Doesn’t it seem like a dead battery always happens at the worst possible time? Whether you’re late for work, rushing to get to an appointment, or just trying to drop the kids at school, almost every driver in Daphne has experienced the hassle of needing to jumpstart their car at least once.
Modern cars are more advanced than older vehicles, so it’s important to know the proper way to jumpstart a car to protect the onboard computers and sensors.
We’ll explain how to jumpstart a car in this Kia jumpstart guide.
When Do You Need to Jumpstart a Kia?
There are several reasons you might need to jumpstart your Kia. You may have left the lights or an interior light turned on and drained the battery overnight. Some phone chargers and vehicle accessories cause battery drain. Sometimes, older batteries lose charge if they’ve been sitting for a long time. And sometimes, issues with your charging system can lead to a dead battery.
If you have a battery warning light on your dashboard, you should take your Kia to a certified Kia service center for a diagnosis. At Kia of Daphne, we have the proper diagnostic equipment and tools to help Alabama drivers spot battery problems before they occur.
How to Jumpstart a Kia: Step by Step
To jumpstart a Kia, you’ll need three things:
- A donor vehicle with a good battery
- Your car
- Jumper cables
From there, the Kia jumpstart process is easier than you might think:
- Pull the hood release lever and then open your Kia hood. You’ll find the secondary latch by sliding your hand under the hood and pushing it to the side.
- Bring the vehicle with a good battery as close to your car as possible—try to get the two batteries as close together as possible.
- Consult your owner’s manual to find out the jumper terminals in your Kia. Many cars have a remote negative terminal used for jumpstarting, while others let you jump directly to the battery.
- Make sure the jumper cable ends are separated. If they’re touching, it can cause a shock.
- Turn off both vehicles completely. This helps protect your electronics if you accidentally connect your cables incorrectly.
- Connect the positive (red) jumper cables to the vehicle with a dead battery, then to the second vehicle.
- Connect the negative (black) jumper cables to your car first and then to the donor vehicle. This order prevents a surge or short.
- Carefully trace the cables and make sure they’re clear of moving parts.
- Start the donor vehicle.
- Attempt to start the dead battery vehicle.
- Once your Kia starts, carefully disconnect the cables in reverse order, negative first, then positive.
Remember, if your car doesn’t start right away, you can let the donor vehicle idle for a few minutes to add more charge to the dead battery.
Service Your Battery Charging System at Kia of Daphne
Prevent unwanted late mornings with a Kia battery replacement at Kia of Daphne.
Our trained technicians use genuine Kia parts to guarantee fit and performance for any Kia service or repair. Contact us or drop by our convenient location on Frederick Blvd in Daphne and let us check your charging system today.
To safely jumpstart a Kia, turn off both vehicles, connect red cables to the positive terminals, then black cables to the negative terminals, start the donor vehicle, then start your Kia, and disconnect in reverse order.
Yes—modern Kia vehicles have sensitive electronics and sensors. Incorrect cable order or poor connections can cause surges. Always follow the proper sequence and consult your owner’s manual.
Most Kia vehicles have clearly marked positive and negative terminals under the hood, and some models use remote negative terminals for safety. Refer to your Kia owner’s manual for the exact location.
If your Kia doesn’t start, let the donor vehicle idle for a few minutes. If it still won’t start, your battery or charging system may need service—visit Kia of Daphne for diagnostics.
Regular battery checks, avoiding accessory power drain, replacing aging batteries, and having your charging system inspected can help prevent future jumpstart situations.
Yes. Kia of Daphne offers battery testing, charging system diagnostics, and genuine Kia battery replacements to ensure proper fit and performance.
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Warranties include 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain and 5-year/60,000-mile basic. All warranties and roadside assistance are limited. See retailer for warranty details.