2015 Kia Forte
I’m hoping people can throw some ideas to this one, we are really struggling to pinpoint the issue. Many thanks in advance.
Issue Summary:
Intermittently, while driving, my car will experience a low voltage incident (seemingly no rhyme or reason why, but I will list the approximate dates and conditions under which this has occurred). My check engine will throw a P0562 - system voltage low error code. In these low voltage experiences the following will occur:
- Lose power steering (and power steering warning light comes on)
- ABS, Power Steering, Parking Brake/Break fluid, ESC warning lights will all eventually come on if ran long enough during low voltage event, but typically it’s the Power Steering, ABS, and check engine lights that come on first
- After the event occurs and the car is shut off, the car will not restart (dead battery) After the event, generally speaking, simply jumping the car will resolve this issue for months at a time. There are two known exceptions (will detail in list of occurrences).
Low Voltage Occurrences:
September 2022: After having to heavily apply the break for a quick stop, low voltage event occurred. Made it to nearest gas station to stop. Once stopped, car would not restart (as if battery was dead). Jumping the car immediately resolved the issue and had no issues until the next occurrence.
November 2022: First really cold morning of the season, car started up fine, but within a quarter of a mile, voltage event occurred. Circled back home, turned the car off and it wouldn’t restart (again, as if battery was dead). Later that afternoon (6-8 hrs later) WITHOUT jumping the car, or doing ANYTHING to it, it ran again just fine, until the next occurrence.
April 2023: After running the car through a car wash, we sat in a parking lot and messed with the lights (practicing turning them on and off, high/low beams, etc. because my daughter was just about to go take her license test), while doing this, we experienced a low voltage event. Jumping the car (we also let it charge up for about 15 minutes) resolved the issue until the next occurrence. Note: In the days after this occurrence we tried to replicate the issue, messing with the lights every way we could, maxing out a/c, radio on, etc), and no issues would occur.
August 2023: Shortly after leaving the school parking lot, my daughter experienced a low voltage event. We were able to jump the car (didn’t let it charge long, maybe 5 mins max), and it started right up. After driving it about 2 miles, low voltage event occurred again (a first, as one jump usually resolves for months at a time). I was able to make it home, once home, we simply jumped the car (no extra charging time) and it’s been good so far since.
Things to note:
Battery was purchased in April of 2022.
Power steering is electric.
As of today, when idling alternator reads at about 13.1 volts, goes up to 14 volts when gas is applied.
Husband did a check of all wires leading to the battery (that he could possibly see) and everything looked good.
Car was taken to a shop in March of 2022 due to a rough idle issue. They couldn’t figure out what it was but suggested it could be the alternator pulley. They replaced the pulley. After they replaced the pulley, the alternator itself would no longer work and they had to replace it. Additionally, when they worked on my car, they unplugged the battery. In doing so, they somehow stripped the positive terminal and didn’t do the basic check of pulling on the cables after it was plugged back in, resulting in my battery disconnecting on the drive home from the alternator replacement.
Ever since the alternator issue my car didn’t feel the same, almost as if it was under powered (e.g. the power steering felt tight, as if it was always somewhat on the edge to go out). I know this is vague, but just doesn’t feel the same. I had the car since I purchased it new in December 2014, so I know the car well.
In November of 2022 I took it back to the same shop to mention these issues and that the rough idle was still an issue. They resolved the rough idle issue by replacing ignition coil #2 and splicing a new pigtail. They said they tested everything (alternator, battery, etc) and could find no electrical issues.
