Jump Start the Car

A flat 12V battery is the most common reason a Kia Stonic (YB, 2017–present) won’t start — you turn the key and get clicks, dim lights or nothing. The Stonic can be jump started safely from another 12V car or a jump pack, as long as you connect the leads in the right order and use a solid earth point rather than the flat battery’s negative terminal. Here is the correct sequence.

Before You Start

• The 12V battery is in the engine bay at the front; its positive (+) terminal has a red cover, the negative (−) is bolted to the body.
• Use only a 12-volt donor car or jump pack — never 24V.
• Both cars must be switched off, in park/neutral with handbrakes on, and not touching each other.
• Keep sparks and flames away, and don’t jump start a battery that is frozen or visibly damaged.

How to Jump Start the Kia Stonic

1. Connect the red (+) lead to the flat battery’s positive (+) terminal on the Stonic.
2. Connect the other end of the red lead to the donor battery’s positive (+) terminal.
3. Connect the black (−) lead to the donor battery’s negative (−) terminal.
4. Connect the other end of the black lead to a solid, unpainted metal point on the Stonic’s engine or body, away from the battery — an engine lifting eye or a bracket is ideal. Do not clamp it to the flat battery’s negative terminal; earthing away from the battery keeps any spark clear of battery gases.
5. Start the donor car and let it run for a minute or two to put some charge in.
6. Start the Stonic. Once it fires, let both cars idle for a moment.
7. Disconnect in reverse order: the earth point first, then the donor negative, then both positives — without letting the clamps touch each other or any metal.

Afterwards, drive the Stonic for at least 20–30 minutes (or put it on a charger) so the battery recovers. If it goes flat again soon, the battery or charging system needs checking rather than another jump.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the battery on a Kia Stonic?

Under the bonnet, in the engine bay at the front. The positive terminal sits under a red cover; the negative is bolted to the bodywork and is used as a reference only — for a jump start you earth to a separate metal point.

Why not connect the last lead to the battery negative?

A discharged battery can give off hydrogen gas, and the final connection often makes a small spark. Clamping to a solid earth point away from the battery keeps that spark clear of the gas, which is how Kia specifies the job.

How long should I run it afterwards?

At least 20–30 minutes of driving, or a spell on a proper charger. A short trip won’t fully recharge the battery, so it may not restart next time.

It still won’t start after a jump — now what?

Check the leads are making clean contact and the donor car is running. If it still won’t turn over, the battery may be too far gone or there is a starter/charging fault worth having checked.

Replacing the battery next? See our Stonic battery disconnect guide and the full Kia Stonic guides. Decode any warning light on autodtcs.com.