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48K views 34 replies 19 participants last post by  TechnoMage 
#1 ·
Hello KIA Owners:

I have a 2010 KIA Soul and need to have my battery replaced. I didnt think it was going to be a big deal to have the battery replaced. There is an AutoZone less than 1 mile from my house, so I checked their webiste and it said that they carry batteries for my model year. When I took it over this morning they told me that they cannot replace the battery and that I should take it to the dealer or licensed mechanic because replacing batteries in KIAs are tricky.

I went home and decided to check out the web site for information about the KIA so I would have a better understanding of what he meant before searching out another place to replace my battery. I have been able to locate bits and pieces, but would like help to be directed to a web site I can get all of the information. I would also appreciate info from anyone who has had similar problems having their battery replaced so that I that the mechanic I choose is not trying to hose hose me down when he tells me it is going to cost more to replace than usual.

Can anyone help?
 
#3 ·
It's no different than any other car.......:think
 
#16 ·
Depends on the "other car" - in my wife's '97 Chrysler Sebring Convertible, the battery is in the left front fender!!: How to Install a Battery on a 1997 Chrysler Sebring | eHow.com

Replacing the battery requires lifting the car, removing the left front tire, and removing the fender liner!!

So (it looks like) the Soul is comparatively easy! :)

Rob in HMB
'12 Shadow ! (never even looked for the battery)
'02 Bandit 1200 (battery under the seat)
'00 BMW 740iL (battery in the trunk for weight distribution - easy to access)
 
#4 ·
What's wrong with the battery? I've never heard of oem batteries dying after only 2 yers unless you somehow constantly let it drain dead or live in super extreme conditions. My oem elantra battery is 8 years old, having spent 4 of those years in Montreal with cold winters and humid summers and it's still in good condition.

The reason you should go to the dealer is that it should still be under some sort of warranty...

That being said, you unhook the negative, then unhook the positive, remove the battery holddown, swap batteries and reverse the process to install. There's nothing tricky about it.
 
#7 ·
My 2010 is 3 and a half years old. I am pretty sure that the battery is not covered under warranty.
The only thing that I can think of is saving the preset electrical settings using one of those accessory adaptor plug ins while you replace the battery. Possibly the battery is a custom size? Check with another parts store over the phone?
 
#6 ·
About that diy- the order of removing the terminals is reversed. You should always disconnect the ground side first (some cars are + ground, but souls are not). Then take off hot.

It's like Jumping a car... You hook up the hot then you hook up the grnd and to remove you take off the grnd first and the the hot.
 
#12 · (Edited)
its longer in Canada - warranty on the battery is 36 months prorated. If you replace it yourself its not necessary to replace it with the exact KIA version, you might want one with more amperage, as long its the same size wise, should be no problem.

But as was mentioned usually a battery will last at least 5 years unless there is a serious problem. Most places that sell batteries will generally test it for free - maybe a defective cell.
 
#25 ·
Four years is good in any state, at any temperature. Vibration will KILL a battery faster than any other thing.

The battery box on the Soul (at least mine) is much smaller than that on other cars I've had. But the battery installed by Kia is more than capable of starting the Soul engine.
The only thing I would change when replacing my battery would be to go to a Full Maintenance battery (with removable cell caps).
That is so I can watch the fluid level in the cells and know immediately if a cell is going bad or loosing water faster than the other cells.

I make checking the fluid level in my battery a part of my regular maintenance (applies only to a Full Maintenance Battery). The OEM battery that Kia uses is a Maintenance Free battery, with NO removable caps.
So you can do nothing with it, but run it till it dies and then replace it.

One of the best places to buy a replacement battery today is Walmart. I've bought several there and their warranty is great.

Cheers mates!
TechnoMage :cool:
 
#24 ·
I agree... Sounds like you were either dealing with someone that was lazy or just didn't know how to do it. I had the battery replaced on my 2010 (2 weeks before I traded it, ugg!) and I had no issues. I went by the local Sam's Club, bought the battery, and in 20 minutes I was out of there. Not really any trickier than replacing the batteries in your TV remote, just on a heavier scale.

If you want a car with battery install issues, then I would suggest a Dodge Intrepid (2002 model in my case). In that car, the battery is located near the bottom front of the wheel well behind the lights. You have to remove the wheel and the plastic parts inside the fender well to access it. That is one of the ones that Advance will not touch.

Just for giggles, I would stop back by the Advance and speak to the store manager. Let him know that he lost a sale because his guys either could not or would not do a simple battery install. It may not do you any good, but you may make things a little uncomfortable for that slacker.
 
#26 ·
Techno I did get my batt from Walmart. I have been getting them there for years. The battery's they have seem to last longer than the autozone brand and like you said they have a really good warranty. The only down side is they will not touch a good battery. I bought one for my old van and it wasn't the batt. I took it right back (I never left the parking lot) and they told me flat out that they will not return a good batt. I even called the head office and was told the same thing. As long as you know that before hand you are good to go.


Sent from AutoGuide.com App
 
#27 ·
1st bad battery in my 2010 Soul was @ 55,000 miles just shy of 2 yr mark.
happened to be @ Kia & for an oil change, they said the battery was testing low & for $ 132.00 they could replace it, I questioned the warranty & they agreed to do it @ No Charge. Never noticed anything leading up to that point, but I know a lot of times it's just suddenly "click click click" or nothing.

2nd bad battery in my 2010 Soul was @ 118,000 miles just over 2 years from the new replacement Kia battery installed @ the dealer.

This time it cranked slow & failed to start, Murphy's law applied & cause it happened while I was delivering Pizza at night, I have jumpers with me but I was on a service pathway @ a big resort hotel, way in the back & we just got slammed by a monsoon thunderstorm. Nobody or cars around at all ! I got a little lucky, logistically, when another one of our drivers was on another part of the resort & was able to come & jump start my Soul. I charged it that night & was working fine for weeks when I finally decided I'm gonna replace BEFORE it fails again!
I bought replacement from autozone & yes there it a little more to getting this battery installed, but it is still straight forward type work & was done in a flash.

2 years per battery can be expected due to my extreme abuse patterns & heat conditions.
 
#28 ·
Mine I got up took the munchkin to school came home then an hour later went to get gas because I had to take the older one to the doctor. The car was dead at the pump. Took an hour for someone to come by that was willing to give me a jump. That's another reason I love firemen. Took it right to pep boys and they said it was charging but the batt was bad. So went straight to Walmart and got a new one.


Sent from AutoGuide.com App
 
#29 ·
Back to vibration (abuse).

When I tested batteries, in the testing lab at CAT, years ago now, one test we did on every battery was the "Shake Test".
We'd make sure the battery was full and charged to specifications, and then strap them down on a 'Shake Table'.

The Shake Table was programmed to shake the battery at 10 G's..... simulating running a vehicle over rough ground, RR Tracks, pot holes, etc.
Some batteries would not last one hour, even though they were brand new at the start of the test.

So, the age of the battery, or the climate in which it's used, may enter into its failure, but vibration is an even greater KILLER of batteries. Intercell connectors can come loose (break) or the plates in the cells can virtually shatter.

It was my job to cut open the failed batteries and then document the failure mode, both with pictures and written descriptions.

It was a dirty job, but someone had to do it. :laughonfloor I gained a wealth of experience in battery care and maintenance.
The worse battery I ever tested was the "Die Hard" maintenance free. A real POC! Go figure!

Cheers Mates!
TechnoMage :cool:
 
#30 ·
My battery is still good. But does the radio require a special code to reactivate it after changing a battery?

I remember reading somewhere that we'd need to call KIA in order to get the radio code. Is this true? Would anyone know the KIA phone number?

This would be useful to tuck away.
 
#35 · (Edited)
Specifically, for years now, OEM's have put "Maintenance Free" batteries in their cars. They are safer for the OEM's to handle and store prior to installation in the vehicles. Yes, the original battery in my Soul looks like it has a top hatch that can be opened, but, NO it doesn't come off.

To me, one who has worked in a Battery Testing Lab, having a lead-acid battery with an electrolyte in it that can dry out with time, is ridiculous at best. All you can do with it is use it till it quits working and then throw it away and buy a new one.

I almost welcome the day, when my OEM battery (maintenance free) stops working so I can remove it and replace it with a Full Maintenance battery that I can maintain myself.

The worse part about changing the battery in my 2013 Soul, is that I'll have to remove the ECC to get to the clamp that holds down the battery. It's just complicated enough, that for most folks, changing the battery is a dealer only job.

In my last car, the Suzuki SX4, I had a problem in the battery charging circuit, and in the troubleshooting process my Suzuki dealer's mechanic put in a replacement battery that was FULL Maintenance. They finally found the problem to be a loose connector 'under' the battery. They just left the replacement battery in the car when they gave it back to me. I was very thankful to have a Full Maintenance battery in that car.

A silent indication that something's going wrong with your battery would be corrosion taking place around the battery terminals. It means that somewhere the (sealed) battery is leaking acid. I'd change that battery ASAP. Leaking is just one step away from total failure.

If I were going to take a cross country trip in my three year old Kia Soul, I'd probably change out my battery before leaving on the trip. (just to be safe)
Vibration is the biggest battery killer and in a cross US trip, there's going to be plenty of vibration.

Cheers Mates and Happy Motoring!
:cool:
PS:
I believe that what we're seeing on the top of the Kia (OEM) battery is a built in handle for picking up the battery....again, for ease of handling during production.
To my own battery, I've added the Anti-Corrosion felt washer and an additional Ground Cable that goes from the engine to the NEG terminal on the battery. That eliminates the possibility of starter failure due to poor grounding.... a well known problem on the Kia Soul.
 
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