Flat Battery

Faults and Technical chat for the Kia Niro
PhilB
Posts: 19
Joined: Thu Jun 08, 2017 3:07 pm

Post by PhilB »

Has anyone else ever had a flat battery? By this I mean the 12v battery not the lithium battery.
I have had this twice now in the space of a week, and it is most inconvenient to say the least. When it happens I can't do anything, I can just get in the driver's door by using the key in the lock. Everything apart from the electric motor is run from the 12v battery, so the car won't start at all.
The first time I called the RAC (twice as it had gone flat again after an hour). Then I took the car back to the dealer, who could find nothing wrong.
It has now happened again, but this time I had bought an emergency jump start battery which started the car OK (once I had worked out how to work it!).
However the car is only 7 months old and has only done 10000 miles, so I don't think that I should be getting any problems at all, certainly not the battery. I have left the car for extended periods of time before with no problem, over Christmas it was in a car park for 3 weeks and started first time when I got back. Indeed when I took it back to the dealer last week, it stood in their car park over the long Bank Holiday weekend and started OK for them on the Tuesday.
A search on the web has brought up a couple of other similar instances, but nothing conclusive.
I am hoping that someone here can give me a clue as to what's going on, as the dealer doesn't seem to know.

Phil

Recycleman
Posts: 46
Joined: Thu Nov 10, 2016 6:11 pm

Post by Recycleman »

PhilB
Posts: 19
Joined: Thu Jun 08, 2017 3:07 pm

Post by PhilB »

Yes, I saw that. Someone called SuzukiClub posted this:

"Now have car back, since Kia have had the car .Kia fitted a new battery, apparently the fuel pump was sometimes still running flattening the Battery ,so hopefully ok now "

That's the only clue I have found. There are also a couple of references to flat batteries in the Autocar reviews, but no conclusions, and one in the US in the kianeroforum.com.

Thinking about it, I guess that it must be something draining the battery after it has been parked, as it wouldn't keep going if the battery died mid-drive. Trouble is, it's intermittent so can't be easily found.

The battery was well drained on the last occasion, I measured 4 volts. Fortunately the jump-start battery was up to the task.

I will contact the dealer again and see what can be done.

Thanks for the input,

Phil
h2onorth
Posts: 174
Joined: Thu Nov 24, 2016 6:19 pm

Post by h2onorth »

Hi PhilB. You may have seen the articles about this problem on the Ioniq forum website?
In one case it was due to faulty audio unit (Essex) another was fuel pump(Holland) both causing a drain on 12v battery all the time.
The other issue is that the USB connection for audio link is live all the time so anything plugged in that may also cause a battery drain. There are also some issues on this in USA where the power / battery set up is slightly different and as yet no solution
PhilB
Posts: 19
Joined: Thu Jun 08, 2017 3:07 pm

Post by PhilB »

Hi h2onorth,
Haven't seen the Ioniq forum. Thanks, I will take a look. All good ammunition for when I talk to the Kia dealer tomorrow.
The annoying thing is that it's intermittent, so is very hard for the dealer to pinpoint the problem.
I have a DBPOWER 300A 8000mAh Portable Mini Car Jump Starter which I bought after the first flat battery, and surprisingly it worked a treat.
Thanks,
Phil
h2onorth
Posts: 174
Joined: Thu Nov 24, 2016 6:19 pm

Post by h2onorth »

Hi PhillB. Strange you had car for 6months or so before this problem arose!. Has anything happened to it may be to let water get in to some electrical area to start this drain cycle Albet intermittent?
Hope the electrical guys can trace this problem asap. You might want a loan car?
Regs h2onorth
PhilB
Posts: 19
Joined: Thu Jun 08, 2017 3:07 pm

Post by PhilB »

Yes I have done 11000 milles - but it only flattened its battery 2 days after its 10000 mile service. Could be a coincidence.
Anyway the good news is (from my point of view) that the Kia dealer is taking my problem seriously. The sevice department has been in touch with Kia Technical and they said that they were working on a solution, if mine is the same problem - which it sounds like to me. There is some more to-ing and fro-ing to be done yet before I am anywhere near a resolution, but at least there's hope.
The dealer doesn't have a loan car available right now, which makes it tricky for them to have my car for more than a day, as I live 18 miles from the dealer. It's near my place of work which is why I went there, besides it had the best deal.
I live in hope...
Regards,
Phil
Greenman
Posts: 108
Joined: Fri Aug 12, 2016 7:11 pm
Location: West London

Post by Greenman »

During the last week I have found the car often refuses to unlock on the first press of the fob button. 3/4 attempts have been needed. When I then lock it again and try an immediate unlock it works first time. It seems as though it goes to sleep?
Mike R
Niro 2 Black [no additional driving aids] Since 1 Sept 2016
Previously: Sportage KX2awd on11 plate
Greenman
Posts: 108
Joined: Fri Aug 12, 2016 7:11 pm
Location: West London

Post by Greenman »

Realised I'd been doing journeys of under 5 mls in heavy traffic so lead/acid battery was not charging. Couple of longer runs have sorted the unlocking. Presumably the alternator only works when the petrol engine is running?
Mike R
Niro 2 Black [no additional driving aids] Since 1 Sept 2016
Previously: Sportage KX2awd on11 plate
h2onorth
Posts: 174
Joined: Thu Nov 24, 2016 6:19 pm

Post by h2onorth »

Hi all, Greenman makes a good point about what charges the 12 v battery. Assuming the 12 volt is only charged when the engine is running this explains partly why the engine nearly always starts on first trip of the day. At that point the 12volt battery may say hi need charging even though the EV power may show 50%? The EV battery may have no means of charging the 12volt system
h2onorth
Post Reply

  • You may also be interested in...
    Replies
    Views
    Last post