What is the ON / OFF Switch Inside the Fuse Box of a Kia / Hyundai
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If you take a look inside the fuse box of your Kia or Hyundai vehicle, you may have noticed the OFF/ON switch. You may be wondering what this switch does. When the fuse switch is turned OFF, multiple accessories on your car will not work.
At a Glance
- What it is: a parasitic drain cutoff switch in the interior fuse box of many Kia and Hyundai models.
- OFF: radio, clock and interior lights stop working; used for shipping and storage.
- Radio, clock and lights all dead at once: check this switch before fuses.
- Normal driving: keep it ON. After switching it back on, reset the clock and radio presets.
- For storage longer than a few weeks, use a battery maintainer as well.
If you have problems with accessories not working, such as no radio, clock or interior lights,, make sure the switch is turned on.
Functions of the ON/OFF Switch
With the switch OFF, the circuits that draw current while the car is parked are cut. Owner’s manuals list these as typically including:
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- radio
- clock
- interior lights
After you turn it back ON, reset the clock and radio presets. If you plan on operating your Kia/Hyundai, always have the FUSE SWITCH in the ON position.
If you plan on parking the vehicle for a long time, move the switch to the OFF position to prevent the battery from draining.
When should you use the ON / OFF switch?
Use the fuse box ON/OFF switch if you plan on parking your vehicle for some time or if your vehicle is being transported. Turning the fuse in the OFF position makes your car battery less likely to drain by unnecessary accessories or parasitic current draws.
Models with ON/OFF switch
The following models (depending on trim) could have the ON/OFF switch.
- Kia: Cadenza Forte Optima Rio Sedona Sorento Soul Sportage K900
- Hyundai: Accent Azera Elantra, Santa Fe, Sonata, Tucson, Veloster
If you are experiencing problems with your Kia, such as warning lights coming on or the car doesn’t start, check out this helpful guide on diagnosing vehicle problems like a Pro Mechanic.
Check this switch before diagnosing a dead accessory
If the radio, clock, interior lights and power sockets all stopped working at the same time, this switch is the first thing to look at and it costs nothing to check. People reach for fuses and wiring diagrams when a dealer, a body shop or a transporter simply left the switch in the OFF position after moving the car. A whole group of circuits going dead together is the signature of this switch rather than a blown fuse, because one fuse would not take out that many unrelated things.
What it is actually for
This is a parasitic drain cutoff, fitted so a car can sit on a dealer lot or be shipped without flattening its battery. Turning it off disconnects the circuits that quietly draw current while the car is parked. It is not a theft deterrent and it does not isolate the battery completely, so the engine management and alarm systems are unaffected.
Worth using if the car will stand for weeks
If you are leaving the car for a month or more, switching it off genuinely helps and costs you nothing more than resetting the clock and radio presets afterwards. For storage longer than that, a trickle charger or battery maintainer is the better answer, because even with the switch off the battery will self discharge over several months and a dead battery left to sit sulfates and loses capacity permanently.
If the switch is already ON and things are still dead
Then you are back to normal diagnosis: check the relevant fuses in both the engine bay and interior boxes, and check the main ground connections. If several unrelated systems are affected and the fuses are intact, a failing body control module or a bad ground strap is more likely than a coincidence of blown fuses, and reading codes from all modules rather than the engine alone will point you at the right circuit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the ON / OFF switch on a Kia or Hyundai?
It is in the interior fuse box, usually under the dashboard on the driver’s side. It may be labeled as a fuse switch or power connector.
Will turning the switch OFF drain less battery?
Yes. It cuts power to circuits that stay on when the car is parked, like the clock and memory, which slows battery drain during shipping or storage.
Why did my radio and clock stop working after a service?
The switch may have been turned OFF. Check that it is ON before replacing fuses or the radio.
A faulty fuse box can cause parasitic drain and keep systems on even after car is turned off.
Will the Faulty Fuss box prevent the car from going to sleep and power continue to drain (Radio or light) from the 12 V battery after the car is turned off?
My clock is not showing. The clock icon in the settings is greyed out. Should I turn the fuse to OFF then back to ON? Will this turn the clock back on? It stopped at 12:07 p.m.
Why is the fuse always on ? Is it safe
I have turned the on&off switch on the fuse panel and now the vehicle will not start. I have a key fob.
As long as you don’t have a smart key it will start, but you shouldn’t do this. Your teenager may not be able to open the window for example, which is a safety issue. You don’t have to program the key. But more importantly, why would you want to do this??
I have a teenager. if I turn the fuse switch off would he still be able to to start and drive the vehicle. Plus if so when I put it back to on will I have to get the key reprogramed.
2019 Kia Cerato, no on/off switch.