Kia Battery Replacement Guide

Want to learn how to replace the Kia battery? Replacing the battery on a Kia is easy and can be completed in less than 30 minutes from the driveway. Watch the video or follow the steps to replace a Kia battery yourself.

What you will need

To replace the battery in your Kia, you will need a few basic hand tools such as:

• H6 battery – the most common battery used on Kia vehicles. Battery size of 12 1/16″ x 6 7/8″ x 7 9/16″ (30.6 cm x 17.5 cm x 19.2 cm)
• 10mm wrench,
• 12mm sockets,
• an extension,
• battery terminal cleaner
• new battery

Make sure to replace your old dead battery with a new battery with the same group size and ampere rating.

How to Replace Kia Battery

1. Make sure that the ignition of your Kia is turned off and the parking brakes are engaged. Open the hood and locate the battery on your Kia. On Kia vehicles, the battery is located in the engine compartment.
2. On certain Kia models, such as the Optima, the air assembly goes on top of the battery. This will need to be removed. Other Kia models, such as Rio and Sedona, may not have this cover. Two screws hold this cover in place that will need to be removed. Some models use plastic fasteners, while others use a 10 mm bolt to hold the air intake in place. Once the screws are removed, lift the air intake assembly, as shown in the video clip below.
3. Disconnect the negative battery cable. You will need to loosen the nut on the negative terminal. This is a black cable. You will notice a minus or negative symbol stamped on the battery near the negative battery post. Once you loosen the bolt on the clamp, the cable can be removed from the post. If the clamp does not come off easily, try twisting it as you pull it away from the terminal.
4. The next step is to disconnect the positive cable. The positive terminal will either have a plus sign near the post or the word positive printed. You can easily distinguish the positive battery post by the red plastic cover or the red cable.
5. Now it is time to remove the old battery. Use both hands to lift the old battery as car batteries are very heavy. Batteries may have a handle to help you with the removal. Carefully lift the old battery from the tray and set it on the ground.
6. Once the old battery is removed, carefully install the new battery. Reinstall the battery bracket. Make sure that the battery does not move. Try to move the battery back and forth to ensure that the battery is secure.
7. Before you reconnect the cables, clean the terminals using the battery post brush tool. Next, connect the positive cable and fasten the terminal bolt. Connect the negative battery terminal and tighten the bolt last. Start the car. Monitor lights on your instrument cluster. Confirm that there are no warning lights, illuminated work, and electronic controls work. Turn on the radio to confirm that it works; if not, re-enter the security code that should be included in the documentation with the car.

If you have any warning lights on ABS or Electronic Stabil Stability Control (ESC), drive your Kia for a few minutes.

Start the engine and turn the steering wheel to the left and right several times. The engine must be running, and the car must be in Park. This procedure resets the steering angle sensor, the ABS, and the traction control warning lights.

This DIY tutorial was written to assist owners of Kia vehicles such as Optima, Rio, Soul, Forte, Magentis, Sportage, Sorento, and Sedona in replacing their car batteries mainly for model years 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022.

Kia battery size can vary by model. The most common Kia battery size is Group Size H6 and 124R. For example, battery type H6 is used in 2011-2016 Kia Optima, and group size 124R is used in Kia Sorento 2010-2016.

Conclusion

Replacing the battery on a Kia is easy and takes less than 30 minutes. If warning lights come up once you replace the Kia battery, start the engine and turn the steering wheel left and right several times. If the warning remains, follow this guide on diagnosing vehicle problems like a Pro Mechanic.

Notes

1. We recommend that you wear eye protection when replacing the battery on your Kia.
2. Never smoke or light a fire while working near your Kia car batteries.
3. Replace the battery in your Kia with a replacement that has the same: size, ratings, and cranking amps.

Torque Specifications

• Positive Battery Terminal Bolt: 10 Nm ( 7.4 lb-ft)
• Negative Battery Terminal Bolt: 6 Nm (4.4 lb-ft)
• Mounting bracket bolt: 12 Nm (8.8 lb-ft)