radio required reprogramming of VIN to work.

 

Nice work and pics! I'm planning on doing mine this weekend if it's warm enough.

 

Pics is pretty much what the OP posted but you have the hybrid, there is a whole section in the Installation Manual just for the Hybrid. That looks pretty easy too. Trick is read the manual a few times to get a good idea on what to do. The Instruction Manual is pretty clear cut. Do exactly what the manual calls out and don't deviate from the instruction and you'll be fine. Make sure you have the proper tools and don't reef the screws in the overhead as the screws are steel and the "nutserts" are soft plastic. Like I said before, read the Manual, all of it First.

The Plastic Trim removal tool is a must, I bought them from AdvanceAuto just for this installation. Since you didn't indicate your Year model, make sure you order it for your year Model. I bought the Auto-Dimming Mirror from OEM KIA Super Store for $239.99USD otd.............

 

Installed the auto-dimming mirror in my Optima, took me about a hour and a half to do as I went above and beyond to protect the dimming wire. I added more tie-wrap and Spiral wrap under the Dash. Easy peasy.............................

 

Very nice DIY, thank you for sharing it with the community!

 

Nice DIY.

I have an auto dimming mirror if anybody is interested.

 

That's going to be my Next add on. Thanks for posting this............................

 

Yeah, I think it allows the panel to disconnect a certain amount to let the airbag deploy, without breaking away (and the panel then smacking you in the face). Neat design but would be nice if they made it removable. Kinda crummy to have to buy a new clip every time you remove the A pillar (not that it's done often, but still...)

 

ohhhh, so that **** clip in the A-pillar is a breakaway clip..

when i did my rearview mirror/backup cam install (i have an LX) i used needle nose pliers to twist that thing 90-180 degrees until the notches line up.. then it comes free..

cutting and replacing with a new one would sure as **** made it easier!

guess i know for next time

nice write up, thanks!

 

Thanks again Spazstic for the incentive...my husband just finished installing my auto dimming mirror...I just got back from driving in circles to calibrate the compass...took two times around...lol!

Now we don't have to have the garage door opener on the visor...no more rattles!

---------- Post added at 02:01 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:27 PM ----------



The clip on the 2016-2018 Optima can't be twisted. It has to be cut. It is rectangular in shape -- rectangle post, rectangle hole. A new clip comes with the mirror kit.

 

Cool, feel free to ask with any questions! And thanks for the Kudos.

 

Thanks for posting this information! Our next project...

 

Zip tie wires down A-pillar

Run behind dash. Watch out for E-brake linkages.

Wire connections. The Kia kit used T-taps. I'm not a fan of them. It's nice that you can disconnect them with a spade connector, but I'd rather use the traditional taps you get at an auto store.
The switched ignition line goes to the yellow wire on pin #7. The constant power goes to pin #8, red wire.

Use an 8mm socket pressed into the hood release to compress the tabs. At the same time, pry the lever out and it'll pop off. Attach the ground to the ground point just behind it.

Reinstall all panels in reverse order. Insert the new tether clip into the A-pillar and reinstall.

Completed installation. Note the wire in the top left is our home power from the pole.