IIRC group size should be 121R

 

we are having the same temperatures here in Southern Ontario. Hope I don't have any problems starting tomorrow as my Soul has been sitting for a week, but it is in a non-heated garage.

Battery warranty is 36 months, but its pro-rated. If replacing get a stronger Ah.

Here's the details on my OEM battery in my Soul.

 

Looks like the tray and insulated cover are different part numbers than for my battery. But I will inquire at dealership about it to confirm.

 

Ya. Always try to get strongest battery that will fit when replacing. This car has turned out to be the most difficult to fit though. I wonder if that one will fit?

That an AGM battery. Nice. Thought that came with models with ISG.

Thinking you will have no issues during this cold spell with that battery and age.

 

mine is not an ISG model and this one is more stronger than the one I had in my G1 2012 model, which I owned for 5 winters and gave me no problem.
It went even colder last night so we will see what happens when we leave to head into Trenton to do our weekly shopping in the next couple of hours.

 

I think I'd start by going to a store that sells batteries with your battery measurements and see what they have that will fit.
Around here, the store with the greatest variety of sizes and capacities is Walmart.

I've mentioned this several (hundred) times myself, but I'll mention it again.... Get a 24" battery cable with eyelets on both ends, and connect it to the NEG terminal on your battery and then connect the other end to any available bolt on top of the engine. That will greatly increase the grounding for your starter and your engine will start much faster. You may not really require a new battery.
My own OEM battery is now five years old and still going strong.

Click picture to enlarge.
One end of new Ground Cable bolted down to engine.

Click picture to enlarge.
One end of new Ground Cable connected to NEG terminal of the battery.

I first heard about this trick from the guys on the UK Soul forum, where they were having a real hard time starting their little Diesels.
It works!

Happy New Years, Mates,
FL Hamster

 

Never had a battery not last at least 5 years. Last OEM battery lasted 8 years. Could not find manufactured date on current battery. Could be older than I think.

I think I'd start by going to a store that sells batteries with your battery measurements and see what they have that will fit.
Around here, the store with the greatest variety of sizes and capacities is Walmart.

I've mentioned this several (hundred) times myself, but I'll mention it again.... Get a 24" battery cable with eyelets on both ends, and connect it to the NEG terminal on your battery and then connect the other end to any available bolt on top of the engine. That will greatly increase the grounding for your starter and your engine will start much faster. You may not really require a new battery.
My own OEM battery is now five years old and still going strong.

View attachment 110466
One end of new Ground Cable bolted down to engine.


View attachment 110474
One end of new Ground Cable connected to NEG terminal of the battery.

I first heard about this trick from the guys on the UK Soul forum, where they were having a real hard time starting their little Diesels.
It works!

Happy New Years, Mates,
FL Hamster

May do this. It is simple and cheap enough to do. Always felt this 2.0 was harder starting than my last 2L. Thought it was due to higher compression. Or maybe the super duper factory filter keeping more oil in the engine. :smile:

WallyWorld 26R works! ($49.95)

Lesser capacity than current battery. Not in stock at local Wally's too. The Everstart batteries are well rated by Consumers Reports.

 

I replace both my 2010 and the 2012 with Farm N Fleet Platinum batteries with the same CCA as the original. Could not use the battery cover for the 2012 but other wise fine. Starts good so far(-4 Fahrenheit).

 

WallyWorld 26R works! ($49.95)

 

Funny how people in Florida comment about how long batteries should last in Canada
I have lived in cold weather places and I assure anyone that the comparation is not even funny!

The AGM batteries deal better with the cold weather. Synthetic 5W oil helps too.

 

The AGM batteries deal better with the cold weather.

Yes and also in very hot weather. Have one in my truck and both travel trailers at ranch...no adding distilled water and will cycle deeper.

 

do you have a block heater?

 

I plug in, but last weekend I did not have access and worked some crazy hours.

 

Well darn. Could have sworn I posted this topic in the Gen2 forum. Sorry.

 

Batteries is batteries! With no respect as to what car they are in.

There are two main criteria when selecting a new battery for the Kia Soul.
1. Will it physically fit in the battery 'box'? (it should be the same physical size as the OEM battery)
2. Are the pos and neg posts in the right corners? (In some batteries, those are reversed.)

Any battery that fits those two criteria, will work just fine in a Kia Soul.

So measure your OEM battery, go to the battery store and buy one of the same size. Job done!

Cheers Mates!
FL Hamster

 

26r at WallyWorld: https://www.walmart.com/ip/ValuePower-Lead-Acid-Automoive-Battery-Group-Size-26R/152260102
48.88
Done.

 

^ Garbage that lasts only 1 year. Done.
^ Wrong size battery (OP needs 121R). Done.

 

Well...since I have not had mine in a year yet, the verdict is pending on only 1 year of service.
I have read good things about these WallyWorld batteries so I figured I give it a try.
Currently got one in my 1987 300zx.
The 26r is an ALTERNATE size that fits into the allocated space, has the right terminal configuration and SHOULD provide (years of) adequate service.
And.................................DONE!

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcVV1jo4rO0

Don't discount the free shows at Walmart either, where freakazoids gather for their shopping needs.

 

OK, will be 1 year and one month or at the most next winter
Meanwhile, it might take out the starter too - low starting capacity prolongs the starting times and adds extra wear on starter's brushes.

Happy New Year!

 

Well...thank you General Electric!

 

Sradiator, you can do whatever you want. I have replaced with my two hands 3 starters and 5 alternators (and I have another alternator for my 2000 Sonata in the garage, waiting for warm weather to go in) on different cars in the last couple of decades, so... I am just trying to share some of my personal experience.
If you are happy to spend $30 less upfront, and you think that the warranty of 1 yr versus 3 yr is just a scheme to get your money, then... more power to you. I am too poor to afford the cheap stuff.

But please don'y fully quote anymore trolls. I have him on my ignore list and if you do quote him, then I can see his mean spirited comments again.

 

Boo hoo. What a freaking wuss. Dude comes on here and insults the intelligence of half the posters here for 2 months, then has to hide my "mean spirit" comments. LOL.

Sradiator, Johnson Controls has three offices within 45 minutes of me. They make good products (and do other things like building efficiency).

 

Sonic...As I stated earlier, I can not speak from personal experience, only from what i have researched/read.
The Wallyworld batteries are supposedly manufactured by "johnson controls" a well known battery manufacturer.
How long any battery will last is pure speculation no matter how well known they may be.

 

Im also interested in finding a bigger battery.
Came out of work this morning to a car that wouldn't start. -26 according to car. Had to get a jump start.

Replaced the battery 2 years ago for same reason. Bought the walmart 121r.
I was gonna run out grab a new one to be safe but nobody has it in stock. So hopefully it starts when I get up and ill have to throw one of the deep cycle larg batteries I use for outdoor lighting in the back to jump myself with if needed.

 

Replaced the battery 2 years ago for same reason. Bought the walmart 121r.

Was the one with 1 yr warranty (Value Power)? That's how long was designed to last...
If it was the EverStart Maxx (3yr free replacement and next 2 yr prorated) then they should give you a free one.

 

I have to look at it to see what battery it was. But it shows out of stock at every walmart in region so even if I wanted to exchange for warranty I couldn't now. Plus checked every other auto store in 50 miles nothing in stock that size so i may be in trouble.

 

Walmart seems to always show "out of stock" when researching availability on-line yet THERE they are on the shelves when you get to their stores.
Seems like inventory control is not their forte but more times than not they are in stock regardless of what on-line indicates.

 

Well...Looks like the cold NY weather and the power of suggestion have taken it's toll on yet another battery!
All this negativity has left, yes you guessed it, my battery in a weakened state or state of confusion or a catatonic state.
Went to start the car this morning after almost 4 days of inactivity only to hear the (un) familiar "click-click-click" of a weak battery.
Can't cry too loud though as it's been 6 years almost to the day on the original battery.
I gave it a jump with my jump box that I keep in the trunk and she fired right up.
Ran her for 2 mins and she fires right back up.
Reads 13.6 volts at rest and 14.6 while running.
I will tempt fate and go the day (with trusty jump box in tow) to see if there's still some life left in the old battery.
By the numbers there is but it's ca-ca-ca-cold in them thar hills and it takes it's tolls on aging batteries and aging bones.
My new valupower has been sitting in the gayrage for almost 2 years now, patiently waiting to show it's stuff and it may just get the chance should the stocker fail to start again.
I didn't think the stock battery was going to go this long so I bought the replacement close to 2 years ago.
I've got it on standby and my battery tender shows the original battery as fully charged so time will tell.

 

Back in the day-day, delco was the battery to own.
Now...there are so many choices it just depends on how deep ones pockets are?
In 8 new cars I've only had to replace 2 new batteries with my Hyundai going 7 years on the original when I sold it.
My Dodge V6 van went almost 15 years on the original battery though the truck only had 18-20k miles when I sold it.
That battery died more from old age than cardiac arrest though...

 

The land of special prices and special people.

 

While I don't want to turn this into an oil thread I do want comment on the Wallyworld battery.
I fitted a group 26 to my 1987 300zx this summer.
So far...so good.
I decided to test the voltage on this cold Ny day since the car has been sitting all week without being started.
My trusty sears volt-ohm was reading 12.4 volts at rest which I felt was a little low.
Turned the key and the "Z" fired right up with no hesitation or hint of any slow cranking.
I would venture to say the 3L 6 cylinder has more compression and requires more amps to get it started over the souls smaller 2L 4 banger.
Time, is the only true test, so the jury is very much out on the quality of Wallyworld batteries but "time will tell" as the saying goes...

 

Thanks for the replies, But i feel that I need to clarify some things now.

Most online searches say my battery should be a 121R. Clearly it is not. My battery is much bigger physically and in capacity. I think that the 121 is perhaps the old 60Ah option that I found in the service manual.

Some searches may also include a group 48 option. This would be the only size to come up if you are able to select "with ISG " though. Clearly it is not this either. My battery is much smaller physically and in capacity. My battery tray will not fit the length or possibly even width (the clamp maybe too wide) of a 48.

I always felt my Soul could use more battery for cold weather starting. It always started well, but a little sluggish compared to my last car with a 2.0L. Makes no sense to me to replace my current battery with a lesser battery for my winters even though thats what comes up on most searches.

The closest group dimensionally to my current battery looks like a 56R. Specs are close too. But it is either an uncommon size or super popular since no one seems to stock it.

Also wondering if the Kia 70Ah battery option would actually fit my battery tray?? Wondering what group size it is?? According to Kia Parts Now, the Part numbers for the trays are different but descriptions on both has them fitting both 68Ah (my battery) and 70Ah. I have 1/2" of length available on my tray for a longer battery.

 

I came across the 26r as an alternate with dimensions that work and a 540 cca.

 

The 26R is a good alternative to most of the 121R I have found and similar to that found in the service manual. At 500 to 550 CCA. I found the odd 121R at 600CCA (similar to my battery but None in stock).