What is life like with your car? Let us know and win £500 in John Lewis vouchers | No thanks
Kia venga 2 1.4 manual 2011 61900 miles - Battery constantly discharging. - _

One for Elekie doc.

Our old friends Kia is eating batteries... 2 in 2 years. but they are only doing 2000 miles a year...8000 so far in 5 years.

It is a non start stop type, ( checked) so alternative is a drain somewhere.

Took battery off tonight and reading 5.5 volts after standing for 7 days. currently on a trickle charger for me to check, but will switch off before going to bed and check voltage in the morning. Then try a bit more charging if needed before taking new readings.Only fault on the car is a failed hatch door handle (intermittent) but before troubles started a sony double din cd radio was wired in to replace the failed kia unit, itself a common fault. checked radio only comes on with ignition. so i don't think fault is there. will also check boot light, another common fault.

I am tempted to think that the problem is the lack of use, but would like to try a few ideas before going down the specialist auto eleccy route.

Ideas please..

Edited by _ORB_ on 14/06/2022 at 20:08

Kia venga 2 1.4 manual 2011 61900 miles - Battery constantly discharging. - elekie&a/c doctor
Difficult to make any assessment without some multi meter testing. I would think a good quality battery would be able to withstand this lack of use . What make battery fitted ? Is it possible the radio has been wired incorrectly? Something I would also check , is to make sure the ignition/switch lock is actually returning to the fully off position. I’ve seen these with wear in the lock that allows the key to be removed before the switch is in the fully off position. This will cause a flat battery.
Kia venga 2 1.4 manual 2011 61900 miles - Battery constantly discharging. - Crickleymal

If the battery is that flat it's almost certainly knackered. I think you're right about the lack of use. Put an ammeter between the battery and the positive lead and see if there is any current drain. But I'd be suggesting they pop a charger on it every few days any way.

Kia venga 2 1.4 manual 2011 61900 miles - Battery constantly discharging. - edlithgow

Disconnect the (charged) battery and see if it self discharges.

If it doesn't

Put it back and do a binary chop search with the fuse box.

i.e. take half the fuses out and see if it still discharges. If it does your problem is probably in the intact half of the fuse box, so narrow it down from there.

Kia venga 2 1.4 manual 2011 61900 miles - Battery constantly discharging. - _

So, charged overnight, and refitted battery and started ok, checked all the possible common faults like door opening switch, boot switch, interior lights etc with my neighbour who has the necessary kit,

One thing i did find out is that the lady with dementia was leaving doors open, so a possible reason for battery darin. Will check volts etc in the morning.

Drove a lot in it today, been and sorted a new Mot for next tuesday when they will also fit 4 new tyres as old ones all low and cracked. Had a proper valeting done, which has removed most of the interior stains.. (yuk) and 99% of the ingrained dog hair.

They decided they don't need two cars anymore so have given them £2000 for the car, which swmbo and self will use as a runaround..

It has got a few scars of wars but all minor things.

It actually drives quite well and feels good on the road, and I'm sure it'll be better with 4 new tyres.

Edited by _ORB_ on 15/06/2022 at 17:07

Kia venga 2 1.4 manual 2011 61900 miles - Battery constantly discharging. - elekie&a/c doctor
Sounds like there may be a bit of “cockpit error “ involved here.
Kia venga 2 1.4 manual 2011 61900 miles - Battery constantly discharging. - _
Sounds like there may be a bit of “cockpit error “ involved here.

To be honest.. She has advanced dementia, and licence was taken away after a road test following a doctors report, very sad. she is 71, my age and hubby is 83 and hale and hearty, but overwhelmed by everything.

Cockpit error sounds about right...

They are good friends so happy to help and given the wbac valuation £2685, without seeing the state of the interior and the numerous minor scratches and dings, i think i'm being generous with my offer.

But it is odd going "back" to a car without start stop, reversing camera, sensors, drl's etc.

Kia venga 2 1.4 manual 2011 61900 miles - Battery constantly discharging. - edlithgow
Sounds like there may be a bit of “cockpit error “ involved here.

To be honest.. She has advanced dementia, and licence was taken away after a road test following a doctors report, very sad. she is 71, my age and hubby is 83 and hale and hearty, but overwhelmed by everything.

Cockpit error sounds about right...

They are good friends so happy to help and given the wbac valuation £2685, without seeing the state of the interior and the numerous minor scratches and dings, i think i'm being generous with my offer.

But it is odd going "back" to a car without start stop, reversing camera, sensors, drl's etc.

Sounds like it might be resolved, but just in case I'd add, that, with a meter you can probe for voltage drop across the two wee metal dots on the top of the fuses.

Millivolt scale

Should be zero.

Car needs to be "asleep". My car is always asleep but I understand newer cars are restless and might need door latches fooled etc

Removing fuses on a newer car might also wake it up so isn't really an option.

It would be very irritating going "forward" to a car with start stop, reversing camera, sensors, drl's etc, etc, but hopefully I never will.

(Actually I had to look DRL up and it sounded relatively innocuous, if a bit pointless, but I daresay its got hidden irritation potential.)

Kia venga 2 1.4 manual 2011 61900 miles - Battery constantly discharging. - _

All functioning well now, I think it must have been the doors being left open, and also the rear hatch not closing properly.

Have now foam cleaned the seats and carpets and got 99% of the stains and dog hair out, and cleaned and treated all the plastics.

After the Korando (which we are keeping) it's very much more a go kart type experience, and once i get 4 new tyres on it next week and a fresh MOT, it'll be good to go.

Youngrovergirl wants it.. as finds the Korando a bit bulky for her...

Edited by _ORB_ on 17/06/2022 at 12:50

Kia venga 2 1.4 manual 2011 61900 miles - Battery constantly discharging. - elekie&a/c doctor
Not much wrong with these . My sister runs a 2016 Hyundai ix20 , basically the same car . No frills and functional motoring. It has got park sensors and power fold mirrors and that’s about it . Drives really good. Not the fastest car off the block , but who cares.
Kia venga 2 1.4 manual 2011 61900 miles - Battery constantly discharging. - _

Took it for the MOT this morning.

So total is £486.40

MOT

4 new tyres,

both outer track rod ends

2 rear shock absorbers .

all good to go hopefully

Edited by _ORB_ on 21/06/2022 at 17:44

Kia venga 2 1.4 manual 2011 61900 miles - Battery constantly discharging. - Maxime.

So, what are you going to do with it now? is this another fixer-upper?

Kia venga 2 1.4 manual 2011 61900 miles - Battery constantly discharging. - _

It's a keeper, and I am enjoying it too!

Drives like a go kart, easy to park and a good bit more economical on fuel than the Korando.

Feels 100% as it did 5 years ago, and absolutely no dfference to the red one we had a few years back.

Kia venga 2 1.4 manual 2011 61900 miles - Battery constantly discharging. - Andrew-T

<< But it is odd going "back" to a car without start-stop, reversing camera, sensors, drl's etc. >>

It would be odd for me to drive a car with any of those things ... :-) Can't say I miss any of them, except perhaps the sensors.

Kia venga 2 1.4 manual 2011 61900 miles - Battery constantly discharging. - FoxyJukebox
I had this on my car some years ago-the alternator had failed.