12V battery life

Faults and Technical chat for the Kia Niro
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duncanda
Posts: 54
Joined: Wed Aug 01, 2018 9:17 pm

Post by duncanda »

Hi. I have a 2017 Niro 3 hybrid. There's a small 12 volt lead-acid battery in the right rear wing, which I believe is for accessories, etc. and gets topped up by the hybrid battery when the ignition is on/engine running. I managed to discharge it by using a tyre inflator, whilst the ignition was off. It recharged fine to 12.5 volts and the car starts fine with it. However, when reinstalled in the car and checking the voltage across the terminals, it reads around 11.4 volts. Is the low voltage an indication of the reduced capacity of the battery and an early warning that it'll need to be changed soon?

I have noticed that when stationary at traffic lights, that the car engine doesn't stop as often as it used to.

AlanW55
Posts: 260
Joined: Sat Mar 11, 2017 4:31 pm

Post by AlanW55 »

If you've fully discharged the 12v lead-acid battery, it has probably been damaged. It's now over 7 years old, Winter's coming, change it!
UK 2021 Mark 1 HEV 4 in silky silver, standard spec.
previously UK 2017 First Edition HEV in pearlescent white, standard spec.
duncanda
Posts: 54
Joined: Wed Aug 01, 2018 9:17 pm

Post by duncanda »

Cheers. Was thinking the same.
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