group model

Electrical All Models Equipped

with Battery Sensor
NUMBER DATE
015 June 2011

Technical Service Bulletin

Kia Motors Logo 4/C - Medium

SUBJECT:
INSTALLATION OF ADDITIONAL BATTERY GROUND CABLE CAUTION
This bulletin provides information relating to vehicles equipped with a battery sensor.
This bulletin is issued to emphasize not to install an additional ground cable to the
battery on any vehicles equipped with a battery sensor. Installing an additional ground
cable to a battery (-) terminal may cause the battery sensor to incorrectly recognize the
battery state (charged/discharged) and temperature information. Therefore, please advise
customers not to install an additional battery ground cable, and emphasize the fact that
a vehicle repair caused by the additional battery ground cable will not be covered
under warranty.

Functions of the Battery Sensor

The battery sensor which is embedded on the battery (-) terminal transmits battery voltage
and temperature information to the ECM. The ECM controls alternator voltage output
necessary for the various vehicle electric units by duty cycle based on signals received
from the battery sensor. Also, on some vehicles with the ISG (Idle Stop & Go) function, the
Idle stop and auto start are determined by the battery SOC (State Of Charge) and SOH
(State Of Health) information received from the battery sensor.

Negative terminal Negative terminal

without a with a battery
battery sensor sensor

File Under: <Electrical>

Circulate To: X General Manager X Service Manager X Parts Manager

X Service Advisor(s) X Technician(s) X Body Shop Manager Fleet Repair
Page 2 of 3
subject:
INSTALLATION OF ADDITIONAL BATTERY GROUND CABLE CAUTION

Potential problems when installing additional ground cables to the battery:

If an additional ground cable is installed on
the battery (-) terminal, the battery sensor
may incorrectly register that the battery is in
a discharged state despite a normal battery
condition. This may cause the battery sensor
to transmit incorrect information to the ECM,
alternator voltage output, and ISG control,
resulting in improper operation of various
systems and components, as well as possibly
setting DTCs as shown below:

Potential DTCs in case of additional ground cables to the battery:

DTC DTC Name Cause MIL Illumination Causal parts
Battery sensor • Poor connection
Battery sensor is
U1111 fault detected by
abnormal
No
ECM • Open/Short
LIN
• Open or short in LIN
U1112 communication LIN communication error No
communication line
error
• Open or Short in
Alternator Open or Short in harness
P0620 control circuit harness
No
• Poor connection or
damaged harness
• Open or short in
There is a wide voltage
harness
AMS voltage difference between
P2501 rationality battery sensor and
No
• Faulty battery sensor
actual value
• Poor connection
• Open or short in
Battery voltage at the
harness
AMS charging power supply terminal of
P2502 system voltage the ECM - Voltage from
No
• Faulty battery sensor
the battery sensor > 3V
• Poor connection
• Open or short in
harness
• Open or short in
AMS no battery State of charge (SOC) < charging system
P2503 charge Calibration
No
• Faulty charging
system
• Battery sensor
Note: For more detailed DTC information, please refer to the DTC guide on KGIS website.
TSB: ELE 015 All Models with Battery Sensor June 2011
 Page 3 of 3
subject:
INSTALLATION OF ADDITIONAL BATTERY GROUND CABLE CAUTION

Service Procedure:

A customer reports a concern

Check DTCs for generator voltage DTCs: U1111, U1112, P0620,

output and ISG (Idle Stop & Go) errors P2501, P2502, P2503

No Is an additional Yes
battery ground
cable installed?

Erase DTCs after

Repair vehicle according removing additional battery
to Service Manual ground cable

Road test

Advise the customer

NOT to install an No Are DTCs
additional battery present?
ground cable

Yes

Repair vehicle
according to the
Service Manual

TSB: ELE 015 All Models with Battery Sensor June 2011