[Fran365]

I’ve been enjoying this car about 2 months. A few questions: with car off and radio playing within 5 seconds get a weak battery warning. Normally a 4+ year old battery can need replacing, any other thing that could cause this? And I’ve been a little surprised, can one access motor temp anywhere? Thanks, Fran

 

[dblackfl]

Answers to first question are different for the straight hybrid and the plug-in. Which do you have?

Motor temp for me is in the same console display set where trip length/mileage, tank mileage and energy flow is shown.

 

[Gerd_NL]

Don't care about this warning, it is only a warning! If I have to wait in my car, I always have the radio (and so the AVN system) on, sometimes for more than 30 min. and I got this message then several times, but the battery doesn't went down in this time ...

 

[FlNiro]

I have a 2018 HEV and get this warning all the time. The car does it so you won't wear down the 12v battery since the 12v battery power wise is similar to a motorcycle battery. When I sit listening to the radio I just leave the car on. If you have the A/c off the gas engine won't start much anyway and then you won't get a surprise if the 12v battery got drained if you were sitting there with the car off. Remember the 12v. is a small battery because it doesn't actually crank the gas engine, it just powers up the computers

 

[Fran365]

Answers to first question are different for the straight hybrid and the plug-in. Which do you have?

Motor temp for me is in the same console display set where trip length/mileage, tank mileage and energy flow is shown.

Hi, I have a straight hybrid, no plug in. Thanks for the response will check out that screen.

 

[Fran365]

I have a 2018 HEV and get this warning all the time. The car does it so you won't wear down the 12v battery since the 12v battery power wise is similar to a motorcycle battery. When I sit listening to the radio I just leave the car on. If you have the A/c off the gas engine won't start much anyway and then you won't get a surprise if the 12v battery got drained if you were sitting there with the car off. Remember the 12v. is a small battery because it doesn't actually crank the gas engine, it just powers up the computers

Reading your answer reminded me of the time I’ve spent in the Kia owners Manuel : each page, almost, warns of impending death.

 

[FlNiro]

Reading your answer reminded me of the time I’ve spent in the Kia owners Manuel : each page, almost, warns of impending death.

No LOL it's not that bad. Most hybrids are super dependable considering how complicated they are. They do change your habits however.

 

[Techy]

The HEV has a lithium 12V battery so not a problem like the lead acid found in the PHEV.
If you run the battery too much in the HEV, simply press the button the lower left dash (acts as a boost) and you will be good to go.

 

[Jackfish]

I’ve been enjoying this car about 2 months. A few questions: with car off and radio playing within 5 seconds get a weak battery warning. Normally a 4+ year old battery can need replacing, any other thing that could cause this? And I’ve been a little surprised, can one access motor temp anywhere? Thanks, Fran

Yeah I have a 19 hybrid Niro and it will give me the warning . Since I'm usually the one running my wife around on errands , I just leave the car on . It's especially handy in the summer , when otherwise the car would get overheated .

 

[Fran365]

No LOL it's not that bad. Most hybrids are super dependable considering how complicated they are. They do change your habits however.

About habits changing, yes. I’ve noticed letting up on the gas pedal will set the car in ev mode. I have to remember to check rear view for tail gutters. Fran

 

[Bob Davis]

I have a 2019 Niro PHEV and called AAA 2 or 3 times with dead batteries until I realized that you just leave the car on (motor NOT running) while in the car when the radio or lights are on. The tiny battery that starts the car is continually kept charged with a trickle of power. Absolutely NO problems since then. I also recommend for EVERYONE to have something similar to this in their cars: https://smile.amazon.com/NEXPOW-180...pY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU&th=1 It with not only charge your phones and iPads multiple times, it will start a dead car MULTIPLE TIMES. It is amazing to help a neighbor or stranger with this from time to time. Easy way to find a free 6 pack on your front porch in the next hour or so!

 

[doro6529]

Good advise when sitting in the car and listening to the radio or with reading lights on is to start the car, when the 12v battery runs down the eng will start and run a few minutes to recharge and shutoff. Lithium batteries are expensive and don't do deep draw well. Also do not try to jump start someone else's car with any Niro.

I have a 2018 EX HEV, the eng temp on mine is in the instrument display along with tire press and service interval.

 

[Techy]

Lithium batteries are expensive and don't do deep draw well. Also do not try to jump start someone else's car with any Niro.

Lithium batteries are very expensive but I beg to differ on "don't do deep draw well". They do so much better than lead-acid with lower voltage.
You are correct that one should never use the Niro to boost another car. That is best handled by a battery booster pack.

 

[FlNiro]

Lithium batteries are very expensive but I beg to differ on "don't do deep draw well". They do so much better than lead-acid with lower voltage.
You are correct that one should never use the Niro to boost another car. That is best handled by a battery booster pack.

I may be wrong, but if I remember from a long time ago I flew Beech King Airs for awhile. I'm pretty sure they had Lithium batteries and there was an hour mark where after being in the airplane for so many hours the mechanics had to do what they called a deep cycle to the batteries. From what I remember because in the airplane they didn't get discharged a real lot and pretty much remained at a even state of charge, so after so many hours you would have to drain the battery completely and then recharge it. They had a pretty involved procedure for it from what I remember.

 

[Techy]

Then only battery that does well with "deep draw" is a deep cycle battery and they actually prefer a long slow draw of current as opposed to a short high current burst like that required to crank over an ICE engine.

 

[doro6529]

Reading your answer reminded me of the time I’ve spent in the Kia owners Manuel : each page, almost, warns of impending death.

That's for the perennial Darwin Award winners and the flesh eating segment of the so-called legal profession who represent them.

 

[FlNiro]

Yeah that sounds familiar that must have been the type of battery.

 

[doro6529]

I may be wrong, but if I remember from a long time ago I flew Beech King Airs for awhile. I'm pretty sure they had Lithium batteries and there was an hour mark where after being in the airplane for so many hours the mechanics had to do what they called a deep cycle to the batteries. From what I remember because in the airplane they didn't get discharged a real lot and pretty much remained at a even state of charge, so after so many hours you would have to drain the battery completely and then recharge it. They had a pretty involved procedure for it from what I remember.

You sure they weren't ni-cads? They're the ones that get a memory that needs deep discharging to reestablish their capacity. I still have a handheld with those and woe-is-you if you use the wrong charger and get a thermal runaway.
Lithiums forte is long shelf life, when shopping I don't remember seeing them used in deep cycle situations, wet plates and AGM IIRC.

 

[FlNiro]

You sure they weren't ni-cads? They're the ones that get a memory that needs deep discharging to reestablish their capacity. I still have a handheld with those and woe-is-you if you use the wrong charger and get a thermal runaway.
Lithiums forte is long shelf life, when shopping I don't remember seeing them used in deep cycle situations, wet plates and AGM IIRC.

Yeah now that you mention it,you might be right. It was a long time ago..early 80's

 

[atc98092]

You sure they weren't ni-cads?

I was thinking the same thing, then I saw your post.