These instructions apply to the Kia Picanto Mk2 (TA) 2011-2017.
For other models, please choose your vehicle here.
A flat 12 V battery is the most common reason a Kia Picanto (2011–2017) will not crank. The 40 Ah battery sits in the engine compartment, so you can jump-start the car from another vehicle or a booster pack in a few minutes. Follow the connection order exactly.
Before you start
Use a 12 V donor battery or pack only. Switch off the ignition and all electrical loads in both cars, apply the parking brake, and put the Picanto in neutral (manual) or P (automatic). Keep flames and sparks away — a discharged battery gives off hydrogen gas.
Do not attempt a jump-start if the battery case is cracked, frozen, or leaking.
- Open both hoods and locate the 12 V battery in the Picanto’s engine bay.
- Connect one end of the red (positive) cable to the positive (+) terminal of the Picanto’s flat battery.
- Connect the other end of the red cable to the positive (+) terminal of the donor battery.
- Connect one end of the black (negative) cable to the negative (−) terminal of the donor battery.
- Connect the other end of the black cable to a solid, unpainted metal ground point on the Picanto’s engine — a bracket or lifting eye away from the battery and from any moving parts. Do not clamp it to the flat battery’s negative post.
- Start the donor car and let it run at about 2,000 rpm for a minute, then start the Picanto.
- Once the Picanto is running, remove the cables in the reverse order: engine ground first, then donor negative, then donor positive, then the Picanto positive.
Let the engine run or drive for at least 20–30 minutes so the alternator can recharge the battery.
After a jump-start
A low battery can briefly light the ABS warning lamp because of the voltage dip; this normally clears once the battery recovers. If the Picanto goes flat again, have the battery and charging system tested. Never push- or tow-start a manual Picanto — it can damage the emission system — and an automatic cannot be push-started at all.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the battery on a Kia Picanto TA?
In the engine compartment, on the left-hand side as you face the engine. It is a 40 Ah 12 V unit.
Why connect the negative to the engine, not the battery?
Grounding the final clamp to the engine keeps the small spark it makes away from the hydrogen gas around the discharged battery, reducing the risk of ignition.
My Picanto keeps going flat — why?
Repeated flat batteries usually mean the battery is worn out, a parasitic drain is present, or short trips never fully recharge it. Have it load-tested.
If a warning light stays on after jump-starting, check what the code means at autodtcs.com.
Independent guide — not affiliated with Kia. Always follow your official service manual and safety precautions. Read our full disclaimer.