Kia e-Niro 12 Volt battery finally died.

A few months ago we were unable to power up the car one morning after inadvertently getting a piece of cloth jammed into the tailgate locking mechanism. This depleted the 12v battery to avery low state. We limped on for a few more months but found that just leaving the doors or tailgate open for 30 seconds was enough to make the battery drop below 12v. We have been using the boosted battery to get it started which was a bit inconvenient. Others have experienced this problem with the original 45 ah battery fitted to the car, it simply wasn’t up to the job. Thanks for all the shared experiences and advice on Kia e-Niro interested group UK on Facebook.

[@AA-os1sg]

Your new battery is at 12.3v towards the end of the video is that not undercharged? Research indicates 12.4-12.6v is a good resting voltage range. A battery maintainer once a month avoids you running into these issues something like a Noco 5 for example. If your not driving the car regularly to give the battery a chance to recharge you will run into the same issue, recharge once a month and be worry free & prolong your 12v battery life.

[@radiolinux45]

Always disconnect the negative first and then the positive terminal when reconnecting the positive terminal and negative very careful not to let your tools either terminal DC Current is very bad for your body

[@murrayedington]

To answer your question, the fuse is rated to protect the wiring, which in turn needs to support the maximum load. Probably the heater(s), fans, lights, music and electric seats all operating at once.

[@kiae-nirodiariesencore4270]

Thanks Murray. I did wonder about this. Of course when the car industry gets off its 12V addiction that fuse should not be necessary. Some OEMs have 48v systems which of course reduces the current needed to drive those sub-systems, allowing for smaller gauge wiring which saves weight. The 12v lead acid battery is a ampere monster we really don’t need.

[@chrishar110]

@@kiae-nirodiariesencore4270 We won't get rid of the fuses (we still have fuses at home at 220V). They are there to protect the wiring from a short that could cause a fire. Any time we replace a fuse with a bigger (higher Amp rated) one we make a big mistake that can be fatal for us and the passengers.

[@JohnRoss1]

I replace the battery on my car every 3 years a lincoln mkz hybrid. It goes flat, time to change. 😂 Its buried so deep in the engine compartment I get the mechanic to swap it out... Also small form factor so no option for a larger one.. I keep a Lithium booster battery in my EV ( Niro EV now an EV6) you just need 12 volts to operate the relay for the Traction battery. Or just keep the tractor handy for a boost 🚜

[@DavidSanftenberg]

Try an AGM battery. I've run one in my Renault Zoe the past few years. They handle deeper discharges.

[@kiae-nirodiariesencore4270]

An AGM is about double to price, though it should last the lifetime of the car in an EV. A member of UK e-Niro Facbook group had the same problem with the original 12v and replaced it was a calcium flooded battery..same form factor as the existing, lower Ah rating but capable of doing deep discharge whilst maintaining the 12v, similar to an AGM in that respect. I did look for one but couldn’t see any readily available here in France to order online. I am happy with the Bosch which has a higher Ah rating and should do for at least 5 years.

[@msnpaddle1]

My Kia e-niro 4 had a flat battery at the end of a camping weekend just because of interior lights on now and again. We managed to get a jump start and all was fine except the radio and all the settings wouldn't work. According to the manual (7/28) it says after a discharged or disconnected battery the following need to be reset Radio, etc. but does not tell you how to do it. The local Kia dealer has offered to reset it all for the princely sum of 1 x hours labour (£118 !!!!). Is there any other way? Has anyone else had this issue?

[@kiae-nirodiariesencore4270]

Strange, my old battery often ‘died' until I put this new one , never had to reset anything in the car even when I disconnected the old one and fitted the new. As mentioned in a previous video our battery was damaged by us not closing the tailgate properly, after that it just wouldn’t hold >12v for long. Are you on the Kia e-Niro Facebook group in the UK? There are people there who know how to upgrade the software and fix all kinds of things. I was one of the original members there but it is now over 2,500 people sharing all kinds of good e-Niro related stuff, you can also download software upgrades there and DIY those. It really is worth buying a booster battery though, it isn’t as if the 12V has a lot to do in an EV but what it must do is maintain 12 volts. Thanks for watching.

[@msnpaddle1]

@@kiae-nirodiariesencore4270 Thank you for your reply, I will join that FB group. What year/model was yours? Regards, Mark

[@kiae-nirodiariesencore4270]

@@msnpaddle1 Mine was one of the first e-Niros to come to France, I took delivery in March 2019. If you go on my old KZbin channel ‘Kia e-Niro Diaries’...you can see our early days with the car. I had to create this channel with the ‘encore’ in the title as I messed up the management of the other one. I think our model is what they called the ‘First edition’ in the UK.

[@msnpaddle1]

@@kiae-nirodiariesencore4270 sorted, it has a little pinhole for reset which is not mentioned in the manual OR by the local Kia dealer who wanted £118 (1 hours labour).

[@kiae-nirodiariesencore4270]

@@msnpaddle1 Result then. Dealers!...what can I say.

[@rinusheemskerk]

Still don't understand that they cannot put a lithium 12v battery in it because it is to expensive while having a £10.000 worth of lithium in it.

[@user-ju6te3gi8x]

So do you leave the negative terminal cover off or try and adapt it?

[@kiae-nirodiariesencore4270]

I left it off. And here were are what...2 years later and no problems with it as yet.

[@chrisrussell418]

Always interested in your down to earth videos. Good choice on the Bosch and every little helps, as you said Kia now fit a larger AH battery to the new Niro EV. Why would you fit a battery with less AH than the largest that will physically fit. Well you wouldn't unless you were a Kia accountant and every cent counts. I have 22my eniro and no batt probs so far but shortly after purchase I did charge it up with an old fashioned 4amp charger. Now reads 12.5-12 7 when motor not on. May be worth checking if your new one could do with a top up. If fully charged then when connecting an old school charger it should show a charge rate of about 1.5amp or less. If it shows 2. 5 amps or more then leave charging until it drops. I also have a 1965 Triumph TR4A which still runs a dynamo and has an electric cooling fan. It has a 86AH Bosch battery, been on 3 years now and has always coped fine with discharge and recharge it goes through.

[@ikuma8291]

These 12V batteries in every Kia hybrid/ electric car are undersized and really bad quality. They start dying under the battery warranty regularly on new cars. Also few years ago still Kia had really bad 12V battery charging on the hybrid/electric models. basically they only charged the 12v battery when the combustion engine was running or when an ev car was charging.

[@philiplindley7384]

Odd, you'd normally expect 6/7 years of life on an ICE car

[@kiae-nirodiariesencore4270]

Indeed, it isn’t as if the 12V battery in an EV has much to do, just open a few relays to access the big battery. A friend of mine has had a 2017 Ioniq from new, exactly the same 12V battery as was in mine...his has now started to play up and not maintain the 12V for very long. I just think it was a weak factory fit. In the future these will be LiON, smaller and lighter but I guess for now the world is still ICE oriented and if something can be picked from the parts bin cheaply they use it.

[@jeffreycooper8408]

Have you reset the BMS for the 12V ? or don't you have to ?

[@kiae-nirodiariesencore4270]

I think that only applies to the HEV and PHEV models.

[@bernardcharlesworth9860]

Might be better with 12v lith iron. may work better with traction battery .Holds up better between power cycles.

[@kiae-nirodiariesencore4270]

I believe Tesla are now using LiON but not sure such a battery is available for other cars.

[@bernardcharlesworth9860]

@@kiae-nirodiariesencore4270 they are available off internet but beware qaulity as some 12v packs are not matched well causing early 12volt BMS failures.

[@Carlosmartinhox]

Exactamente, a tesla fez a substituição das baterias 12v para as de ião lítio, mas na prática atenção... o custo dessa bateria é enorme não sei se terá vantagens. Um amigo falou me de 500€,é muito.

[@EIRK2046Y]

You Must register your new battery on car system. Ask for it.

[@kiae-nirodiariesencore4270]

What do you mean and how do I do that? Everything is working fine. The only thing I’m aware of is to make sure ‘Auxiliary battery saver’ option is ticked.

[@Crazy_Dave]

It's not a BMW.