What kind of 12-volt battery does the Soul use?

Kia's 2025 Soul owner's manual says the vehicle has a maintenance-free, calcium-based battery. The manual's Engine section lists one engine for the Soul, the gasoline 2.0 MPI. Other model years can differ, so check the owner's manual for your own vehicle.

From the Battery section of the 2025 Kia Soul owner's manual (ownersmanual.kia.com, code SK3, read November 9, 2026).

Soul battery care from the owner's manual

• Keep the battery securely mounted.
• Keep the top of the battery clean and dry.
• Keep the terminals and connections clean, tight, and coated with petroleum jelly or terminal grease.
• Rinse any spilled electrolyte from the battery right away with a solution of water and baking soda.
• If the vehicle will not be used for an extended time, disconnect the battery cables.
• Keep flames and sparks away from the battery, wear eye protection when charging or working near it, and wash your hands after handling battery posts and terminals, which contain lead.
• Do not connect unauthorized electronic devices to the battery; the manual says they may discharge it.

From the For best battery service part of the Battery section of the 2025 Kia Soul owner's manual (ownersmanual.kia.com, code SK3, read November 9, 2026).

If your Soul battery runs down

Kia's manual says that if the battery becomes discharged, you can run the engine for at least 60 minutes, driving or at idle, or connect a fully automatic regulated charger to the engine compartment front jumper posts. Before maintenance or recharging, turn off all accessories and stop the vehicle. When the battery is disconnected, the negative cable comes off first and goes back on last.

For charging, the manual says the battery must be removed from the vehicle and placed in a well-ventilated area, and never to recharge it with the battery cables connected. Stop or reduce the charging rate if the cells begin gassing violently or the electrolyte in any cell goes above 120 F (49 C), and disconnect the charger by turning off its main switch, then unhooking the negative clamp, then the positive clamp.

If the engine does not turn over or turns over slowly, the manual says: if your vehicle has an Intelligent Variable Transmission, make sure the shift lever is in N (Neutral) or P (Park) and the emergency brake is set; check that the battery connections are clean and tight; turn on the interior light (if it dims or goes out when you operate the starter, the battery is discharged); and check that the starter connections are securely tightened.

Kia's manual says vehicles with the Intelligent Variable Transmission cannot be push-started, and warns never to tow a vehicle to start it.

From the Battery recharging, If the engine will not start and Push-starting sections of the 2025 Kia Soul owner's manual (ownersmanual.kia.com, code SK3, read November 9, 2026).

How to jump start a Kia Soul

The manual says to connect the cables in numerical order and disconnect them in reverse order. If you are not sure, it recommends having a competent technician or towing service jump start the vehicle.

1. Make sure the booster battery is 12-volt and that its negative terminal is grounded.
2. If the booster battery is in another vehicle, do not let the vehicles touch.
3. Turn off all unnecessary electrical loads.
4. Connect one end of a jumper cable to the positive terminal of the discharged battery (1), then the other end to the positive terminal of the booster battery (2).
5. Connect one end of the other jumper cable to the negative terminal of the booster battery (3), then the other end to a solid, stationary, metallic point away from the battery (4). Never connect it directly to the negative terminal of the discharged battery.
6. Do not let the jumper cables touch anything except the correct battery terminals or the correct ground, and do not lean over the battery while connecting them.
7. Start the vehicle with the booster battery and let it run at 2,000 rpm, then start the Soul.
8. If it is not obvious why the battery was discharged, have the vehicle checked by an authorized Kia dealer.

From the Emergency starting and Jump starting sections of the 2025 Kia Soul owner's manual (ownersmanual.kia.com, code SK3, read November 9, 2026). Do not try to jump start a frozen battery.

Prefer to have us handle it? Ask about Kia battery service in Michigan City.

What to reset after a battery change or disconnect

Kia's manual lists these items to reset after the battery has been discharged or disconnected:

• Auto up/down window
• Trip computer
• Climate control system

From the Reset items part of the Battery section of the 2025 Kia Soul owner's manual (ownersmanual.kia.com, code SK3, read November 9, 2026). Items apply where your vehicle has them.

Planning other service? See our Soul maintenance schedule, check service specials, or schedule service.

Michigan City Kia sales hours

Sales hours as listed on Michigan City Kia's website, November 9, 2026. Holiday hours can differ.