Car Scanner SOH readings

[SueSoulEV]

I have a 2017 Soul EV with all original HVB components. Winter temps here are a few degrees above freezing (Pacific Northwest), and the car is now getting max 75 km on 100% charge. I have tried to get some info using the Car Scanner app and Vgate iCar Pro dongle. There are two State of Health percentages given, #1 and #2. Does anyone know why there are two values? Is one the HVB and the other is the 12V battery? If so, which is which? Or something else? I will include a screen shot. Thanks for any help!

 

[IanL]

Mine shows SOH 1 = 110% and SOH 2 = 60%

My guess too is that SOH 1 is HV battery and SOH 2 is 12V battery

SOH 2 at 60% is quite believable for the 12V battery, as it's about 4 1/2 years old

SOH 1 at 110% seems a bit optimistic for the HV battery - it implies a capacity of 33 kWh, which suggests it has not used much of the top buffer after nearly 7 years, but SoulEV Spy reports 100%, and we know it never exceeds that, so it's not impossible. The reading was taken 3 months after the BMS update which appears to limit charging to about 27 kWh, so it may have had an effect on BMS values read by Car Scanner.

 

[SueSoulEV]

IanL - Thanks for your reply. My warranty expires at the end of Feb 2025. I have arranged to have the car checked by an independent mechanic who specializes in EVs (GreenTec Auto) so I will have some solid data to take to the dealership if necessary.

 

[IanL]

Some advice for your visit to the dealer:

Others have reported that dealers tend to dismiss any values not read by the KDU (KIA Diagnostic Unit). Some dealers either believe they can improve the GoM by applying BMS updates, or know that applying the updates results in the BMS using default values and needing several cycles before valid data is available. When they do that, they will get a value well over 70%, and send you on your way.

Make a copy of PS 548 and request they carry out the procedure in it exactly as laid down, explaining that you are well aware that applying updates prior to reading the BMS data will prevent a correct SOH reading. Highlight the relevant words on the copy and draw attention to the highlighted text.

Provided the reading is less than 70%, that should result in a dealer report to KIA Corporate and, in turn, a replacement battery.

Also, you can calculate your SOH:

After charging, reset the m/kWh (shows "--" when reset). Note the mileage and the battery %age if not 100%. At the next charge note the mileage and the battery %age before charging commences and note the m/kWh. Divide the difference in mileages by the m/kWh to get the kWh consumed. Divide this by (difference in %ages x 0.01, i.e. a decimal fraction). This gives the kWh capacity at 100% charge. Divide that by 27. 30, 39.2, 64 or other value, depending on the nominal battery size, and multiply by 100 to get SOH.

I have tested the method against Spy, and it gives close agreement.

 

[SueSoulEV]

Update: I had my 2017 Soul checked by GreenTec Auto in Richmond, BC, Canada. They did a free diagnostic and arrived at 61% SOH, very similar to the 63% that Car Scanner app gave me.

I made an appointment with North Shore Kia in North Vancouver, BC, Canada, where I had purchased the used Soul in 2020. I mentioned that the BMS must not be reset prior to performing the diagnostic, and showed them the GreenTec report. I had the KDU printouts with me, but I didn't need to show them as they assured me that they would not reset the BMS. (But thank you IanL - it was good to have them just in case.)

KIA's diagnostic reported SOH at 63%, same as Car Scanner. The dealership applied to KIA for a battery replacement. They called me the next morning to let me know that the replacement battery was approved, and ordered from Korea. No date yet; could be 2 weeks or 2 months, don't know yet. But very happy that my Soul will be restoredI It's such a great car in all other respects. I took the car home again, so no need for a loaner. The dealership was easy to deal with, no problems. The claim is dated as of yesterday, so the battery will be replaced under warranty, even if that happens after the expiry date in February 2025.

Thank you to everyone on this forum who posted their experiences. All that info helped me to find out that my car really had a problem and got it sorted just in time before the warranty expires.