[Treeish]

Thanks for the reply. The dealership called back this morning to say just that, a software issue and not anything mechanical/battery related.

Going to collect later and take it back in once software update available from Kia.

Understandable these things can happen with software, but that’s a major pseudo-fault to be showing nonetheless!

New June Software Update

I see the new update is out, not sure its worth doing for a HEV.. June 2023 Navigation Map and Software Update > Notice | Official Kia Motors Navigation Update Website

www.kiaownersclub.co.uk

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My PHEV is coming up to a year old and this morning I've just had the 'Check Hybrid System' error which sounds the same as yours. The Kia app says it's a fault with the Battery Management System.

Car still seems to drive okay. I've seen in another thread that it could be a software glitch caused by the latest June software update which I had installed. So if it's just a glitch then I'm not too worried but it's not nice to have any red lights on the dashboard.

New June Software Update

I see the new update is out, not sure its worth doing for a HEV.. June 2023 Navigation Map and Software Update > Notice | Official Kia Motors Navigation Update Website

www.kiaownersclub.co.uk

View attachment 23445 View attachment 23446

 

[Treeish]

Imagine it would be fixable OTA with a patch like any other software, but I’m guessing the need to visit the dealer for it is so they can clear the fault codes/ensure it’s actually fixed. Fingers crossed

Hopefully we'll be able to do the software update ourselves. If the June update (available to download OTA or by USB stick) caused the problem then they should be able to fix whatever it is they changed with another update. Not sure if that would reset the warning light (fault code) though.

 

[Treeish]

Works exactly the same for me. Sometimes I’ll start the car and no warning lights, other times (and after some charges) the warning light comes on. True to form any time I’ve dropped off at the dealership the light is off, and they can only go on historical fault codes.

As for June update, these issues have only appeared, and cascaded, since that update. Can’t say conclusively it’s causation, but nothing else fundamentally changed and would need to be quite a coincidence if it wasn’t the update.

Went for another drive last night and all the faults had cleared themselves. Had expected the orange engine warning light to stay on once a fault code had been logged but even that had gone out and everything looks okay. Checked the status in the Kia App and even that is all ticks with no warnings.

So it might have been the software update. If it wasn't then another theory is it was the weather. Yesterday morning was the wettest I've driven in for a while. Lots of standing water at the side of the roads etc. I didn't wade through anything or go through any really deep puddles but the underside of the car would have been pretty wet. So maybe water got into an electrical connector. Or the cooling effect of the cold water on the battery caused an unusual current reading. Complete guesswork but will see if it happens again and make a note of whether it's wet or not.

 

[Treeish]

Wonder if there is a manufacturing fault with the sensor right enough.

Picked mine up from the dealer and asked what to do if the fault appears again. Told as it’s a software issue, ok to drive, but of course if there’s loss of power/anything unusual about the drive then stop and call recovery.

drove it home and all fine. Went another trip in the evening and all fine. Went a walk and came back to the car, started it and red and amber light again. Turned engine off fora few seconds, back on and only an amber light this time. Charged it this morning from 30-70% (Amber light still showing), took off charge and started engine, no lights. Going to see if there’s a certain level of charge it appears at.

Checked when I updated - 3rd July - and when I first had the amber light after charging at a pod point - 6th July.

I also now always get a Kia Connect notification saying “Cannot start charging” every time I take it off charge

Was able to read the fault codes logged on mine via the OBD connector. I've only got one:

P0AC0
Type: Powertrain
ECU: BECM-B+EnergyCtrl
Description: Hybrid Battery Pack Current Sensor "A" Circuit Range/Performance

which is the same as one of yours.

 

[Treeish]

So for the past month or so I've been trying to monitor the light situation and I thought I had it figured out that it really doesn't like being below 40-45% charge. Managed a good couple of weeks without any warnings by keeping it charge over 45% at the least. Then it happened one time with 60% charge but fuel was low - topped up the tank and would you believe, light disappears.

Fast forward to last week, full fuel tank, 85% battery and I get the yellow AND red light. Also have low washer fluid warning. Turn the car off and on again a few times, lights and warnings still there. Immediately refilled the washer fluid and incredibly the warnings disappear. The only thing it leaves me to assume is some software issue with reading/interpreting low level warnings, including low washer fluid?

@Therookery, how did you get on with starting the car in ICE? I discovered by accident that pressing the accelerator in Park/Neutral kicks-in the ICE (like you're revving a typical ICE car in Neutral) - might not let you drive off but presumably would allow the alternator to charge the 12V battery (providing it's not a duff battery)? Imagine being unable to choose a gear is protection if the 12V isn't able to operate power steering and other functions.

 

[Treeish]

Thanks for the tip regarding kicking in the ICE using accelerator pedal when in park/neutral. I'll give that a try. The car always reverts back to EV mode when switched off (at least for me).
Since this issue occurred the car has behaved normally - no battery malfunction lights, oil lights or power steering problems.
I have spoken with my Kia garage who have informed me that Kia have instructed the mechanics to recall my car with a view to test/replace the 'onboard charger box' which although I don't have any details yet, its been suggested that it 'may' be the answer to my problem. Apparently they say it 'can' affect various software functions. Could this be the answer to the June software update issue?? The car is booked in this week. I'll update my findings when I have more...

No worries

Fingers crossed replacing the OBC helps with the issues. Fault codes on mine certainly flagged up sensor issues either on the OBC or battery itself, so will be interesting to hear if that fixes your issues.

 

[Treeish]

On a daily basis I always are between 20-40% left. Most of the time I get no warnings.
I did find some info in the "2023 Sportage P(HEV) Features & Functions Guide".
View attachment 25410

Never thought that might be an issue, although I am pretty OCD about making sure the cap clicks when I close it. If I get the warning lights again though I’ll try the filler cap on/off to see if that makes it go away.

@Therookery, did you have any joy with the dealership testing/replacing the OBC?

 

[Treeish]

@OldSwede, I’ve just had the yellow engine management light, so jumped out and opened the fuel cap then closed it again - one click. Light gone when I turned the ignition on again.

Only been the first try to be fair, but it seems to have cleared the fault on this occasion.

I refuelled yesterday and made sure to get the click when closing though, but we’ll see if it works next time

 

[Treeish]

Hi Ended up having just the cabling changed for the OBC, kia would not replace the whole unit. Was told that it is water getting into the system through the cable and tripping out. Its a common fault on phevs apparently the mechanic said. Tested by mechanic on site for a couple of days with no faults showing. I got the car home ok all fine, Following day, removed the car from my garage and it was lit up like a christmas tree again. The new 'parts' had not made any difference whatsoever! In fact the battery management system fault was occuring on average every 3 to 4 days now its happening daily!!. Kia technical have told me to 'live with it' until the next software update which 'should' rectify it. They would not say when that software update will be, but did state that it will address DAB issues too (that's another story). I'm not holding my breath... The mechanic did also say that kia technical told him the June 23 software update has been tweaked and has had the software changed, removing the part that causes the battery management system fault. I'm running the 230601 version which I updated to the car on 29/06 but the system with the updates is temporarily unavailable as I write this so am unable to check if a different version has been made available at the moment.

Jeez, bit of a runaround. Shame it didn't clear it up. Never had DAB issues, so that's a new one!

I checked my software version against the one in the Kia updater and I've got the same one that's available at the moment. Also noticed that Sportage PHEV's have been removed from the list of compatible models for the June update, although suppose that makes sense.

@OldSwede, I had another amber light the other day, right after charging at public charge point. The 'one-click' filler cap fix worked again instantly and haven't had one since. I'd filled up a few days before, made sure to do the click, and had driven about 150 miles without an issue until sticking it on charge. Will be content if that's the simple workaround needed!