Kia Optima Jump Start with Dead Battery

Can’t start your Kia Optima due to a dead battery? Learn how to fix the problem by jump-starting the battery of your vehicle. This guide is a step-by-step instruction on jump-starting the 2016 to 2020 Kia Optima.

What you will need

• Jumper cables or
• Jumpstarter

Safe Jumper Cable Order

1. Red clamp on the dead battery positive (+).
2. Other red clamp on the good battery positive (+).
3. Black clamp on the good battery negative (-).
4. Last black clamp on bare, unpainted metal on the dead car, away from the battery.
5. Start the good car, wait a few minutes, then start the dead car. Remove the clamps in the reverse order.

Making the last connection on bare metal away from the battery keeps any spark away from battery gases.

Procedure

1. Manually unlock the vehicle. Remove the door lock cover on the door handle, insert the metal key, and open the door.
2. Pull the hood release under the dashboard and go in front of the vehicle. Unlock the hood latch and pull the hood up.
3. Locate the battery’s terminals on the driver’s side of the engine compartment. Open the cover of the positive terminal by simply pulling it up.
4. To jump-start, connect the red jumper cable to the battery’s positive terminal and connect the black jumper cable to the vehicle’s frame. For example, strut tower bolt. 
5. Connect the jumper cables to the battery of the support vehicle. Ensure that the positive cable is connected to the positive terminal and the negative cable is connected to the negative/ground terminal.
6. Before starting the vehicle, wait a few minutes for the battery to recharge, then start the engine.

Why Did My Kia Optima Battery Die?

• Age: most batteries last about four to six years. A battery near that age that needed a jump should be load tested.
• Short trips: modern cars draw power from many modules, and short drives may not recharge the battery fully.
• Parasitic drain: a module or light that stays on after the car is locked can flatten a good battery in a few days.
• Charging problem: with the engine running, voltage should be roughly 13.5 to 14.8 V. Lower than that points to the alternator.

Warning Lights After a Jump Start?

A low voltage event often leaves stored codes and warning lights in several modules. Drive the car for a while; many clear on their own. If they stay on, a scan tool such as the YOUCANIC UCAN-II Pro can read and clear the low voltage codes and show live charging voltage on supported models.

Check these troubleshooting and repair guides for more help on your Kia.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I unlock a Kia Optima with a dead battery?

Remove the small cover on the driver’s door handle and use the metal key hidden in the fob.

Where is the battery on a 2016 to 2020 Kia Optima?

In the engine compartment on the driver’s side, with a red cover over the positive terminal.

What order do I connect jumper cables?

Red to the dead battery positive, red to the good battery positive, black to the good battery negative, then black to bare metal on the dead car.

Why are warning lights on after jump starting?

Low voltage can store codes in several modules. Drive for a while; if they stay on, read and clear the codes.

Related Guides

• Unlock the Door Kia Optima with Dead Battery
• 2015 to 2021 Kia Sedona Unlock Vehicle with Dead Battery
• Battery Replacement Guide Kia Optima 2016 to 2020
• 2016 to 2020 Kia Optima Key Fob Battery Replacement

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