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Back from vacation - Battery dead (2023 Hybrid)
We were gone on a 12-day vacation and I came home to find the battery in my 2023 Sportage hybrid to be totally dead. I had to open the door with the hidden key in the fob. Thankfully they have a button on the dash to start the car from the hybrid battery (my assumption), but this seems like a real problem and this is the second time this has happened.
I've read a few posts here that seem to indicate that the periodic check-in from the car to Kia Connect is actually draining the battery that starts the car, but this can't be right since I don't even have the Kia Connect app. Also, since "starting" the car takes almost no power (after all, it's not turning the engine over where cold cranking amps are really required), there must be some type of leakage current that is draining the battery. Do you think there is something wrong with the battery?
Is Kia working on a solution? I thought a normal gasoline-powered car could sit for months and months before the battery won't start the car and in this case it's even worse because the battery won't even open the doors after 12 days..
I've read a few posts here that seem to indicate that the periodic check-in from the car to Kia Connect is actually draining the battery that starts the car, but this can't be right since I don't even have the Kia Connect app. Also, since "starting" the car takes almost no power (after all, it's not turning the engine over where cold cranking amps are really required), there must be some type of leakage current that is draining the battery. Do you think there is something wrong with the battery?
Is Kia working on a solution? I thought a normal gasoline-powered car could sit for months and months before the battery won't start the car and in this case it's even worse because the battery won't even open the doors after 12 days..
Replies
I have a 2011 GMC Sierra pickup truck and the battery will be dead due to phantom loads in about a week. I hav e aged out of using it very often. It is parked outside and I keep a small solar panel on the dashboard, plugged into the cigarette lighter port (which is always connected to the battery on this vehicle,) and that keeps the battery in good shape. I know of no way to do this with the Kia as that outlet seems to have continuity to the battery only when the ignition is on. There may be a way that I am not aware of.
I have not had a similar problem with my 2023 Kia HEV, but I cannot recall the longest interval I have gone between trips in it.
I have not had a similar problem with my 2023 Kia HEV, but I cannot recall the longest interval I have gone between trips in it.
Unfortunately, there are quite a few "parasitic" loads draining the 12V side of the hybrid battery constantly - the onboard cell modem (active even if you don't subscribe to a Kia Connect paid account), the proximity sensors, etc. And note that there isn't a specific 12V battery in this design. Part of the hybrid battery is "reserved" storage for the 12V side and is just converted down to 12V as needed. This is why they shut it down so quickly and offer the boost button to get it started again, as it could drain down the hybrid battery and make the car non-operational. However, I believe you can still jump it to get it started and charging again via the "+" post in the engine bay near the fuse box on the right side.
You can certainly take it to the dealer to have them test your hybrid battery and check for unusual parasitic loads. Otherwise, the only other option is to disconnect the 12V system via the connector in the engine bay when you go on vaca, but I believe that will also clear out your profile/radio/seat settings, etc. But if the car as been working "normally" before that and you have been getting decent gas mileage, its probably not a hybrid battery issue.
12 days isn't that long, so wondering if the 12V side got drained a bit via accessory mode, or doors open/lights on for a while while the engine was off just before your trip? Could just be a fluke. Hope it doesn't happen again!
You can certainly take it to the dealer to have them test your hybrid battery and check for unusual parasitic loads. Otherwise, the only other option is to disconnect the 12V system via the connector in the engine bay when you go on vaca, but I believe that will also clear out your profile/radio/seat settings, etc. But if the car as been working "normally" before that and you have been getting decent gas mileage, its probably not a hybrid battery issue.
12 days isn't that long, so wondering if the 12V side got drained a bit via accessory mode, or doors open/lights on for a while while the engine was off just before your trip? Could just be a fluke. Hope it doesn't happen again!