Check EV system error

biffidum · May 22, 2019

We are getting a “check EV system” error after periods of highway driving that exceed 15minutes. The car begins to slow and enters turtle mode... the second time we had to stop as the car would not ascend a hill.

Trouble is, if you turn the car off for 2-3 min the error disappears and the car returns to a normal state of charge eg: 70%

So the battery is not depleted, but the EV system doesn’t know this.

The dealership has seen the car and acknowledged the error but can not in-act a repair as the error is not active! So now we get to mess about with not knowing if we will arrive at our destination or not until the damn error sticks.

Anyone else experience this?

2016 Soul with 74000km
Normally mix of driving.
Had the OBC replaced at 15000
No other issues.

edzee3 · May 22, 2019

Sounds like a repeatable event; true? Maybe connected with some heat buildup ? Any temp. data that might correlate?

biffidum · May 23, 2019

Definitely repeatable. It’s spring here so the temperature is around 15-20C

It’s going to a different dealership that wants to keep it and try to recreate the error... yay, some yahoo racing around in my car for a day...

ksoul2084 · May 23, 2019

biffidum said:
Definitely repeatable. It’s spring here so the temperature is around 15-20C

It’s going to a different dealership that wants to keep it and try to recreate the error... yay, some yahoo racing around in my car for a day...

You would think this kind of event would leave a trace for their ODB scanner to find. Strange.

biffidum · May 23, 2019

Oh the error is in memory... trouble is they will not do any warranty service unless the error is active... ie; light is still on.

When we restart the car the error is gone.

biffidum · Jun 26, 2019

Made it to the dealer with the error still active.
They found that the coolant was low and topped it off. We’ll see if it fixes it.... I am skeptical though as it was just below the min level on the reservoir... they ordered a replacement pump in case the problem reappears.

JejuSoul · Jun 27, 2019

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Check EV system error seems to be a generic fault warning that may have many different causes.

Some previous threads with this include.

2016 Soul EV @ 3rd day: "Check EV System" light on. What the

Check EV system error

Check EV System light came on briefly

It seems possible that low coolant could be one of the things that cause this error.

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Calaveras · Jul 12, 2019

This happened to my wife today as we were driving up a steep canyon. It went into turtle mode and came to a complete stop. We were able to back up downhill to a spot that had a shoulder and was level.
When I turned it back on in an attempt to back further to a safer spot the indicator light was gone.
We drove home fine.
the coolant level is at the min line.
we are adding coolant.
downloading torque pro to get codes. my son is trying to figure out how to do it. I have an iPhone so he is using his android.

Calaveras · Jul 13, 2019

I could not get the Torque pro app to work on my son's phone with the csv files so he deleted it.
good news is the other OBD adaptor I use for my nissan Leaf worked to get the codes on the Soul.
they are as follows:
POA 93- "power limited" no suprise there we were in turtle mode.
POC73- "Electric water pump" this gives ma hope that adding the coolant might fix it.

I did not clear the codes in case it acts up again. we are taking a 100 mile trip tomorrow and plan or first QC. I am slightly nervous, but we are going forward. We are at least driving in the direction of a Kia dealer if it happens again we will take it in and leave it.

Calaveras · Jul 13, 2019

We made the 130 mile Round trip with a DCQC at 20%
came home with 40% and L2 charged to 100% and did another short trip out and back ending at 30%
no problems and we did highway speeds elevation gain and full A/C with no return of the error codes.

Goochj · Oct 11, 2019

I was curious what OBD adapter you are using? I have not been able to read a code when my check ev light has been on.

Thank you

rgarcia65975 · Oct 22, 2019

just bought 2016 Soul EV+, 4 days later same issue. after a full charge EV light was on, turtle mode came on driving up a hill and car became very sluggish. we pulled off to the side, restarted and issue has not returned. car sent to dealership today for troubleshooting.

wondering if you guys ever got to the bottom of your issue as it sounds identical to mine..

Loressa · Mar 5, 2024

This happened to me every day after work - driving on the hwy up hill to return home the check ev light would come on and then it would go into turtle mode and reduce my speed - I complained the first day - had it in to the dealership - they couldn't figure it out - it happened continuously for a year under the same circumstances - periodically visiting the dealership. Then one day it happened on level road headed to work, turning off the car reset the computer and I was able to get home with the error coming on on that hill again. The same the next day, on the way to the dealership. They had to replace the battery. That was 3 months ago. Yesterday the check ev light came on again. So here we go again.

mysoulev · Mar 6, 2024

Goochj said:
I was curious what OBD adapter you are using? I have not been able to read a code when my check ev light has been on.

Thank you

apparently, all you have to do is (when the check ev light is on) Hold the HVAC Off button down AND within 4 seconds press the MODE button (next to A/C) 4 times, give it couple seconds and it will start displaying the error diagnostic code in sequence. Mind was 108, according to the chart it's Coolant Valve Open. What a relief, not the high voltage battery.

Hopefulsoul · Mar 7, 2024

This seems related to other threads which describe sludge in the coolant. Maybe DC charging overwhelms the cooling capability of the system and evaporates some of the coolant? I haven’t had this problem with my 2016, but I only DC charged twice six years ago.

thedutchsoul · May 20, 2024

mysoulev said:
apparently, all you have to do is (when the check ev light is on) Hold the HVAC Off button down AND within 4 seconds press the MODE button (next to A/C) 4 times, give it couple seconds and it will start displaying the error diagnostic code in sequence. Mind was 108, according to the chart it's Coolant Valve Open. What a relief, not the high voltage battery.

Hi mysoulev,
You are spot on with your indication about the buttons.
My Kia soul ev is also entering turtle mode to limit down the power.

By keeping the « off » HVAC button pressed down + pressing 4 times the « mode » button I receive the code 00 on the top part of the infotainment screen.
I would like to check what it means in which manual did you found the table shown in your screenshot ?
Thank you
Gabriel

JejuSoul · May 20, 2024

Hopefulsoul said:
This seems related to other threads which describe sludge in the coolant. Maybe DC charging overwhelms the cooling capability of the system and evaporates some of the coolant? I haven’t had this problem with my 2016, but I only DC charged twice six years ago.

The DC Chademo charger is external. There is nothing for the HVAC in the car to cool.
The High Voltage battery has a battery fan that blows air. Completely separate from HVAC.
There is zero direct relationship between DC charging and HVAC cooling.
So "Maybe DC charging overwhelms the cooling capability of the system and evaporates some of the coolant?" is false.

JejuSoul · May 20, 2024

Previously posted here : - Heating and Cooling the Cabin - The HVAC System

Using the Climate Buttons. Press the MODE switch more then 4 times within 2 seconds while pressing the OFF switch.

The error code appears at the top of the Navigation Screen.

Code 00 means nothing is wrong with HVAC.

The Kia Soul EV HVAC error codes are here - Kia Soul: Heater & A/C Control Unit (FATC) Repair procedures :- Kia Soul EV: Controller / Heater & A/C Control Unit (FATC) Repair procedures

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ksoul2084 · May 21, 2024

JejuSoul said:
The DC Chademo charger is external. There is nothing for the HVAC in the car to cool.
The High Voltage battery has a battery fan that blows air. Completely separate from HVAC.
There is zero direct relationship between DC charging and HVAC cooling.
So "Maybe DC charging overwhelms the cooling capability of the system and evaporates some of the coolant?" is false.

I was under the impression that if necessary the car would engage the hvac A/C system to provide cooled air to be sucked through the battery pack via the battery fan, in order to keep the batt temps in check while fast charging, which can generate a lot of heat. ?

JejuSoul · May 21, 2024

ksoul2084 said:
I was under the impression that if necessary the car would engage the hvac A/C system to provide cooled air to be sucked through the battery pack via the battery fan, in order to keep the batt temps in check while fast charging, which can generate a lot of heat. ?

It would be nice if it did, But no, there is no such linkage.
By doing it manually you can attempt to do this, but whether it is effective is hard to determine.

Check EV system error

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