Dead Kona EV!

Discussion in 'Hyundai Kona Electric' started by Wildeyed, Sep 28, 2019.

To remove this ad click here.

  1. Yes. I was literally planning on calling yesterday and yelling but they called me first. Volcanus Interruptus. Kinda disappointing actually...
     
  2. To remove this ad click here.

  3. I hope this is the final chapter in this latest drama. I got my car back today. It seems to be fine (knock wood). They replaced the EMCU which is apparently the brains that handle all of the electrical functions. Its failure is what caused/allowed my 12 volt battery to deplete which, in turn, killed the car. The battery itself was and is fine. As far as I know this is the first example of this issue on the forum so let's hope it's a one- off for everyone's sake.

    Oh, and for those wondering: exactly one month of sitting dead resulted in a 3% battery depletion. According to the GOM, about 7 kms of range. Peanuts.

    *EMCU seems the same as EPCU
     
    Marianne, CJC, Francois and 1 other person like this.
  4. That's a major component failure. I see Hyundai's retail on just the EPCU(part no: 3301-0E170) is $3800 Canadian dollars + taxes and labour.
     
    Wildeyed likes this.
  5. Now that's a good reason to be glad this happened under warranty! Yikes!
     
  6. hobbit

    hobbit Well-Known Member

    "It's not your daddy's old Delco alternator anymore", heh...

    What became of the failed EPCU? I hope someone's tearing it apart to
    diagnose and document what went wrong with it.

    _H*
     
  7. To remove this ad click here.

  8. That I didn't ask. I do know that the dealership consulted Hyundai engineering before authorizing the swap so it makes sense that corporate might take a look at the faulty part.
     
  9. justfortheride

    justfortheride New Member


    Worth posting in the repair issues and fixes thread?
     
    electriceddy likes this.
  10. Done ;)
     
    Kirk and justfortheride like this.
  11. I noticed that the Ioniq EV has a 12V battery reset button that will force a recharge from the traction battery, so you can restart after depletion. I am not aware of such a feature on our Kona? Here is post from an Ioniq forum describing this capability.

    If you leave the car for a long time or you forget some compartment lamps running or you drain the 12v battery by some other way the car will not start. It will not even unlock for that matter. In those cases you unlock with the hidden in the fob key and press 12v reset button for several seconds and then the car will start.
    This button directly connects the High voltage battery with the 12v battery through the DC->DC converter to force charge the 12v battery.
     
    Kirk likes this.
  12. To remove this ad click here.

  13. Thanks. Yes, the Kona has a setting for "Battery Saver" which automates the same function. In my case the "brains" which are supposed to handle the shuffling of electrical power failed centrally so the charging could not happen.
     
  14. Yes, I was aware of that. But wouldn't an extra "button" feature force a temporary recharge to get the car started again even if the EMCU failed (or any other cause)? My understanding (which could be totally wrong) is that the EMCU is more of an "auto switch" and not the actual DC charger.
     
    Kirk likes this.
  15. ericy

    ericy Well-Known Member

    Where is the button on the ioniq? Are we sure we don't have one that just isn't documented?

    Sent from my SM-G930V using Inside EVs mobile app
     
  16. Kirk and electriceddy like this.
  17. It looks like in the linked article indicates the 12 volts is supplied by a separate lithium starter battery instead of lead acid battery like in the Kona. Typically a good BMS in a 12 volt lithium battery will cut battery amperage once it reaches a low threshold voltage to preserve the battery from permanent damage. It may still have sufficient voltage to power up in low drain situation such as in an EV startup sequence. I believe all that button does is temporarily bypasses the BMS and allows remaining battery voltage to flow from the 12 volt lithium source. This of course powers up the EMCU and gives it second chance to DC to DC charge the 12 volt battery from the main traction battery.
     
  18. Agreed it does refer to the hybrid Ionic 12V battery being integrated into the lithium ion hybrid battery pack.
    I think monitoring the charge level and on long trips carry a back-up lithium 12V jump starter "just in case" would work.
    https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/energizer-lithium-ion-jump-starter-portable-usb-charger-2997660p.2997660.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIuuPgh7DC5QIVFtVkCh2ZcwysEAQYAiABEgImzvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds#store=362
    Ignore the picture where they put both leads on the battery terminals.
     
    apu likes this.
  19. It does seem silly to have to jump start the 12V battery when you have a high power traction battery sitting there that could be used instead.
     
    Kirk and Francois like this.
  20. SkookumPete

    SkookumPete Well-Known Member


    I got curious about the cabin temperature and of course it turns out that thermometers are combined with voltmeters (and USB ports). This one is kinda cute.
     
  21. Francois

    Francois Active Member

    I agree. :)

    Since I bought my car earlier this month and after reading the many threads in this forum I now carry the following in my glove box:
    A USB voltmeter
    A Bluetooth odbm scanner
    A tiny jump starter that I must remember to recharge every 3 months or so but thankfully I can do so directly from within my car through a USB port.

    Never carried so many electronic devices in my cars before. :)

    But I am still happy and even am having fun with those gadgets. At least they didn't cost me too much. Somewhere around $100 in all. I now feel prepared to face the most common issues.
     
  22. SkookumPete

    SkookumPete Well-Known Member

    The jump starter sounds like a fine idea, especially because you don't need an expensive one rated to turn the crank on an an almighty diesel. And some come with flashlights!
     
    Kirk likes this.
  23. GPM432

    GPM432 Active Member

    where did you get the jump starter and do you just put it into the usb port and start the car like that
     

Share This Page